‘Walking in solidarity’: Hundreds march in Calgary’s Sisters in Spirit vigil

Hundreds of Calgarians marched from Stephen Avenue and 3 Street SW to Olympic Plaza for the 19th annual Sisters in Spirit vigil on Tuesday.

The vigil, held every year on Oct. 4, honours all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Gender Diverse people and their loved ones.

Vigils were held in several cities and towns across the country.

A description for the vigil read, “bring your drums, shawls, rattles and noisemakers to the Sisters in Spirit peace march and rally, hosted by Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society. Activities include speakers, Honour songs, traditional ceremony and an open microphone.”

Awo Taan is a women’s shelter dedicated to helping women and children from all cultures. According to its website, Awo Taan means “shield” in the Blackfoot language.

Calgarians held a rally at 10 a.m. and started their march at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony at Olympic Plaza began at 11 a.m.

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Organizer Josie Nepinak told CityNews it was wonderful to see a large turnout at Tuesday’s vigil.

“This is amazing, it’s very nice to see so many people in our community, in the Indigenous community come out,” Nepinak said. “I would like to invite more non-Indigenous brothers and sisters to come out.”

She added it’s significant to take part in the vigil.

“The day is intended to honour and to remember the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Many of us in this audience are family members and so we come together as a community to remember, to reflect, to have conversation, but also to bring awareness and education to the greater community so that we can build allies, we can build safer communities as well.”

One rally-goer said they needed to come to the rally to honour all of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people.

“It’s really important to take time to recognize and think about them, pray for them, offer our tobacco in prayer, songs,” they said.

“It’s important to not only spread awareness but your support. You don’t need to be the one standing in front holding the drums, but you can offer your thoughts, your prayers. Walking in solidarity, our heart definitely is felt all across Canada.”

Another person at the vigil said they went for their cousin, Nina Courtepatte who was murdered in 2005.

“I’m here in her memory, for our family, and for all the women and the girls that face violence, that have to struggle to survive to keep from being the one in 12 that are murdered or go missing,” they said.

“I think people should come. You should come and walk with us and support us, we need allies, the time is now, we need to act,” they said. “Your presence here physically it means a lot to us, it shows your support.”

Elsewhere in Alberta, vigils were also held in Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Peace River, Red Deer, and Slave Lake.

–With files from Taylor Braat and Bailey Nitti