Dozens gather for 21st annual Awo Taan Sisters In Spirit walk and vigil

WARNING: This story contains graphic details

Nearly 200 people took to Calgary's Stephen Avenue for the 21st annual Awo Taan Sisters In Spirit walk and vigil Friday.

The gathering, which coincides with several other walks and vigils across Canada, raises awareness for and honours missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+).

Stephanie English walked about 200 kilometres from Piikani Nation to Calgary to honour her two departed daughters, one of whom was Joey English. She has made the long walk every year for the past seven years.

"Joey's limbs are still in Calgary landfills," English told CBC News. "It just shows me I'm a mother that still really loves her daughter as any other mother would love their children. I just will not give up."

In 2016, English's daughter Joey died of a drug overdose. Her body was later subjected to what a judge would call a "selfish" and "savage" crime.

Rather than call 911 when he found English dead, the man she had been doing drugs with stored her body under his bed for a day before dismembering her. He put her remains in garbage bags and a suitcase and discarded them in several locations near his home.

"Our stories are the truth of who we are, and if people would open their eyes and their heart, they would understand what we really go through as First Nation people."

During the gathering, Elder Diane Eaglespeaker from Kainai Nation encouraged more support for MMIWG2S+.

"I've been getting notices about young girls going missing everywhere; on the Blood Reserve, Piikani, Sarcee, up north in Treaty 6, Saskatchewan, Manitoba. These are young beautiful, vibrant girls that have not had a chance to live yet," Eaglespeaker said.

She also called for more support for two-spirit victims.

"I encourage you all to be a strong advocate and to remember in your thoughts and in your prayers daily that beautiful women and children are gone."

The province declared Oct. 4 as Sisters in Spirit Day in 2022.

According to the Alberta government's website, Indigenous women in Canada are three times more likely to be victims of violence than non-Indigenous women.

Between 1980 and 2012 in Alberta, 206 Indigenous women were murdered — accounting for 28 per cent of all female murder victims during that time.

Deborah Green Gopher, an organizer of another vigil in front of City Hall to honour MMIWG2S+, told CBC News there is still a lack of understanding from Canadians surrounding MMIWG2S+.

"I don't think as many as there should be considering all the work that's being done since the Indian Residential School Agreement was signed, and we had the [Truth and Reconciliation] Commission put together, the National Inquiry [into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls] commission and all these great reports with great road maps that nobody really reads or actions," she said.

Green Gopher noted honouring MMIWG2S+ through gatherings is a way to remind Canadians of the gravity of the situation.

"We don't get to put our orange shirt away and put our trauma away."

She said the provincial government is not doing enough to address the problem.

"I don't think they are any closer than any other province," Green Gopher said.

"We have done, as a country, a lot of reports. We've written about it, we've decided what would help... we can get out of this, we can do this. And then the hope goes away because it doesn't get done."

In a statement to CBC News, Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson said the province is committed to ensuring Indigenous women, girls and two spirit plus people are treated with dignity and respect and live in safety and security, free from violence.

Wilson said one of his first actions as minister was to implement the first recommendation in the 113 Pathways, establishing the premier's council on MMIWG2S+.

"My ministry continues to utilize the 113 Pathways report as a foundation to inform actions my ministry is taking to address and prevent violence," Wilson said. 

"We know we have more work to do, and my ministry will continue to work in partnership with Indigenous communities, organizations, and people to identify actions that will address violence and increase the safety and economic security of Indigenous women, girls and 2S+ people."

Support is available for anyone affected by these reports and the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Immediate emotional assistance and crisis support are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national hotline at 1-844-413-6649.

You can also access, through the government of Canada, health support services such as mental health counselling, community-based support and cultural services, and some travel costs to see elders and traditional healers. Family members seeking information about a missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.