Missing, murdered aboriginal women honoured at Charlottetown vigil

Missing andmurdered aboriginal woman were remembered at aSisters in Spirit vigilat Confederation Landing in Charlottetown in pray, song and silence.

I've seen a lot of changes and it's positive.- Judy Clark

The vigilwasone of many held across Canada to support grieving families.

Community members shared how the tragedies have touched them.

"Her name was Debbieshe was murdered in her homeand it really did impact me," saidMatildaRamjattan, chief ofLennoxIsland First Nation.

"I know a lot of other First Nations across the country have been impacted, and they are still waiting for their loved ones to call home, come home, or at least to be found."

'We live it on a daily basis'

The vigil is organized by a number of aboriginal and community groups as well as the provincial and federal governments.

Participants talked about the violence that has caused the deaths and disappearances of aboriginal girls and women.

"They impact families and communities because we live it on a daily basis. [It is]important put a stop to it now, and work together to find the root causes to these types of violence and create meaningful solutions as we move forward," said Brian Francis who is chief of Abegweit First Nation.

Many say the best way to move forwardis a national inquiry into missing and murdered women.

They hope that vigils like these will help.

"I think it was great, raised a lot of questions, Ithink that we need to come together. I think community has to be aware of issues,"said Lisa Cooper,president of the Native Council of P.E.I.

Safe place to talk about abuse

"I think we need to call on the provincial and federal government to help us, as aboriginal organizations, to reduce the factors that lead our women to be vulnerable in our community."

The vigil is important to let aboriginal women know that although the province's aboriginal community is small, it's safe to talk about issues around abuse, said Judy Clark, president of theAboriginal Women's Association of P.E.I.

"I've seen a lot of changes and it's positive," she said.

"We just continue to have to support our women, to say it's safe to speak out because there's a lot of people that are listening."

The association has developed a resource bookof contacts to connect aboriginal women suffering from abuse with people and groups who can help.