Jerry Lennie missed the chance to intervene when a relative was being abused, and it still burns in his mind.

SA国际影视传媒淢ost of my life, I fought,SA国际影视传媒� said Lennie. SA国际影视传媒淭o me, that was useless fighting, because when I needed to fightSA国际影视传媒� I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 there for her.SA国际影视传媒�

He shared his story at a Sisters in Spirit vigil for missing and murdered women Wednesday, Oct. 4.

He talked about being ashamed for not saying anything when he could tell something was wrong.

Since then, Lennie has made sure to teach his sons never to fight women.

SA国际影视传媒淚 never hit a woman in my life, because my father taught me,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou have to teach people not to hit weaker people. The parents have to teach the children not to beat, not to bully. They start bullying and itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to take over.SA国际影视传媒�

About two dozen people attended the vigil, which included short speeches, sSA国际影视传媒檓ores and tea, a moment of silence and a lighting of sparklers around the fire to end it.

Lesa Semmler, who is advising Canada's inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, talked about her close link to the subject.

SA国际影视传媒淢y mother was murdered when I was eight,SA国际影视传媒� she said through tears. SA国际影视传媒淪he lived a life of violence. She was beaten in front of me.SA国际影视传媒�

She has seen comments in the media that the national inquiry is a waste of money.

SA国际影视传媒淢y mother wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a waste of money,SA国际影视传媒� said Semmler. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 got to be a stop. As aboriginal women, we need to stop the violence in our homes.SA国际影视传媒�

SheSA国际影视传媒檚 passionate about making the point to the inquiry that the situation in the North is not necessarily the same as down south.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 what we see here, is family violence,SA国际影视传媒� said Semmler. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not the stranger picking up the hitchhiker. Here itSA国际影视传媒檚 family violence. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 our husbands, our brothers, our unclesSA国际影视传媒� We need to change it now.SA国际影视传媒�

The inquiry needs to bring more supports for people in the North, from to community workers and shelters, she said.

Family violence is especially hard to tackle in the shelterless communities.

SA国际影视传媒淗alf the town is related to you,SA国际影视传媒� said Semmler, asking where women are supposed to go if theySA国际影视传媒檙e in danger, especially with the fear of losing their children to social services as well.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think that the only way weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to get that money, that support in our communities is if the inquiry gives the recommendations, and they have to hear our stories,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not down south and we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the same problems as (the people) down south. We need to make sure that our voices up here get heard in the inquiry.SA国际影视传媒�