Sisters In Spirit vigils are being held across Canada today to honour more than 520 missing or murdered Aboriginal women.
The First Nations University of Canada is hosting one of the larger ones this evening.
Lead organizer Jaqueline Anaquod says the violence stems from a racist and sexist view of Aboriginal women. She says even Aboriginal men are guilty of viewing women that way. As a result, Anaquod fears for her own daughter’s safety:
“I have a 17-year-old daughter, myself. Everytime she leaves the house and walks out that door, I worry about her.”
Candles will be lit as the names of missing Aboriginal men and women in Saskatchewan are read aloud.
Family members of missing and murdered Aboriginal people will speak.
More than 400 people are expected to attend tonight’s vigil in Regina.
Several dozen people assembled for a Sisters In Spirit event in Prince Albert over the lunch hour.
Della Webster says she was good friends with Karina Wolfe, a First Nations woman who went missing in Saskatoon in July, 2010.
Webster grew up with Wolfe and says she often wonders what happened:
“Definitely, she’s always on the back of my mind . . . wondering where she is or how her family is feeling.”
According to the Native Women’s Association of Canada, a total of 129 vigils to remember the women were scheduled to be held across Canada today.