Pearl Lorentzen
Lakeside Leader

People in Slave Lake have two options to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) on October 4.

Sisters in Spirit was started by the Native Women’s Association of Canada in 2006. It raises awareness that Indigenous women and girls are more likely to go missing or be murdered than other people in Canada. The symbols of this day are a red dress and a red hand print. The slogan is ‘No More Stolen Sisters.’

The first is the annual Sisters in Spirit walk organized by the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre.

This begins at 10 a.m. with the presentation of the red dress by Nancy Chalifoux at the Friendship Centre. The walk starts at 11:30 a.m. in front of the Town of Slave Lake office. It goes along Main St. and 6 Ave. NE to the Friendship Centre. There is a stew and bannock lunch following the walk.

Not everyone can make it to the walk during the day, says Hilda Lambert, vice-president with Métis Nation of Alberta Region 5. Therefore, Region 5 decided to hold an event as well.

At 6:30 p.m., this walk goes from Rennie Hall Plaza to the MNA office and a candle-light vigil. Marilyn Lizee, one of the editors of Stories of Métis Women: Tales My Kookum Told Me will be at the MNA office during the vigil to sign some books.