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The walkers and their supporters hope to gain support for the federal government to fund a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
Ottawa (20 June 2013) - Family members of missing and murdered Aboriginal women are preparing for a trek across the country. This year the Tears4Justice walk will begin June 21, National Aboriginal Day, in Sydney, Nova Scotia with the goal of arriving in Prince Rupert, B.C. on September 21.
Walkers demanding action for missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in B.C.
Gladys Radek organized the walk and told the delegates at the 2013 NUPGE convention she did so to "promote action and answers for her niece who went missing, and all the others, along the Highway of Tears in northern B.C."
The walkers and their supporters hope to gain support for the federal government to fund a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, and to ensure recommendations are made and followed in communities across the country. They also want to draw attention to violence facing native women and girls and the long overdue awareness around the hundreds of missing women and girls around Canada. Along the journey many families of murdered and missing women will show support to the walkers by joining in.
BCGEU/NUPGE strong supporter of Tears4Justice
The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has been a supporter of Tears4Justice for the past five years. "Last year we put the walk logo on our union t-shirts so the walk organizers could use them for fundraisers," said Lorene Oikawa, BCGEU/NUPGE vice president. "BCGEU equity network members have organized events and community potlucks to support past walks. We are again encouraging our members to welcome this year's walkers when they arrive in their communities. We send solidarity and thanks to the walkers for their commitment and perseverance to bring awareness about violence against women and girls, and justice for the murdered and missing women and their families."
Delegates at NUPGE convention support walkers in their journey
Oikawa says the generosity of the delegates at the recent NUPGE convention in Ottawa resulted in over $1,000 in donations. Tears4Justice reported the money was used to purchase much needed camping equipment. At the convention, NUPGE President James Clancy encouraged NUPGE components to share information about this year's walk with their members so they can "support and cheer on the walkers when they pass through their communities" across Canada.
Further information on the walk and this year's route can be found on the Tears4Justice facebook page.
Donations still needed
Tears4Justice is still in need of donations of food, gas, and other personal necessities such as medical/first aid supplies, sunscreen, shoes, socks, weather gear, Tim Horton's coffee cards, accommodations (camping, hotel or billets), phone cards, printing, tobacco, sage, sweet-grass, traditional medicines, and printing of Tears4Justice tshirts to use for fundraisers throughout the walk.
Financial donations can be made to: Tears4Justice, c/o Dr. Vicki Chartrand, 144 Chemin Des Iris, Martinville, Quebec J0B 2A0
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE