Family and supporters take part in walk for missing woman Ashley Morin, Sunday which marked Morin's 32nd birthday. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Community support

Supporters mark missing woman Ashley Morin’s birthday with ceremony, walk

Mar 25, 2019 | 12:08 PM

It was an afternoon of hugs and tears as the family of missing North Battleford woman Ashley Morin and supporters came together to recognize Morin’s 32^nd birthday, Sunday.

A large gathering came together in the downstairs hall of Carousal Bingo, which was donated for the event. After a pot luck supper, the group walked to King Hill for a balloon release.

Morin’s uncle Randy Bird says it has been hard for the family not knowing where Morin could be. She disappeared in July 2018.

“If someone would just tell us where to find her,” he told battlefordsNOW. “If they did something to her, let us bring her home, and let us have closure.”

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Morin’s mother Diane, her sister Janine and brother Tyler struggled to hold back tears as about 75 family members and friends joined them in a large prayer circle at the start of the ceremony.

Elder and former city councillor Ray Fox led the prayer service.

He said in society today people are embarrassed to show they are spiritual people, but during times like these, he said having trust in God might be the only thing helping Morin’s family.

May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The date is also known as Red Dress Day, and Bird asked attendees to wear red to show their solidarity.

“It’s only with our coming together that we get the news out there that this type of thing is not normal,” he said of Morin’s disappearance. “Our teachings are to take care of our children, to understand them, to teach them how to conduct themselves in the world safely. What we are going through in the world today is not normal.

When Diane “held Ashley for the first time, she wanted nothing but the best for that little girl, just like we did for our children.”

Ashley Morin’s mother Diane, seated, is comforted as Morin’s family, friends and many supporters gather at the ceremony, Sunday. (Angela Brown/battlefords NOW Staff)

Lanny McDonald travelled from Saskatoon to participate in the gathering and sang an honour song to lead the walk. McDonald’s Okihtcitâwak Patrol Group acts as a presence on Saskatoon streets at night in dangerous areas. He and fellow group members have been helping Morin’s family conduct searches.

“(We) do the best we can to be there for the family,” he told battlefordsNOW. “It’s part of why we started the patrol. We don’t want people to go missing and not return home to their families. That’s a huge issue right now for First Nations people.”

Morin’s disappearance is considered suspicious, and the RCMP’s Major Crime Unit North has been assisting in the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding Morin’s whereabouts is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW