Over 50 area residents gathered last week to share condolences and prayers for the grief-stricken northern Saskatchewan village of La Loche.
The vigil was held in the Flin Flon City Hall council chambers on Friday, Jan. 22, a week after a school shooting in La Loche left four people dead.
Amid the flicker of tea lights in the darkened room, attendees heard from Margaret Head, cultural advisor at the Flin Flon Friendship Centre, and Flin Flon mayor Cal Huntley, who shared their thoughts and prayers for La Loche.
“What we need to do is try to heal together, and the healing begins with honouring these young people, and all the young people in the communities,” said Head, who opened the vigil with a prayer.
“I want to thank the Creator for bringing us here together to gather, to be a support, to send our love and our hope to the people that are left to pick up the pieces and carry on and rebuild their community.”
Following a moment of silence, attendees were invited to share their thoughts with those gathered. Several people spoke, sharing sorrow and sympathy for those who had borne witness to the tragedy, hope that communities could learn from the tragedy and gratitude for the teachers who strive to keep children safe every day, all over the country.
The vigil concluded with attendees gathering in a circle around the children’s drumming group, the Silver Evening Star Singers, as they performed The Grandmother’s Song. The Northern Lights Singers, a women’s drumming group, performed an honour song to close the ceremony.
The Women’s Resource Centre, in collaboration with the Friendship Centre, organized the vigil.
