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For Carol Archie, she has lived through the reality of Red Dress Day.
Archie is the niece 91裸聊视频� from her mom91裸聊视频檚 side 91裸聊视频� of a murdered Indigenous woman.
91裸聊视频淪he was brutally raped and murdered and the individuals that were responsible for her death, two of them were provided small fines and one was able to walk away free, none of them had jail time. This is our reality. We were born and raised with the mindset that we have to be aware of the dangers, not out in the wilderness, in community,91裸聊视频� said Archie, who spoke at Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Red Dress Day march Friday (May 5).
While wearing red and holding signs, the group of hundreds marched from the friendship society on Leon Avenue before eventually ending up at the Kelowna Court House to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and the ongoing violent epidemic throughout North America against Indigenous women and girls.
While Red Dress Day has been commemorated for more than a decade, Friday marked the first time the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society held an event.
Indigenous people have been targets for years and Archie still sees that today.
91裸聊视频淚 have the ability to be able to work for an employer that understands where I91裸聊视频檓 coming from because in this day and age, my youngest daughter was followed from my work to her school,91裸聊视频� said Archie, who has two daughters, 19 and 16. 91裸聊视频淚 know to make certain I get to work extra early in the morning and my day ends when her day ends so that way I know I91裸聊视频檓 the one driving her home and I91裸聊视频檓 the one picking her up, because we are visitors on the Sylix traditional unceded territory so we don91裸聊视频檛 have a lot of family here.91裸聊视频�
Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society executive director Edna Terbasket said it warmed her heart to see the support Friday.
91裸聊视频淭he message is getting out there to many, many people,91裸聊视频� said Terbasket. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e lived with it for a long time as Indigenous people and when I see a lot of the folks here that are from the mainstream, I go 91裸聊视频榃ow, we91裸聊视频檙e getting our message out there.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Terbasket explained red is symbolic because it91裸聊视频檚 spiritual to Indigenous people. It also stands for the violence behind what91裸聊视频檚 been happening, at the same time representing love.
91裸聊视频淚 think families talk more with their children about safety and even lifestyle and taking good care of themselves,91裸聊视频� said Terbasket. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not only Indigenous women and girls, it91裸聊视频檚 all peoples. I couldn91裸聊视频檛 imagine if I lost a sister or a niece or a granddaughter and she wasn91裸聊视频檛 found, I couldn91裸聊视频檛 imagine that. Is she alive? Is she okay? Has she been brutally assaulted or murdered?91裸聊视频�
Both Terbasket and Archie have seen tremendous growth and awareness, especially since the remains of 215 Indigenous residential school children were found in Kamloops almost two years ago.
91裸聊视频淲hat we are doing here today, we91裸聊视频檙e becoming stronger as a people, we are being more aware of who we are as a people and how we contribute to our families, communities, and nation,91裸聊视频� said Archie. 91裸聊视频淗aving this awareness across Canada and North America is huge for us, and it all started with residential school. That ripple effect comes into today and we91裸聊视频檙e answering back with our own ripple effects and it91裸聊视频檚 becoming more powerful.91裸聊视频�
And for more people who want to become aware, learn, and be a part of the solution, Terbasket and Archie say to ask questions and have open conversations.
91裸聊视频淲e all have to work together, collaborate together, heal together,91裸聊视频� said Terbasket.
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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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