The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor They spoke for those who cannot speak for themselves. Nearly 30 people took part in the Grandmother's Walk down Main Street last week to raise awareness in the battle against the sexual exploitation of youth. 'We feel that (exploitation) is happening (locally), it just looks different than it does in the city,' said Carrie Pocket, chair of the local Sexual Exploitation of Youth Committee, which organized the walk. Pockett and the other marchers gathered at Neighbours of the North Park shortly after 4 p.m. last Friday, Sept. 21. They formed a circle around which participants took part in a traditional smudging ceremony and quietly bowed their heads in prayer. As they made their way down the middle of Main Street, behind their escort of an RCMP cruiser, several aboriginal marchers gently beat animal-skin drums. Drumming After the group arrived at Pioneer Square at the opposite end of downtown, more traditional drumming followed. First, five sisters converged on the centre of the square with their drums. Next came the young members of the Cranberry Portage Whispering Loons. Pockett explained that the walk, held across Manitoba, was launched by a group o grandmothers working to protect children against sexual exploitation. Sexual exploitation against youth can take several forms. It can be prostitution, child pornography or a young person forced to trade sex for survival. The local Sexual Exploitation of Youth Committee was formed in June 2011. Internet safety Aside from the Grandmother's Walk, the committee has brought in a speaker to talk to high school students and held an Internet safety presentation for parents. Anyone interested in learning more about the committee or the sexual exploitation of young people may contact Carrie at 687-1366.
