A victim of a missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls situation is comforted by the number of people who walked through the View Royal neighbourhood to commemorate the Red Dress Day Thursday.
The national day aims to bring awareness to the grim number of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people across the country.
Some connect to the day more personally like Harvey Thomas.
Thomas’ mother and aunt were murdered while they were hitchhiking from Victoria to Gold River in 1979.
“A man picked them up in Campbell River and started driving towards Gold River,” Thomas said. “Then he decided he wanted something from them and they weren’t willing to give it to him so they fought and he eventually killed both of them.”
Thomas said growing up without a mother was difficult, but he wasn’t alone as a number of his friends shared similar experiences.
He said he was fortunate that his family got closure as the man responsible for the murders was arrested and served time in prison.
“We got justice. If you can call it justice,” Thomas added.
He believes events like the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls walk will bring change, adding more still needs to be done to raise awareness about the problem and people need to change the stereotypes that created the environment where women are looked at as pray or targets.
“We all need to take part,” he added.
Norma Gene Thompson brought some children she cares for to the walk to teach them about the Indigenous culture and to support them.
“The children are here to show the community that we see each other, we care about each other and we’re here to take care of each other,” Thompson said.
About 100 people took part in Thursday’s event.
Thomas said it warms his heart to see the support as events like this offer so much for the victims.
“I’m feeling supported and feeling like we are not alone,” he said.
Thomas added he has felt comfort and the ability to share his story because of the support he’s received and hope others do the same.
He believes awareness events, combined with the federal national inquiry, might slow down the number of tragic stories.
Mackenzie Read
