"Sisters" commemoration grows in grassroots influence

From a small town potluck in La Ronge, Sask. to a march on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Oct. 4 communities across Canada found their own ways of honouring the lives of hundreds of Aboriginal women who have gone missing or been murdered.
Since 2005, the annual "Sisters in Spirit" vigil, organized by the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC), has grown steadily from the 11 cities, towns and reserves that originally took part to 40 this year paying tribute across Canada.
This year, hundreds of blue balloons­each bearing an image of "Grandmother Moon," designed by Vancouver artist Dick Baker­were given to vigil organizers. The idea, said NWAC community development co-ordinator Jennifer Lord, was that each balloon would represent a missing or murdered woman, and that as the balloons were released, healing could begin.
"It's about letting go and being hopeful," Lord said. "Sending the balloon up to the sky is very significant."
So too is the image of "Grandmother Moon," which has become the symbol of NWAC's "Sisters in Spirit" advocacy, research and awareness-raising initiative.
"The moon... really provides us as women with direction and knowledge and wisdom, and it's a reminder for us about our sacred roles in our families and our communities, and also beyond," Lord said.
This year marked the seventh anniversary of the death of Gladys Tolley, killed in a hit-and-run by an RCMP officer in Manawake, Ont. It was Tolley's daughter, Bridget, who proposed the idea of an annual gathering of remembrance for missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
The proposal was then acted upon by NWAC and Amnesty International, a long-time supporter and sponsor for a report entitled "Stolen Sisters: A Human Rights Response to Discrimination and Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada." It was released on Oct. 4 four years ago.
The "Sisters in Spirit" initiative is intended to raise awareness of the issues not only on the national political level, but also on the local level, and the growing number of communities participating in the vigil plays a major role in that effort.
In addition to helping Aboriginal communities become more aware of the dangers facing their women, and of choices that can better protect women, NWAC also has a responsibility to educate the non-Aboriginal population, Lord said.
While some cases do involve domestic violence, there are also numerous examples of non-Aboriginal men targeting Aboriginal women. Non-Aboriginal community leaders need to come alongside groups like NWAC in resolving these issues, Lord said.
"It's important to emphasize that when we talk about missing and murdered women in Canada, we're talking about Canadians.... It's not an 'Aboriginal problem'," she said.
For some communities, those who have been fortunate enough not to have suffered losses, the focus of the vigil is on prevention and awareness-raising, she added.
In communities where there has been a death or a disappearance, such as in Amber Redman's hometown of Fort Qu'Appelle, or Daleen Bosse's reserve at Onion Lake, "this is really part of the mourning process, part of the healing process.... We're dealing with trauma and ripple effects not only within a family, but a community as well."
The Sisters in Spirit vigils serve as an opportunity to teach children, boys and girls, both about the dangers faced by Aboriginal women and the pain their disappearance or death leaves behind, and also about healthy ways to view one another, how to care for themselves, for their families and for their communities. And also to "break the silence" when that is required, Lord said.
The vigils, especially when victims' families are present, serve as a powerful lesson in that regard.
"It's good to build these strong images for children that the families are never giving up, that they always have hope, that they're strong, and that they are not only supported by the community but they support others who are going through these kinds of issues as well," she said. "It's about the power of reclaiming your own voice."