More work needed to complete National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 231 Calls for Justice
By Rick Garrick
FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION — Fort William held its Red Dress Walk in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S+) people on May 5, beginning and ending at the Youth Centre.
“We just come together and walk for the women that aren’t with us anymore,” says Gail Bannon, culture and mountain coordinator at Fort William and one of the walk organizers, noting there are many reasons to continue holding the Red Dress Walk. “One, to never forget the women that never made it home, and also, hopefully, that it doesn’t happen anymore, that we don’t recreate the past.”
Drew Pelletier, recreation worker at Fort William and one of the walk organizers, says the Red Dress Walk was a good opportunity to teach youth about the MMIWG2S+ people.
“We typically bring them together for every event we can,” Pelletier says. “They all like to come out and show their support. There’s lots of drummers, a lot of them are heavily active when it comes to events like this, and it’s nice to see them all come out.”
Fort William’s Michelle Yantz, one of the drummers, says she believes in raising awareness of Red Dress Day and the MMIWG2S+ people.
“I was born from Fort William, but I left when I was really young and I grew up in B.C., so I was around when a lot of the people that were on the streets disappeared,” Yantz says. “Some of them were my friends and they ended up in that pig farm, so this is really a strong cause. I know a lot of people that also have unexplained missing people in their lives, so I try to support it as much as I can.”
Fort William Elder Myria Esquega says the Red Dress Walk is very important for Indigenous people to honour the MMIWG2S+ people.
“We do this every year and we do pay our respects for them,” Elder Esquega says. “It’s good to know that we have more males that are coming out to do the walk as well. Especially with the drums that are drumming ahead, it’s very important for them to know the meaning of this walk and to understand it.”
Fort William Elder Sheila DeCorte says only two of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls 231 Calls for Justice have been completed.
“We need to continue to bring this awareness to this issue because it’s still happening,” Elder DeCorte says, noting the importance of the number of children and youth who participated in the Red Dress Walk. “That’s really good because they need to be made aware of this too, so they could be safe. I’m really disappointed that only two Calls for Justice have been completed.”
Fort William’s Nevaeh Morriseau says they came together to show their support for the MMIWG2S+ people.
“We came together as a community today to show our support and to show our love and compassion for the families who are currently in search for their missing family members,” Morriseau says. “Not only are we supporting the families who have lost a family member, but also advocating for the prevention of these things by making awareness and bringing awareness to the community, to the youth, and just coming together as community to bring healing.”
Fort William Elder Rita Fenton says it is important to honour and remember the MMIWG2S+ people throughout the year.
“I feel that May 5 isn’t just the day, that we remember them every day, especially the ones that have lost their loved ones, their daughter, their aunt or grandmother,” Elder Fenton says. “It’s a day to honour and remember, but it’s also a time to support and call to justice some of the actions that were supposed to be implemented.”
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice are included in the Final Report Volume 1b, which is posted online.