A look in from Monday's event, remembering those who have gone missing, honouring their memory through testimonies, and raising awareness. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

‘Search the Landfills Day of Action’ draws locals in solidarity for MMIW

Sep 18, 2023 | 7:59 PM

Many from the Battlefords and surrounding area gathered together Monday for a walk from the North Battleford landfill to City Hall, to “Fill the Streets with Red” in solidarity with the ‘Search the Landfill’ protests happening in Manitoba.

Local advocate, Krista Fox, who walked across Canada to raise awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women last year, was one of the organizers of Monday’s event and said right from the start it was powerful to see so many show up.

“When I pulled up to the landfill this morning I was so overwhelmed with the amount of people, [and] the amount of students,” she said as her voice trailed off with emotion. “Thank you to the schools, I know Sakewew brought busloads of their kids and that’s a generation we’ve got to try to get to, so having the school and the staff show up meant more to us than they’ll even understand.”

Fox said it was important to invite out all of those locally who have suffered first-hand from loved ones who have been missing or murdered as well, including the families of Daphne Bear, Alyssa LeCaine, Ashley Morin, and Nitanas Scarlett, among others.

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“When it comes time to planning, I could not forget about our own families,” she said. “It was just really important that we come together to stand in solidarity with Winnipeg, but also with our own families here in the Battlefords,” she said.

“Their voices need to be heard, their stories, their pleas, need to be [at the] forefront,” Krista Fox on the testimonies of families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Following Monday’s walk to City Hall, there was also a hotdog lunch in Central Park next to the North Battleford Library. There, there were pictures of the many missing and murdered women and girls from around the area, with family and friends sharing personal stories.

Janine Morin, sister of Ashley Morin, said it meant a lot to see so many come out for Monday’s event, as it signals the growing awareness of those who have gone missing in the Indigenous community.

“The support is really becoming more now that everything is out there in the world,” Morin said. “We’re finally having a voice and we need to speak up and never give up on any woman, sister or mother. I just want to thank everyone for showing up to show their support. It’s been five years since Ashley’s been missing and we just want to bring her home and break the silence.”

North Battleford was one of several communities across the nation to hold an event for “Search the Landfills International Day of Action,” pushing for an immediate search of the Prairie Green Landfill north of Winnipeg for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1