https://facebook/events/313140412199585/ Event Press Release Tuesday, August 19, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Walk and Vigil to Honour Tina Fontaine and Faron Hall An alliance of community members and leaders announce a walk to take back the streets in peace and honour the memory of Tina Fontaine, a young Sagkeeng woman who was reported missing Aug 9 and whose remains were found on Monday, August 18. Fontaine was in the care of Child and Family Services at the time of her disappearance. She was a daughter to us all and represents the ongoing epidemic of murdered missing Aboriginal women in Canada and neglect to fully deal with this issue by governments. The public is invited to a peaceful assembly at the Alexander Docks at 7:00 p.m. where a moment of silence and reflection will be held. Afterwards, all are invited to a peaceful walk up Alexander Avenue to Main Street until reaching Mahatma Ghandi Way, where it will continue along Israel Asper Way until reaching the recently installed Monument for Murdered Missing Aboriginal Women installed at the Forks, where offerings of gifts and medicines can be made in a spirit of unity and change. Afterwards, a vigil will be held at the Oodena Circle where offerings of song and words will be gifted to the public by members of the family of Tina Fontaine and other leaders within the community. In May of 2014, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a detailed statistical breakdown spanning nearly 1200 cases of murdered and missing Aboriginal women since 1980. The report said aboriginal women make up 4.3% of the Canadian population yet account for 16% of female homicides and 11.3% of missing women. This event is also held in honour of the memory of Faron Hall, a Dakota Tipi member of the Winnipeg Aboriginal community best known for bravely rescuing two people on two different occasions in the Red River. His remains were also found on Monday, August 18. Faron is a hero to many and was given awards for his courage. This walk and vigil will be held rain or shine. Walkers may want to park their cars at the Forks and car-pool to the assembly site and all are encouraged to act responsibly. A map of the assembly site and walk route is attached to this press release. For more information, contact: • Niigaan Sinclair, cell: 204-999-5192 • Leah Gazan, cell: 204-294-8892 • Wab Kinew, cell: 204-227-9498 • Kevin Settee, cell: 204-226-1580
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 05:15:33 +0000