Saunders murder spurs call to action in SK
- EFN Staff | March 13, 2014
Hundreds of people gathered across Canada earlier this month to remember, honour, and renew a call to action in the wake of the murder of Loretta Saunders, including dozens who came together in Saskatoon.
Saunders was a student at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The irony is the Inuk woman was doing her honours thesis on missing and murdered Aboriginal women, focusing on three women from Nova Scotia in particular.
She went missing February 13 and her body was found two weeks later. Twenty-eight-year-old Victoria Henneberry and 25-year-old Blake Leggette have been charged with the first-degree murder in Saunders' death.
Even though the case is on the other side of the country, it has clearly touched people everywhere.
After Saunders' body was found, her supervising professor wrote a moving opinion piece that tried to make sense of the senseless act.
Darryl Leroux reread her thesis and notes Saunders "was aware of being a product of a Canadian society intent on destroying and eliminating indigenous peoples.
"What I do know is that our society has discarded indigenous women and girls in much the same manner for generations. These people were playing out a script that we all know intimately, but never acknowledge," he wrote.
He says non-Indigenous people all too often have a lack of understanding.
"When I discuss these issues with my non-indigenous students in an open, honest, and non-judgmental manner, I am continuously disappointed, though no longer surprised by their lack of knowledge."
Leroux's piece deeply moved and struck a chord with Rob Innes, a Native Studies professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Speaking to the Saskatoon gathering, Innes said he was hit with the fact "that could have easily been me writing that letter" since he supervises many Aboriginal women working on their thesis.
"I think it's important for men to be here (at the rally)," said Innes. "It's important that we stand with our sisters."
Saunders photo was prominent at the front of the room. Senator Lillian Dyck placed a bouquet of white roses that contained baby's breath in front of the photo to honour the baby Saunders was carrying at the time of her murder.
Dyck says Saunders has become a recognizable face for missing and murdered Aboriginal women, noting for the first time, such a story is making national news headlines something positive to take away from a tragic situation.
"She has almost given her life for this issue." Dyck says Saunders' family doesn't want the public to forget about the hundreds of other missing and murdered in Canada. The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) has documented more than 580 cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, but some say that number is much higher.
In light of Saunders' murder, NWAC is renewing its call for a national public inquiry into the issue, and by last month, it had delivered a petition with more than 23,000 signatures to the House of Commons, and since then, more signatures have been added. The organization says it has noted the murders of at least eight Aboriginal women in the past six months.
"These statistics should raise the alarm for all Canadians," says Michèle Audette, President of NWAC. "Much too frequently, somewhere in Canada, families feel the pain and loss of a loved one who has been a victim of violence.
"This happens way too often for our Aboriginal people, and to the most vulnerable in our society, the women and girls."
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has joined in NWAC's call for a public inquiry - a call that has been supported previously by provincial and territorial leaders. As well, the Canadian Human Rights Commission called for such an inquiry in its report tabled to Parliament earlier that week.
AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo spoke at a rally on Parliament Hill where he again urged the government to listen and hold an inqury.
"Committing to an independent and inclusive National Public Commission of Inquiry would demonstrate a clear and focused commitment to achieving positive change for and with Indigenous peoples. I continue to strongly urge the Prime Minister and Government of Canada to work together with First Nations, the families of murdered and missing women, womens organizations and other Indigenous groups to end violence today. It is time for all of us to say 'enough' and for all of us to commit to doing better as a society to keep all citizens safe and secure," he told the crowd that swelled to hundreds.
Seeing all the people coming together across Canada, as well as those who have financially supported the Saunders family, has moved Myrna Laplante, who understands the anguish of families whose loved ones have gone missing. Her aunt, Emily Osmond, has been missing since 2007, and her nephew, Cody Wolfe, has been missing since 2010.
Her immediate reaction upon hearing Saunders was missing was she wanted to send money because she knows how expensive it is to search. She says her family has spent tens of thousands of dollars searching for Wolfe.
"My brother (Cody's father) has gone without power in his house. He's had his ski-doos repossessed," she told the Saskatoon vigil through tears. "It's because that's not his priority. His priority is to look for Cody."
At the end of the Saskatoon vigil, candles were lit and a poem was read as everyone tried to find comfort in standing together in hopes their voices would be enough to pressure the government into calling an inquiry.
"Rest in peace, Loretta," Laplante choked through tears. "Your work is absolutely not in vain."
Visit our photo gallery for photos of the Saskatoon vigil for Saunders.