The mood was somber at Bear Creek Park in Surrey on Sunday, as a gathering of people met to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
A number of red dresses, many featuring photos of missing teenagers and women, fluttered in the breeze as Indigenous representatives spoke, as the annual event was held in advance of May 5, which this year, marks the 15th anniversary of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ People — also known as Red Dress Day.
One photo affixed to one of the many red dressed was of Delphine Nikal, 16, who was last seen in June of 1990, hitchhiking to see a friend in Smithers. Another, 19-year-old college student Lana Derrick, vanished while visiting her mom in Terrace. She was last seen at a gas station on Highway 16, also known as the Highway of Tears, notorious for its high number of missing and murdered Indigenous woman.
"This day serves as a powerful reminder of the need to recognize and address the violence still faced by many in Canada," states a federal government website.
At the event, Katzie First Nation's Colleen Pierrespoke and sang a song for those being honoured, before Deborah Merrier, who introduced herself as Cree from Alberta, got the march started.
"I'm very honoured to see the beautiful sun and my family here today," she said, before touching on the many still-missing and victims of violence pictured in the photos, many of whom disappeared from the notorious Highway of Tears, which runs between Prince George and Prince Rupert in B.C.
"We honour them here, on this land, but people need to be aware ... that's why we have the drummers, that's why we have singers," Merrier said. "So if you can march with us, you will make my heart happy."
The gathering of people then walked from the 140 Street Bear Creek Park entrance to 88 Avenue, then down 88 Avenue, before returning to the start.
