Aurora House and The Pas Friendship Centre will be having a Spirit of the Red Dress Vigil this Saturday. The vigil will commemorate the end of the inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous woman and girls.

 

As part of the national commemoration of this conclusion, funding was made available to organizations to hold community events including this one.

 

The vigil will begin at the Metis offices accross from the Wescana with a smudging ceremony at 12:40 and the participants will march to The Pas Friendship centre at 12:45.

 

The Friendship Centre will then have a special event with live music and other activities.

 

Along with the entertainment the friendship centre will also have a community meal, children’s self defense lessons, and a faceless doll project workshop.

 

You are encouraged to wear red, Métis Sashes, or ribbon skirts to the event and everyone is welcome to attend.

 

When asked about the decision to run this vigil Aurora House Executive Director Prichard said she felt it was necessary to acknowledge the tragic story of Helen Betty Osbourne a student in The Pas that was abducted and murdered and this story was one of the sparks that brought national attention to the crisis of missing a murdered indigenous woman and girls in Canada.

 

Corrections: An earlier version of this story said the march would begin at the Metis Hall, when in fact it is taking place at the Metis Offices across from the Wescana Inn.