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Families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls have gathered for a three-day conference in Regina.
The event being held at the Queensbury Convention Centre at Evraz Place is a first of its kind in Saskatchewan. It’s organized by the families for the families.
Deborah Green is there to share the story of her sister Laney, who was found frozen to death in a field outside Calgary in 1982.
Deborah said the family never found out what exactly happened to her sister that night.
Green said her family was told by police there was a file-purging policy, with records only kept for eight years when a death is deemed non-suspicious. It also took 30 years for the family to receive an autopsy report.
The event called Mamawe! Mekowishwewin miyomachowin: Being Together Gives us Solace is different than other events held by the national inquiry that is driven by the government.
Green said this weekend’s conference does not include a government agenda and focuses on the families.
“It’s really about families sharing their stories and we’re all going to be there to bear witness to each other,” she said.
The conference is being held in a safe, cultural environment with counsellors and elders in attendance to debrief after each panel discussion.
“You need crisis workers there, you need support people, you need cultural protocols and ways to heal. Only the families know what we feel and what we need,” said Green.
It’s described as a chance for families to connect and create networks of support with others like Green who have lived through similar tragedies.
“Know that you have a voice and there’s a lot of support people out there to help you through this, that you don’t have to do it alone,” said Green.
The schedule for the conference can be seen below.
