WALK4JUSTICE 2008 March for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women

By Maria E. Molina
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

OTTAWA, Canada - Canadian law enforcement officials have become notorious for their indifference to the deaths and violence inflicted upon aboriginal women. There is a gross disproportion in the murder and disappearance rate of aboriginal women in Canada. In response, WALK4JUSTICE 2008 was organized to bring attention to the plight of murdered and missing aboriginal women across Canada.

The WALK4JUSTICE 2008 march for the missing or murdered women of Canada began June 21st and ended on Monday, September 15.  On Monday, walkers from Vancouver, B.C., community activists, and family members marched on Parliament Hill to challenge the Canadian Government to take action.  Amnesty International, Canadian Union for Public Employees, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, other labor groups, Aboriginal Friendship Centers and organizations provided financial and in-kind donations to support the Walk4Justice initiative. Hundreds of citizens took part in presentations made to communities as Walkers traveled; many making financial contributions to ensure success of the Walk4Justice's goal of representing the lives and voices of women who have consistently ignored by police initiatives.

Walkers presented detailed information of the unsolved cases of over 3,000 missing murdered women from several aboriginal communities. There was also a petition with over 2,900 signatures. Armed with the names of these 3,000-plus women, including case information, along with resolutions passed by aboriginal Chiefs from British Columbia to the Atlantic Provinces, organizers called for a full public inquiry into the disappearances and deaths of women from all walks of aboriginal life. The names had been compiled over ten years and have not yet been released.  As new cases occurred names were added to an already disturbing tally that continues to increase.

For more information, please see:

Nation Talk - Walk4Justice Agenda for September 15 - 15 September 2008

Turtle Island - WALK4JUSTICE 2008 - 15 September 2008

Amnesty International - Walk4 Justice Arrives in Ottawa! - 12 September 2008