By Katherine Svenkeson

Battlefords hosts MMIW March on Valentine’s

Feb 15, 2017 | 4:00 PM

On a day where love is celebrated, roughly 40 people marched through North Battleford for the missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada.

Drummers played and sang through the downtown on Valentine’s Day as people honored their lost loved ones.

It is an issue that hits close to home for the event’s organizer, Keegan Beauchene, whose cousin Courtney Johnstone was murdered in Grande Prairie in 2014.

“Courtney was a beautiful person who was outgoing, laughed all the time and told stories that were simply awesome,” he said in a speech during the march. “I remember she hated her blonde hair, and she would dye it a darker colour because she was proud to be Indigenous.”

Beauchene was surprised to learn how many people in the area are affected by this issue, and said it’s something which needs more awareness, both in the Battlefords and globally.

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He spoke of needing to love in order to heal, during the march.

“Love is all we have left as we are surrounded by the tragic stories of our missing and murdered Indigenous women,” he said. “Love is our greatest gift and I support you this day as we gather together in solidarity to remember the ones we have lost.”

Beauchene is already in the planning stages for next year’s march, which he hopes will include a feast and a round dance.

Katherine.svenkeson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ksvenkeson