Int’l Women’s Day takes solemn pause at Red Deer City Hall gathering

One man was charged in December 2022 in their murders, as well as that of a fourth woman, Rebecca Contois, 24. Those four killings are alleged to have occurred between March and May 2022.

“Indigenous women, sex workers, and whomever these women were, they’re worth finding and worth saving. There have been excuses made that it’s too much money to search, but if it was anyone else, they would look,” says Amy E., executive director at new Red Deer non-profit called HOME-A Place for Youth to Live and Gather.

“These woman had families, and their families have been sitting in camps every day since 2022 asking the federal and provincial governments over and over to please find our girls.”

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said in December that he’d like a search for Harris and Myran to begin in 2024.

Kinew said the province has identified resources to make that happen, and is currently working with the feds to determine what role each can play.

Jeremy Skibicki, who is the accused in their murders, is set to stand trial this year. He’s pleaded not guilty on all four counts of first-degree murder, according to the CBC.

In the context of International Women’s Day, Amy says for Indigenous people, women are sacred.

“Historically speaking, it’s a colonial thing that women are removed, destroyed and murdered, and they’re just not found. It’s not just these women in Winnipeg,” they say. “Our people are continuously missing, and even more recently in B.C., with Robert Pickton’s eligibility for day parole. Why are women worth so little to the government and to Canada?”

Amy says Canadians can help by sharing these and other women’s photos and missing posters, and making sure not to neglect sharing those of Indigenous women.

Another Red Deerian, Riley Valentina, who shared with rdnewsNOW that she is a transgender woman and local sex worker, says she’s experienced violence in her work.

“My job is my job and I love it, but it’s scary at times because you don’t know who you’re meeting up with, whose vehicle you’re getting into, and if you’ll be in a ditch some day. It’s always in the back of my mind,” she says.

“I am not Indigenous, but I still feel these are my people. The fact is that if it was me, because I’m white, I’d probably be searched for, but because these are Indigenous women, they just get thrown off the radar, and that’s not okay. We are human. We don’t deserve this.”

Precautions are taken in her work, she says, to eliminate much of the possibility of violence, but no solution is perfect. From death threats to assault, she’s experienced it.

THOUGHTS ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Provincially and nationally, groups and leaders issued statements today to recognize International Women’s Day.

“At the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce, we recognize the need to champion women in our business community,” the Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce said in an email. “Encouraging and supporting the courageous women who take on challenges is essential for economic development. We take pride in our women-owned business members and are committed to fostering their continued growth, understanding that success for women in Red Deer translates to success for all.”

The Chamber is part of a Women Leading Change event this September. More details on that and other initiatives are at reddeerchamber.com.

“Every day, women and girls help us create better and stronger communities, and as we celebrate the achievements of women in our province, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing women in Alberta,” said Alberta Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, Tanya Fir.

“Alberta has a long tradition of women breaking barriers; in 1917, for example, two Albertans became the first women elected to public office anywhere in Canada. We are also a province known for the Famous Five – five trailblazing Albertans who fought for women to be included as persons, under law.”

And in a statement Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+, though didn’t specifically touch on the situation in Winnipeg.

“As part of our commitment to address the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people, we are accelerating the implementation of the Federal Pathway and providing new funding for services that support Indigenous women and girls, along with other marginalized groups,” he said.

Trudeau also remarked about this year’s IWD theme being ‘Invest in women. Accelerate progress,’ which means continued work to advance gender equality.

“That means giving women more choices in the work force, closing the gender wage gap, and reaffirming our collective commitment to women’s leadership – from public offices to corporate boardrooms to university and college campuses. That is why we have invested nearly $7 billion in Canada’s first Women Entrepreneurship Strategy – helping women start up, scale up, and soar, in whatever field they choose,” says Trudeau.

“With over half of provinces and territories now offering $10-a-day child care and the rest well on their way, we are also seeing the benefits of record-high levels of women’s participation in the workforce. Building an affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care system is good for kids, good for families, and good for the economy.”

More information about the current events in Winnipeg is at searchthelandfill.com.

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Int’l Women’s Day takes solemn pause at Red Deer City Hall gathering

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