Hundreds of people are expected to come together as part of a healing gathering for Chantel Moore at the BC Legislature in Victoria on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Moore was shot and killed by a police officer in Edmundston, New Brunswick earlier this month after RCMP were sent to perform a wellness check.
Moore, who was the mother of a young daughter, grew up in Nanaimo and Port Alberni, on the Tseshaht First Nation.
“This is an event to honour Chantel Moore, and also to acknowledge racism and police brutality as it relates to Indigenous communities in Canada,” reads the event page on Facebook.
The healing gathering is scheduled for June 18 from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Facebook page says the event will include a moment of silence for Chantel, and organizers are asking for everyone who comes to wear yellow in honour of her.
The event page emphasizes the purpose is to “echo love, not hate” and the invitation on Facebook is asking attendees to bring Indigenous spirit, sage for smudges, drums, sacred pipes, red shawls, and moccasins.
Organizers are also requiring everyone to wear masks, while also asking attendees to maintain their physical distance as much as possible, especially in regards to elders who require a safe distance.
“She was just an incredible being that was incapable of hurting anyone,” one of the event organizers, Laura Manson, told CHEK News.
Healing walks took place last week all across New Brunswick in memory of Moore as well as a private funeral service with loved ones.
“Instead of planning a celebration of accomplishments, I’ve had to go and plan a funeral for my daughter. It’s a pain I’d never wish to inflict on any person,” said Martha Martin, Chantel’s mother.
Moore’s family continues to seek answers amid mourning the loss of their loved one.
“Every single one of us would love to know exactly what happened,” Martha said.
Members of the Tseshaht First Nation called for an inquest into the death of Chantel, but say they were not consulted during the investigation.
The First Nation community has also recently been a victim of racism after non-residents in a white pickup truck threw debris and yelled racial slurs and taunts at members on June 2.
One suspect has been arrested in relation to the incident and has been released from custody, and is awaiting a court date.
With files to Rebecca Lawrence, Jasmine Bala
Graham Cox
