Statistics often strip Canada鈥檚 murdered and missing aboriginal women of their identities.

An RCMP report indicates there have been about 1,200 women and girls go missing or killed nationally over 30 years, and while the figure may actually be higher, advocates insist the focus must be on the loss of individual lives.

鈥淭hese women were daughters, mothers and aunts,鈥� said Coola Louis, an Okanagan Indian Band councillor during the Sisters in Spirit vigil Tuesday.

鈥淭hese women had places in our hearts. They were beautiful women capable of doing beautiful things.鈥�

The Sisters in Spirit National Day of Vigils was part of the See Me, Hear Me, Remember Me Red Dress campaign, with red dresses symbolizing the victims of violence.

鈥淭here is greater strength in unity and we鈥檙e coming together,鈥� said Glen Louis, one of the organizers.

The Native Women鈥檚 Association of Canada says that between 2000 and 2008, aboriginal women and girls represented 10 per cent of all female homicides in Canada but they only make up three per cent of the country鈥檚 female population.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take all of us collectively to address this national shame,鈥� said Coola Louis.

For Coun. Allan Louis, action must occur among the younger generations.

鈥淲e need to educate our girls and boys about the seriousness of these crimes to our sisters,鈥� he said.

For Joan Vedan, she continues to struggle with the pain caused by her mother鈥檚 murder in Vancouver in 1988.

鈥淚 wish I could have told her how much I needed her,鈥� said Vedan, who was 18 at the time.

鈥淚 hope the government will take care of this issue because it鈥檚 a crisis.鈥�

As part of the vigil, red dresses were hung on a fence along Westside Road.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just one day that we remember. We remember every day,鈥� said Glenda Louis.