March held in Nanaimo to honour MMIWG

Vaisanen (in red shirt) said since the 70s, there have been almost 4,000 Indigenous women who have gone missing or have been murdered in Canada. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

On February 14th members of the Nanaimo community took to the streets to bring awareness to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) across Canada.

The Women’s Memorial March was first started in 1992  following the murder of Cheryl Ann Joe in Vancouver. What started as a small memorial walk following her death, grew to become an annual march held in different communities across the country to remember those who have been murdered or have gone missing.

This year, a march was held in Nanaimo organized by Leah Vaisanen the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Students Union’s Indigenous Student Representative, and Sherry Mattice, the VIU Indigenous Navigator. 

CHLY spoke to Vaisanen before the march to learn more about how it came together.

The march went from Maffeo Sutton Park to Diana Krall Plaza, stopping at the nightclub Evolve recognizing the location as the last spot Lisa Marie Young was seen. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Vaisanen said this march is important for people to learn more and to bring attention to the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. She said since the 70s, there have been almost 4,000 Indigenous women who have gone missing or have been murdered in Canada. 

“Indigenous women make up 14 per cent of homicides and 11 per cent missing and yet, our Indigenous population is 4.3 per cent across Canada,” she said.

The march has been held on campus at Vancouver Island University for many years but this year was the first year it was held in the downtown Nanaimo area. 

“I believe that a lot of people in Nanaimo know about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-spirited, but I don't think they know the roots,” Vaisanen said. “The importance of this day is this is a really big issue, not just in Nanaimo, but across Canada.”

Leah Vaisanen speaking to the crowd at the march. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Vaisanen said marches like this are important to advocate for those who might be unable to advocate for themselves.

“As an Indigenous woman that has been abused, and sadly had violence in my past life, I feel that I need to advocate for the woman that cannot advocate for themselves,” she said. “Being able to organize this march has been so beautiful in many ways. This is just a really important issue to my heart, and I want to do as much as I can to, advocate for these women that cannot advocate for themselves.”

She said showing up to a march like this can help someone learn how to be a strong advocate for a community dealing with loss.

“Just to be there and to listen, I feel like those are those are the two that I'm learning as I'm going through my journey. Be a support system, attend these marches, any sort of advocacy that's happening across Nanaimo,” she said.

At the March on Wednesday, attendees met at Maffeo Sutton Park where Elder Stella Johnson, nee Erasmus, spoke and said a prayer towards those who have been murdered or are still missing. As well, Vaisanen said some words in front of the crowd, holding back her emotions.

Angie Calhoun performing a jingle dance. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

“These [Women’s Memorial Marchs] in February represent the strength, power and connection we as Indigenous peoples have to gather and solidarity, which serves as a testament to the love and commitment to Indigenous nations and communities. We continue to encourage everyone to show support for the ongoing struggle against violence faced by missing and murdered indigenous girls and two-spirit,” Vaisanen said at the march.

Before the crowd headed out marching on the street, Angie Calhoun performed a jingle dance honouring the survivors and those who did not return from residential schools.

The group then marched on Front St towards the nightclub Evolve. The group then stopped in front of the nightclub recognizing this as the last spot Lisa Marie Young was seen on June 30th, 2002. They then continued to Diana Krall Plaza where they ended the march with Calhoun leading in the Women’s Warrior Song.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.