Candles of Tears raise awareness on MMIWG
By Laura Barrios
NIPISSING FIRST NATION—John “Emmerson” Bobiwash from Michipicoten First Nation is currently traveling across Canada to set up his Candles of Tears across every province to raise awareness for Indigenous-based issues such as the Murdered and Missing Women and Girls.
Bobiwash, 84, started his journey at the Chippewa River located in the Algoma District of Ontario and met up with his driving partner, James Deurloo from Niagara Falls, in Nipissing First Nation and together they are making their way to the easterly province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Bobiwash said that this his Candles of Tears was inspired from a vision that he had 12 years ago.
“[The Wreck of the] Edmund Fitzgerald was playing on the radio even after 40 years. I listened to that song and for some reason I thought to myself, ‘For 40 years that guy kept that song going, it’s still a pretty good tune. I’ve got to do something’,” recalled Bobiwash. “I was leaning against a tree and that’s when all of these girls started appearing to me. I asked them to come again, and they came in flocks, but they were all smiling. I wasn’t sure why they weren’t smiling. I couldn’t see their face, but you could see they were happy.”
Bobiwash was unsure who the women were, but he felt that they were the spirits of the Murdered and Missing Women and Girls. He also didn’t understand why these women were so happy, but he brought his inquiry to an Elder in a shaking tent.
“So I was in a shaking tent one time and the Elder asked me to go up and there and I asked him my question about the smiling girls. I had a thought they were the Murdered and Missing Women, but I don’t get why they’re smiling. He responded: ‘I think the reason they’re smiling is because you’re doing something for them. They already went through their mean deaths and they’re happy someone is finally doing something for them.”
The Candles of Tears are currently made of wood – hand carved and painted – and the first one is installed near the Chippewa River. Bobiwash intends on changing the materials used for the Candles of Tears so that they can withstand all of the elements—including combating vandalism or theft. The Candles of Tears are over seven feet tall and painted the four colours of the medicine wheel. The base of the candles are surrounded by hand painted rocks. On the sticks, there are hand-painted tear drops—to represent the pain and suffering.
“I went to a conference in Thunder Bay and in Winnipeg—there were so many tears. So I thought to myself, ‘The tears on that little candle were not big enough’. So when I make the one out of steel, it’s going to be a big candle.”
Bobiwash will also be traveling with two Eagle Staffs. One staff is for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. The second staff is the Directional Staff.
“I have a Directional Staff because women and girls have gone missing and murdered all over in every direction.”
Bobiwash has had both staffs in a medicine cave that provide healing. The cave was recently reclaimed for cultural purposes.
Bobiwash has been pursuing this journey without any financial support; however, has received in-kind support along the way from many supporters that include carvers and artists.
“With the trailer, we had Leona Skye, originally from Pic Mobert First Nation, a survivor of human trafficking and an accomplished painter, paint the trailer and she didn’t charge us for her work. That’s the kind of support we’ve been receiving,” shared Deurloo. “It’s great.”
For those interested in supporting Bobiwash throughout this journey, he can be reached at: 705-943-6337.
The pair just returned from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. They will have Candles of Tears erected in almost all of Canada in the upcoming month.