A sacred fire, red dress walk, community gathering and art show are planned for May 5, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day.
The event will start at Galloway Rapids with the lighting of the sacred fire at 10 a.m. From there, at 12 p.m., participants will walk to the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre where another sacred fire, art exhibition and other activities will remember those who have been lost.
While there won’t be an RCMP escort for the walk, there will be a pilot vehicle with a red dress attached leading the procession for safety purposes, said Guu Gaa Jung (Symbia Barnaby) who organized the event along with Marlena Joseph Clayton and Chantal Meggison.
Although the walkers will be on the shoulder of the highway, Guu Gaa Jung acknowledged the inherent dangers of walking along the highway saying they are hoping traffic will be light because it is a Sunday and that motorists will respect the procession by driving with caution.
Elders and people with mobility issues are invited to join the walk at the Recreation Complex to the Civic Centre where a second sacred fire will be lit hosted by Wilp Gitsiis — the family on whose traditional territory the event is taking place.
Doors for the community gathering and art show open at 5 p.m.
The event is being financially supported by the Prince Rupert Port Authority, Moose Lodge, Lxeen Community Services Society and Gitga’at First Nation.
Earlier in the week, Prince Rupert city council declared May 5 National Day for of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) in Prince Rupert.
The declaration was made at a special regular meeting of council on April 29 on the recommendation of staff. A report from city manager Robert Buchan noted that the declaration “aligns with the City’s Framework Policy on Reconciliation as well as the overall broad goals to develop and support activities forwarded by the City’s new indigenous relations committee.”
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