A vigil honouring the lives and memories of Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls will be held in Keremeos at Victory Hall on Oct. 4.
The Okanagan Nation Transition Emergency House (ONTEH) along with the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance is holding the Sisters in Spirit event.
“The violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls in Canada is a national tragedy” said Leslie Fabriz, one of the coordinators of this year’s event in a press release. “To date, there are nearly 600 missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls in this country”
Sisters in Spirit vigils is a national movement for change that takes place every October 4. The vigils include family members, Indigenous community members, and concerned citizens gathering to honour the memory of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. These gatherings serve to raise awareness and to provide support to families who have lost a loved one.
“The number of missing and murdered women is disproportionate within Canadian society as a whole, Indigenous women are significantly overrepresented as victims of homicide.” said Darryl-Jean Cerenzie, one of the coordinators of this year’s event in a press release. “Their loss is felt in every Indigenous community from coast to coast. Those left behind spend a lifetime wondering what happened, and why. We are honouring not only the memories of the missing women and girls, but we also honour their family members who have been left behind”
This year’s Sisters in Spirit event takes place at 5:30 p.m. on October 4 at Victory Hall in Keremeos starting with a dinner, followed by speakers and entertainment at 6:30 p.m. and the candlelight walk at 7 p.m. at Memorial Park. All are welcome to attend, please dress for the weather.
For more information please contact Darryl-Jean Cerenzie: dcerenzie@onteh.org 250-462-1332 or Leslie Fabriz: lfabriz@onteh.org 250-328-9706.