'We will not forget you:' Sisters in Spirit Vigil honours MMIWG

"We will not forget you, we'll always honour you.No matter what we do, we'll stand and fight for you."

Those were the words to asong written by Starr Bennett and sungat the Sisters in Spiritvigilat Confederation Landing Park in Charlottetown Friday, one of many across the countryheld on this day to honour the manymissing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people in Canada.

"We've been fighting for this for a long time. We meet here every year and it just means so much," saidMarlene Thomas, the interim president of the Aboriginal Women's Association of Prince Edward Island.

Thomas said she was proud of the substantial crowd that came out for the vigil.

In Junethe national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women andgirls released its reportwith 231 sweeping recommendations to address systemic violence in Indigenous communities.

Thomas said she hopes the reportand Friday'svigilremindthe provincial and municipal governments to act.

"We have to put everything in action andall work together," she said. "I'm so happy they were all here to address this and they all spoke on it."

'Unless something is done, it will continue'

The day was also dedicated to P.E.I. Mi'kmaq elder Alma MacDougallwho died earlier this year due to health complications.

"She was extremely committed to the Sisters in Spirit vigil along with the cause of missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada," said Thomas."We know, Alma, that you are standing with us today."

This was Sister Shelley Grantfirst time at a Sisters in Spiritvigil, since she movedto P.E.Iin April.

Grant has worked with Indigenous communities in B.C. and the Yukon and echoed Thomas's calls to action.

"Unless something is done, it will continue to be an issue in our communities," she said.

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