Red ribbons bring awareness to missing and murdered women
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/12/2015 (3656 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The David Thompson Bridge looks a little different after this weekend and if Bonnie Genaille has her way, every motorist will know why.
On a cold, snowy Saturday afternoon, Genaille led a group of eight who tied a row of red cloth ribbons to the handrail of the bridge.
Genaille said the ribbons are a visual, public way of alerting passersby to the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women — something she says is still needed locally in the wake of the release of the final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission earlier this week.
The bright red is hard to miss, especially against the barren winter background. Similar ribbons have popped up on bridges in The Pas and Winnipeg.
“There isn’t enough awareness, it’s got to be out in the public. It’s not something that can be swept under the rug,” said Genaille.
“We need the story out there in the public eye, we need (the families of the missing) to know they are not forgotten and we need answers, we need help,” she said.
After tying the ribbons, Delvina Kejick sang an honour song with a hand drum for the missing and murdered.
Genaille, an educational assistant with Brandon School Division, also started the Bannock in the Park initiative. Every Sunday, she and other volunteers prepare bannock, soup, fruit and other food — all of which is donated — and bring it to Princess Park. She said she feeds between 50 and 60 people.
She recalls the yellow ribbons that decorated the Wheat City to welcome troops home from Afghanistan.
“I saw the yellow ribbons and I learned it was about —to honour the soldiers and show respect. We want to put the red ribbons up to say you know what? There’s people out there who actually care,” she said, adding she would love to see the trend be picked up by more people.
The group of eight included Denise Henry and her nine-year-old daughter Chelsi-Faye.
Henry said awareness of the issue is just as crucial for aboriginal girls.
“(Bringing Chelsi-Faye is) not to scare her or anything, but for her to be aware of herself and her surroundings. It’s for her to realize there’s other girls like her that are missing because of other people in the world that are evil,” she said.
“It is scary. Because you love your children, you hold them close. You dread waking up and them not being there.”
» tbateman@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @tombatemann