Vancouver, BC – The streets of downtown Vancouver were filled with emotion on Sunday as thousands of people gathered for the 3rd annual March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men, Boys, and 2S. The event, organized by the Coalition on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men and Boys (CMMIMB), aimed to raise awareness and demand action for the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys in Canada.
The march began at the Vancouver Art Gallery and made its way through the city, with participants carrying signs and banners with powerful messages such as “No More Stolen Sisters” and “Justice for Our Men and Boys”. The crowd was a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, all united in their call for justice and accountability.
The issue of missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys has long been overlooked and ignored, with little attention and resources dedicated to addressing it. According to the CMMIMB, there are currently over 1,500 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys in Canada, with many of these cases remaining unsolved.
The march was a powerful display of solidarity and determination to bring attention to this crisis and demand action from the government. Many participants shared their personal stories of loved ones who have gone missing or been murdered, highlighting the devastating impact this issue has on Indigenous communities.
One of the organizers, Lorelei Williams, spoke about her cousin Tanya Holyk, who went missing in 1996 and was later found murdered. Williams emphasized the need for justice and closure for families like hers, stating “We need to know what happened to our loved ones. We need to know who did this to them.”
The march also included a moment of silence to honor the lives of those who have been lost, as well as a performance by Indigenous drummers and singers. The event concluded with a rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery, where speakers called for concrete actions to address the issue, such as increased funding for Indigenous-led initiatives and a national action plan.
The CMMIMB has been advocating for the government to take action on this issue for years, and their efforts have not gone unnoticed. In December 2020, the federal government announced $2.2 million in funding for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys. However, many are calling for more concrete and immediate actions to address the crisis.
As the march came to an end, the message was clear: the fight for justice and accountability for missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys will not stop until real change is seen. The emotional scenes and powerful messages from the 3rd annual March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men, Boys, and 2S serve as a reminder that this issue cannot be ignored any longer.
