Photo of Sisters in Spirit march in Calgary
Sisters in Spirit Day are vigils held across Alberta to honour and remember missing murdered Indigenous women, girls and two spirited people plus (MMIWG2S+).
For the past 20 years, Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society has been holding vigils for MMIWG2S+ which at first was only a handful of staff but, has grown to gatherings of approximately one thousand people.
Awo Taan helps organize events like Sisters in Spirits to not only help educate the community about MMIWG2S+ but also, help build bridges with the Calgary Police Service as part of the 231 calls to Justice.
Awo Taan MMIGW2S+ Coordinator and Program Supervisor Samantha Esthimiou shared with CJWE how the society has been helping educate the community.
Part of the vigil in Calgary Alberta, was a march down Steven Ave where approximately 250 people were in attendance.
Many of the speakers where members of the community which included, Mayor Jyoti Gondek, members of the Piikani’s new chief and council, and other members of the Treaty 7 community.
Natawowokii English of the Piikani Nation for past six years has been walking from Brocket Alberta to raise awareness for MMIWG2S+ along with honoring the memory of her late daughter Joey English.
Natwowokii shared with CJWE that this year will be her last walk from Piikani to Calgary and how she’ll be working on a four-year march that will go across the country.
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