Saskatoon event honours Karina Wolfe, missing and murdered indigenous women
A day after Saskatoon police laid charges against a man for allegedly killing Karina Wolfe, a local group that seeks to honour missing and murdered indigenous women held its 10th annual day of remembrance for victims of such violence.
The day's events included a feast and a round dance, held at the White Buffalo Youth Lodge on 20th Street W., and hosted by Iskwewuk E-Wichiwitochik, which is Cree for Women Walking Together. It's comprised of local women seeking to draw attention to missing and murdered indigenous women and to instigate a national inquiry for them.
On Friday, Saskatoon police laid second-degree murder charges against a 33-year-old man in connection with the disappearance and death of Karina Wolfe, who went missing in July 2010.
Investigators unearthed her remains in a marshy area northwest of the city on Nov. 14.
Myrna LaPlante, who's a co-chair of the group, said revisions were made to the day's events in order to honour and remember Wolfe. She asked, on behalf of the group and Wolfe's family, that people not judge Karina based on her lifestyle.
At the time of her disappearance, Wolfe was allegedly addicted to methamphetamine.
"This is the work that we do," LaPlante said. "This is why we are here ... to support the families and to provide whatever we can to raise the awareness and keep the memory going."
Gwenda Yuzicappi's daughter Amber Redman was murdered in 2005. At the event, she spoke to some of the emotions Wolfe's mother, Carol, might be going through now.
"It's terrible to be able to grasp. You're grasping, gasping at the reality that your daughter is located; that you will not be able to have that talk or see that smile or have that hug," she said.
Redman's remains were found in 2008.
"You know, those are lost," Yuzicappi said.
CBC's Victoria Dinh was at the event. Follow her tweets here:
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