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About 200 people, marched together along Penticton鈥檚 waterfront to raise awareness for Missing Murdered Indigenous Women, Children and Two-Spirit+ individuals.
The walk was one of many taking place across the country on Red Dress Day, May 5, which is dedicated to ending the killing and disappearing of vulnerable Indigenous people.
A year after 50 people showed their commitment to change by walking together in 2023, dozens more joined together to walk from the S.S. Sicamous to Gyro Park along a path lined with donated red dresses.
The red dress has become a symbol that embodies the lives lost and serves as a powerful reminder of the work that still lies ahead to achieve justice and equity for all.
In Gyro Park, dignitaries spoke to the importance of the day and the need to see changes brought about. The walk was organized by the Penticton Indian Band, Okanagan Nation Alliance, South Okanagan Metis Society and the City of Penticton and all had representatives who spoke.
According to the final report on the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirited individuals have 12 times the likelihood of going missing or being murdered.
鈥淭here are so many lives that have been lost and so many lives we fear that will continue to be lost. We have members of our own community that have now gone and joined with their ancestors because of these kinds of tragedies,鈥� said Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel. 鈥淭he fight is not over, but the message has to remain strong.鈥�
This year鈥檚 walk was made more poignant by the reminder of the suffering the local community has faced this year, as a number of those who joined the walk were outside Penticton鈥檚 courthouse in January after news broke that Grace Robotti would be granted day parole.
Robotti received a life sentence for killing Roxanne Louie in 2015 by beating her 26 times with a crowbar, while her brother Pier received a 27-month sentence for helping cover up the killing by dumping Louie鈥檚 body on a forest service road.
鈥淭he family of our syilx person has to see her and worry about that, and that is unacceptable,鈥� said Jennifer Lewis, the Okanagan Nation Alliance wellness manager. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a complete disregard and lack of consequences for the justice system. We鈥檝e seen the justice system continue to prioritize offenders over victims and we鈥檝e seen a trend in the Okanagan of probation orders and protective orders given rather than jail time.
The final report following the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls delivered 231 calls for action and change. Those who joined the walk on Sunday are still waiting for those calls to be fully enacted.
The dignitaries echoed the call to keep the pressure up on elected officials and the government to make those changes and to teach and share the importance of the day and its cause.
The walk and speeches ended with a moment of silence and a performance of the Jingle Dance, a healing and prayer dance.
