Trust fund set up for children of slain woman

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It was over two years ago that Pamela George, a mother of two from Saskatchewan, was raped and beaten to death by two young men. The men were non-Aboriginal, upper middle class university students. The tragedy drew national attention. The story of two white men raping and killing an Aboriginal woman stole headlines for weeks. In the fall of 1996, the two men were tried and convicted for the killing. They were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to six years in jail.

The sentence sparked an outcry from victim's groups and increased the awareness on violence against women. Now, two years after, family and friends of the slain woman want to keep the awareness to the issue and the memory of George in the spotlight.

Cheryl John is helping to organize the Honoring Life fund raiser on July 26 to raise money for the two daughters that George left behind.

John said the main purpose is to raise money for a trust fund for George's two daughters, but it is also hoped to be an educational event.

Honoring Life will feature Aboriginal artists and entertainers, food, crafts and a silent auction. Scheduled to be at the fund raiser are recording artists Wendy Walker, Peggy Ward, flutist Trevor Prairie Chicken, storyteller Tobias Provost and the Pitaa Native Dance Troupe.

The charity event gets under way at 6 p.m. and will be held at Calgary's Native Friendship Centre.

Organizers want people to remember George as a caring, and loving mother whose life and death should not be forgotten.

When George was attacked and killed, she had spent time working as a prostitute in order to make ends meet.

John said she was a poor woman and needed any money she could get to keep her family healthy.

Unfortunately, people ignored the reasons she was forced to walk the streets and focused only on her risky lifestyle.

"She kept being referred to as a prostitute rather than a mother," said John. "So she was diminished in her death as she was in her life."

People need to realize that there is more to the story than just a dead woman, said John. A loving mother has been taken away from two young kids.

"When the trial was over there was two kids whose whole sense of support was taken from them," she said. "It doesn't just stop with the sentence, because there are two little girls that are left out.'

The girls, Chelsea, 12, and Tory, 8, are now living with their grandmother on the Sakimay First Nation in Sas- katchewan.

For information about the fund raiser or to help the cause, call Calgary at 275-2002.