By paNOW

Prince Albert commemorates missing and murdered Indigenous men and women

Jun 14, 2018 | 6:00 PM

The streets of Prince Albert were awash with neon pink shirts Thursday as hundreds walked through the city to memorialize those who are missing or murdered.

The 14th annual Honouring Our Brothers and Sisters walk took place June 14. Freinds and family of missing and murdered people turned out in force to pay tribute to their loved ones. This year’s walk, which was organized by the Prince Albert Grand Council Women’s Commission, honoured the families of Sweetgrass Kennedy, Happy Charles, Barry Heimbecker, Jean Baptiste and Joseph Pat Tsannie, who have all been reported missing over the last 12 months.

“I could be a statistic,” FSIN Vice Chief Kim Jonathan said. “I could be one of those sisters of yours. I could be the mother or the granddaughter that’s missing.”

Jonathan encouraged women to talk about abuse and trauma they have experienced including sexual assault and harassment.

“We have to continue to say ‘we’re not going to put up with it’ as women,” Jonathan said. “It can’t be just in pretty speeches where we say we support and honour our missing and murdered women … we have to really stand together where it counts to make a difference.”

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The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was a hot topic during the speeches before the event. Recently, a six-month extension was granted to the commissioners by the federal government. Both FSIN Vice Chief Heather Bear and Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte expressed disappointment in the length of the extension, saying they hoped to see a longer time frame to allow the commissioners to do their work without deadline pressures.

Prince Albert’s Mayor Greg Dionne said he is personally urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to bring the inquiry to the Gateway to the North.

“They’re obligated to be here. We have lots of families here … and we want to be heard, and we will be heard,” Dionne said. “If we work together I think we will be successful.”

Former Prince Albert Police Chief Chief Troy Cooper, who now holds the top position with the Saskatoon Police Service, was honoured at the event with a plaque and a star blanket from dignitaries with the Prince Albert Grand Council and the Woman’s Commission. His years of service to both Prince Albert and the Indigenous community were recognized.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas