By Rachel Fraser
May 5th is Red Dress Day – the National Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S).
In Valemount, an annual walk is held, and locals – most of whom walk for someone they’ve lost – gathered at the Village office to walk for their loved ones, or in solidarity.”
“Chances are, if you know an Indigenous person, they’re related to someone who has gone missing or been murdered. That’s how common this is,” said organizer Sherry Tinsley, addressing the small crowd.
While they walk for awareness, they also walk for justice. Tinsley said, “There is a history of these crimes not being investigated as thoroughly “¦ people have targeted us knowing they can get away with it.”
Latisha Marsden says she joins the walk every year that she’s in town for all that have gone missing around here and down the Highway of Tears.
“It’s important to stand up and raise your voice, and let other people know what’s actually happening here, and maybe one day, it’ll make a difference,” she said.
