"Today we come together to grieve and heal.SA国际影视传媒�

The words of Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Amanda Baton, sombre yet hopeful, opened up the yearly Sisters in Spirit event held Friday in Yellowknife.

Dozens of guests, including Yellowknife members, gathered at Northern United Place to honour the lives of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

The annual October acknowledgment of lives lost, created by the Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of Canada, saw women 鈦燬A国际影视传媒� survivors of abuse and relatives of victims of violence SA国际影视传媒� come together to share their stories of suffering and salvat

ion; stories accompanied by a chorus of calls for change in the face of disproportionate violence across the country.

Rachel Tambour-Zoe was one of them.

Like many in the room, Tambour-Zoe SA国际影视传媒� a member of the K'atl'odeeche First Nation SA国际影视传媒� told attendees sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been affected by what the authors of the MMIWG national inquirySA国际影视传媒檚 final report called a SA国际影视传媒済enocideSA国际影视传媒� of Indigenous women and girls and LGBTQ last June.

In July 2018, Tambour-ZoeSA国际影视传媒檚 cousin Brittany Martel was found deceased on the side of a B.C. highway. MartelSA国际影视传媒檚 smiling face was one of several framed photos of missing and murdered Indigenous women displayed at the gathering Friday.

Just days ago, Tambour-Zoe said a woman she knew through family was found dead in Alberta. Police have ruled her death a homicide.

SA国际影视传媒淚s that going to be another case that will be swept under the rug?SA国际影视传媒� she asked.

Tambour-ZoeSA国际影视传媒檚 tears were met by more from the audience.

But she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 place blame on the or law enforcement. She said her SA国际影视传媒渉eart goes out to officers,SA国际影视传媒� who try to tackle the violence Indigenous people experience daily.

Tambour-Zoe stood in front of the Tapestry of Hearts, a colourful quilt commemorating the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous people SA国际影视传媒� the product of a dedicated group of women and men who each added their own touch to the tapestry at the Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 office.

Tambour-Zoe later told Yellowknifer it was important to speak at the event because the need to address and confront MMIWG has become SA国际影视传媒渧ery critical.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淕irls are continuously going missing and being murdered,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hese types of events help us to come together and to try to resolve some of these issues around what we can prevent women from going missing and being murdered."

Tambour-Zoe, who SA国际影视传媒渨ent through hell and back as a child,SA国际影视传媒� said she wants to protect her only granddaughter from the things she endured as a young person.

SA国际影视传媒淚 managed to get myself out of it because I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to be stuck anymore. I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to be a victim anymore,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Men's issue, too

Longtime Yellowknifer Gail Cyr told guests Friday she wants to see more men attend next yearSA国际影视传媒檚 event.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a menSA国际影视传媒檚 issue as well,SA国际影视传媒� said Cyr.

By including men, law enforcement and government agencies in the conversation, progress can be made, she said, calling for strengthened partnerships between Indigenous groups and those agencies.

YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 top Mountie, Insp. Alex Laporte, said it was important for members to attend the ceremony for a number of reasons, the first being to honour the lives of the missing and murdered.

SA国际影视传媒淎lso, for us as a service provider, itSA国际影视传媒檚 important for us to come here and show our support and hear the stories - for people to to see that weSA国际影视传媒檙e here, weSA国际影视传媒檙e present, we do our best every day.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭his is an ongoing commitment to relationships because we all have a role, and we work well together and we need to work together for those who are vulnerable and in need,SA国际影视传媒� added Laporte.