Area residents are encouraged to march down Main Street next week in an effort to finally end violence against Aboriginal women and girls.
Flin Flon will mark its second year of participation in the Women’s Memorial March, which originated in Vancouver in 1991 and has since spread across Canada.
Colleen Arnold, executive director of the Women’s Resource Centre, and the centre’s Alicia Taylor will lead the march down Main Street on Friday, Feb. 13.
The event will start with greetings from Elder Maragaret Steppan at the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre one hour before the march begins.
The march will leave Pioneer Square at 5:15 pm on Feb. 13 after Arnold shares a few words.
Walkers will march back to the Friendship Centre, where bannock and refreshments will be served.
The Women’s Memorial March was first created after the death of an Aboriginal woman – who will remain nameless as per her family’s request – in Vancouver.
“Out of this sense of hopelessness and anger came an annual march to express compassion, community and caring for all women,” Arnold said, reiterating a statement from the Women’s Memorial March’s website.
Anniversary
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the march, though some cities such as Winnipeg have already held their event.
Typically, the walk is held on Valentine’s Day, but with it falling on a Saturday this year, Arnold felt a Friday event would reach more people.
“We’re hoping for at least 30 or 40 people,” Arnold said. “But a lot more than that come out. We will spread the awareness.
“When we’re walking down Main Street we’re very visible.”
Last year marked Flin Flon’s first year for participation. The group paraded down Main Street with a handmade banner from the Flin Flon Youth Centre. The group will proudly carry the same banner this year along with Youth Centre participants.
Arnold has high hopes for the Women’s Memorial March, as she says, “awareness is strong with all of our marches.”
Arnold, along with the rest of the Women’s Resource Centre extend the invitation for the community to join them in the Women’s Memorial March on Feb. 13.
