Community gathers to March in honour of MMIWG2S

The Women’s Memorial March of Manitoba has taken place in downtown Winnipeg.

People walked together in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited Individuals (MMIWG2S), standing with families and survivors to remember those taken and those still missing.

“It is very important that we continue to walk and raise awareness about the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women,” said Grand Chief Garrison Settee, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO).

With the last national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls dating back a decade ago, Grand Chief Settee says, Indigenous women are still not safe.

“Our women are more vulnerable than 10 years ago.”

The Grand Chief added that the community will continue advocacy and called for more support for Indigenous women and girls, highlighting the need for safe shelters for vulnerable women.

“We want to make sure that they are not forgotten. This issue is not forgotten. We will march and continue to march until we see that there are significant changes,” said Grand Chief Settee.

The walk brought together family members seeking closure, support, and justice.

Melissa Robinson, the co-founder of Morgan’s Warriors, says, “When you are down and out and thinking you are alone, it’s the community you lean on.”

Many among the crowd carried portraits of their missing or murdered loved ones. For people like Joshua Catcheway, it is the first time attending the march. He was carrying the photograph of his missing sister.

“It has been too painful for me to be here. But I am glad to be here today,” said Catcheway.

Jennifer Catcheway went missing in 2008. Her mother, Bernice Catcheway, says there has been no closure for her family, and adds that any information about her missing daughter will add to the puzzle.

“For us, we never had our closure. Jennifer is still out there, somewhere. Somebody knows something,” she explained.

Adding that gatherings like this help her heal and support others dealing with loss.

“That means to me that it’s an ongoing epidemic. And being here, I get the support from people, and I am here to support them as well as the families that lost their missing loved ones.”