Photos: Vigil for missing and murdered indigenous women brings community together to remember

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      On Tuesday evening (October 4), family, friends, and members of the community gathered at Victory Square to mourn the loss of Canada's missing and murdered indigenous women. 

      Hosted and organized by Jerilynn Webster and Lorelei Williams, the vigil drew close to 100 people, and grew in size as the event went on. 

      Many held candles, while relatives of the deceased wore red ribbons on their arms. Glen C. Williams, an elder in the community, provided tobacco for smudging.

      Posters with the names and photographs of missing and murdered indigenous women were dispersed throughout the square and the crowd. Family members of some of these women spoke, telling stories of their vibrant daughters, sisters, mothers and aunties, and passionately addressing the federal government's lack of action on conducting a full-blown inquiry into the issue.

      Musqueam hip hop artist Christie Lee Charles opened the evening with a powerful address:

      "We are gathered here tonight for the strong women that have gone before us. We are in the presence of the strong women that are standing with us this evening. It’s very important when we’re doing this work and we’re sharing our words and our songs, that we remember our strength as women, and the work that we are actually doing.…Always protect your woman power. That is one thing they didn’t take away from us in residential schools. They did not kill the Indian in us, and they definitely did not take away our woman power.”

      Posters with the names and photographs of many missing and murdered women were displayed throughout the square.
      Amanda Siebert
      A mother and daughter lit candles in the square ahead of the first speaker of the evening.
      Amanda Siebert
      Christie Lee Charles (aka Miss Christy Lee) welcomed the crowd in Musqueam first, and then in English. She also sang a traditional welcome song.
      Amanda Siebert
      Host Jerilynn Webster guided speakers throughout the evening. (Webster, a hip hop artist, also goes by JB the First Lady).
      Amanda Siebert
      Elder Glen C. Williams smudged the stage.
      Amanda Siebert
      Gertie Pierre spoke of her niece, who was murdered in 1992.
      Amanda Siebert
      Elder Glen C. Williams prepares tobacco for smudging.
      Amanda Siebert
      Councillor Andrea Reimer, Jerilynn Webster, MLA Melanie Mark, and Lorelei Williams surrounded Lillian Howard (second from the right) as she spoke about her father's sisters, who were both murdered in 1979 while hitchiking home from Campbell River to Gold River.
      Amanda Siebert
      Jingle dress dancers shared candlelight.
      Amanda Siebert
      Molly Dixon and other mourners lit candles for family members and friends.
      Amanda Siebert
      MLA Melanie Mark and her daughter were part of the vigil.
      Amanda Siebert
      Molly Dixon (centre) spoke of her daughter, Angelene Eileen Pete, who went missing in 2011.
      Amanda Siebert
      Just one part of the crowd that gathered at Victory Square.
      Amanda Siebert
      Family members of all ages took part in the vigil.
      Amanda Siebert
      Organizer Lorelei Williams explains why she chose to host the event at Victory Square.
      Amanda Siebert
      A moment of silence was held for Canada's missing and murdered indigenous women.
      Amanda Siebert
      Elder Glen C. Williams spoke to the crowd.
      Amanda Siebert
      Elder Glen C. Williams sang for the crowd.
      Amanda Siebert
      A jingle dress dancer performs as the evening came to a close.
      Amanda Siebert

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