Missing women remembered

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The significance of the demonstration occurring on St. Valentine's Day wasn't lost on the participants who took to the streets in Vancouver's downtown eastside. They were there to remember loved ones gone missing or who have been found murdered.

"Many women (today) will be sharing their love and affection because they are important to someone," said Donna Dickson, a member of the Aboriginal Women's Action Network. "But there will be many more women who will never again know the special warmth that comes from knowing you are loved, wanted and respected."

The 13th annual Women's Memorial March honoured Aboriginal women who have been abducted and killed while most were working on the streets.

What originally was an event specifically for First Nations has branched out during the past few years to include all women. This Feb. 14 march attracted about 500 and was the largest turnout for this rally. It served notice, as indicated by the speakers outside a local police station, that justice should not be any different for "the poor, the sex trade worker or the Native."

Starting from the Carnegie Centre at the intersection of Main and East Hastings, the walk proceeded through the heart of the tough neighbourhood for several blocks. In unison and continually for two hours, the crowd rhythmically beat out a Coast Salish women's warrior chant that is used to gather strength.

The only time the drumming stopped along the route was at pre-designated sites where some of the women were known to have lost their lives. At each of these spots, often outside of rundown hotels, the drumming and singing was replaced by silence that permitted a moment of reflection and prayer.

Leading the march was Pauline Johnson, a spiritual Elder, who spread tobacco along the streets as an offering to the Creator. She also the initiated the prayers along the route.

Stops outside some buildings were intended to bring some shame to the residents and management who are alleged to have collectively turned a blind eye to violence against the women.

"As these spots were where these women have been murdered, they allowed it to happen in their doors and they weren't helping Aboriginal women," said Johnson.

Sixty-five Aboriginal women have been killed or have gone missing from the city's streets in recent years. Statistics were cited alleging more than 500 women have disappeared in the past two decades. It was stated that each of these women had a family and friends who cared for them and who miss them dearly.

Brenda Wells attended the march holding a photo of her friend Georgina Papin, whose remains were found in the now infamous pig farm in the suburb of Port Coquitlam.

"I'm here to honour my friend Georgina and to hopefully get the message out in the community to watch where you tread because there's evil everywhere," Wells said.

The vast majority of the marchers were women. One of the males in the crowd was Randy Tait. He said that men have a role to play and should be present at an event like this because the missing and dead women were somebody's daughters and wives.

"They are the givers of life, and as warriors we (men) have to protect the women, because without them we'd be extinct," Tait said as he punctuated his remarks with his hand drum.

While the social and economic factors that drive women to work the streets are known, Johnson says it's easy to become judgmental of sex trade workers. She speaks from first-hand knowledge as she had to raise her grandchildren while her daughter was away for 30 years.

"If you're a family member, keep your hearts open and don't close doors on them if they are leading a hard life," said Johnson about the importance of family and friends.

The rally ended at Oppenheimer Park with a candlelight vigil at the Memorial Totem Pole.