Montreal Holds Candlelight Vigil In Support of Aboriginal Women

NewsCainy Mok — Published November 1, 2015 | Updated November 1, 2015 at 11:10pm

“Aboriginal women deserve justice,” said Karine Gentelet, an organizer of the vigil.

The vigil was in response to the recent coverage of the sexual violence perpetrated by Surete du Quebec (SQ) toward indigenous women in Val-d’Or. The town is located 500 kilometers northwest of Montreal, with a population of approximately 32,000. The SQ have been involved in systemic sexual violence against the town’s Aboriginal women for almost 20 years.

The organizers released an open letter to Justin Trudeau and Quebec Prime minister Philippe Couillard, asking for government’s engagement.

“It doesn’t change the responsibility that we acknowledge to provide security and to ensure securities to our people, including women.”said Ghislain Picard, Chief of Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL). He emphasized how people need to stand together and work with the government.

According to the report “Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: 2015 Update to the National Operational Overview” released by the RCMP, there are still 204 unsolved homicide or disappearance cases involving Aboriginal women.

Premier Couillard agreed to meet the native leaders from Val-d’Or this Wednesday. They are demanding a public inquiry to the SQ.

Ellen Gabriel, an activist who rose to public prominence during the 1990 Oka Crisis, emphasized that the public inquiry should be independent from any police forces in an interview with CJAD News.

“I myself as an aboriginal woman, am really shocked,” Annie O’Bomsawin-Begin said. She was also one of the organizers of the vigil. She said the information was hidden for such a long time. However, people are now more aware of the issues surrounding aboriginal women. O’Bomsawin-Begin considered this “encouraging.”