After having acquired the necessary funds to get them to Yellowknife, Shar Williams and The Sober Crew held a rally at the Yellowknife Artists Co-operativeSA国际影视传媒檚 (YAC) geodesic dome on Sunday, April 3. Organizers say the goal of the rally SA国际影视传媒� dubbed, The Time is Now SA国际影视传媒� is to bring awareness to significant issues among Indigenous peoples while also promoting unity and understanding.
RELATED REPORTING: Donations from Yellowknifers allow Indigenous rally to proceed
Among the issues discussed by Shar Williams, the organizer for SA国际影视传媒楾he Time Is NowSA国际影视传媒� rally, as well as The Sober Crew who came out to chat and perform for the crowd of over a dozen spectators, were SA国际影视传媒楳issing and Murdered Indigenous WomenSA国际影视传媒�, systematic issues, and Indigenous rights.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are not disposable,SA国际影视传媒� Williams said. SA国际影视传媒淲e are still missing and murdered, and preyed upon, and brutalized.
SA国际影视传媒淚 lost my brother 18 years ago,SA国际影视传媒� she continued, referring to her own story of where she came from. SA国际影视传媒淲hen he was murdered, it was just swept under the rug. There was never a charge brought to anybody. Nothing was ever done, and everybody in that town forgot about himSA国际影视传媒� it happens all over this country.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭he only way we are going to start making some change is if we all unite,SA国际影视传媒� Williams said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have to start learning more about each other, each otherSA国际影视传媒檚 cultures, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where the ignorance will end.SA国际影视传媒�
RELATED REPORTING: SA国际影视传媒楾he Time Is NowSA国际影视传媒� rally to highlight Indigenous issues and art on April 1 in Yellowknife
As for The Sober Crew, made up of Clarissa Stevens, Daniella Blyan, Auggie Hunter, Robert Tatti, and Robbie Daniels, all had a chance to offer their own personal experiences and hardships while continuing to reinforce the importance of Indigenous culture.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are definite activists when it comes to Indigenous rights,SA国际影视传媒� Auggie Hunter said. SA国际影视传媒淎lso, promoting culture in the cities, we want the youth , especially the youth, to know that their cultureSA国际影视传媒檚 there.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚t was really hard for me,SA国际影视传媒� she continued. SA国际影视传媒淚 had to go through a lot of things that built me to be who I am today, but if I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 go through all those things, it wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have brought me to a group of people that mean a lot to me.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淲hen I decided to sober up, I just knew that getting back to my culture was something that was going to help me do that.SA国际影视传媒�
For Robert Tatti, another member of the Sober Crew, his decision to seek culture as a result of his battle with addiction.
SA国际影视传媒淚 couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be around people,SA国际影视传媒� said Robert Tatti. SA国际影视传媒淚 went to go clean up in Calgary and that was probably the best decision ISA国际影视传媒檝e made.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淎ll I knew was the addictions life,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淚 was destroying other lives too, SA国际影视传媒榗ause I was active in addiction helping them be addiction.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭hey say SA国际影视传媒榯his is all that I knowSA国际影视传媒�, but everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 open to learn new things.SA国际影视传媒�
Following The Sober CrewSA国际影视传媒檚 personal stories, drumming sessions, of which Tanya Snow offered her talents as an Inuk throat-singer, were also a part of the rally.
Furthermore, Michael Fatt made an appearance talked on his own hardships and struggles, of which he says he has 50 plus years of experience in.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was like the straw on the camelSA国际影视传媒檚 back,SA国际影视传媒� said Fatt during his speech. SA国际影视传媒淚t just broke me down to tears and, finally, I asked for help.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 went out, I got treatment, I got sober,SA国际影视传媒� he continued. SA国际影视传媒淚 did a lot of work on myself, I strengthened myself by going out and helping other people.SA国际影视传媒�
After the peace rally concluded, Williams provided comments to Yellowknifer regarding how excited she was for the opportunity to share the message of awareness with those who could make their way out to the dome.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is amazing,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淓very time we come to a different community itSA国际影视传媒檚 always so overwhelming for us, itSA国际影视传媒檚 so amazing, and we take so much home with us too.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 awesome. This was awesome.SA国际影视传媒�
