Shahalla Sanderson and Shelley Isbister are seen in front of the Red Dress Project display in La Ronge. (Shelley Isbister/Facebook)

By Derek Cornet

in remembrance

Friends walk through tri-communities in memory of Sheena Billette

May 5, 2021 | 4:59 PM

A national day of awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) didn’t go unnoticed in the tri-communities.

It was most apparent by a display of red dresses hanging on a tree on the urban reserve downtown La Ronge. It was set up by Piwapan Women’s Centre staff and is meant to symbolize violence against Indigenous women, as well as portray the many MMIWG in Canada.

Piwapan has been heavily involved in raising awareness of MMIWG, having in the past few years displayed more than 1,000 hearts on Valentine’s Day. There was also a photoshoot organized last September.

“I think it is important our community recognizes and remembers that this is an important topic as we have had a few women go missing or be murdered who are from our community,” Piwapan executive director Karen Sanderson said.

Air Ronge resident Shahalla Sanderson and two of her friends also wanted to raise awareness Wednesday and they did so by walking five kilometers from the Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre to Mistasinhk Place.

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Sanderson explained they did so in memory of the late Sheena Billette, who was childhood friend of hers. Billette, who was a mother of four young children, was found deceased Dec. 23, 2019, on Highway 102 near La Ronge. Five people have been charged, four with first-degree murder.

“I grew up with Sheena my whole life and I did this walk in honour of her,” Sanderson said. “It was beautiful. It was so nice, and it didn’t seem like that long. We finished in under an hour.”

Sheena Billette was known as a caring person who loved her kids. (Sheena Marie/Facebook)

Sanderson mentioned it was a good feeling to have raised awareness about MMIWG, adding they were wearing t-shirts representing the cause and people waved at them as they drove by.

In 2018, there were approximately 1,200 known MMIWG in Canada.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno