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For Carol Archie, she has lived through the reality of Red Dress Day.

Archie is the niece 害羞草研究所� from her mom害羞草研究所檚 side 害羞草研究所� of a murdered Indigenous woman.

害羞草研究所淪he was brutally raped and murdered and the individuals that were responsible for her death, two of them were provided small fines and one was able to walk away free, none of them had jail time. This is our reality. We were born and raised with the mindset that we have to be aware of the dangers, not out in the wilderness, in community,害羞草研究所� said Archie, who spoke at Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Red Dress Day march Friday (May 5).

While wearing red and holding signs, the group of hundreds marched from the friendship society on Leon Avenue before eventually ending up at the Kelowna Court House to bring awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and the ongoing violent epidemic throughout North America against Indigenous women and girls.

While Red Dress Day has been commemorated for more than a decade, Friday marked the first time the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society held an event.

Indigenous people have been targets for years and Archie still sees that today.

害羞草研究所淚 have the ability to be able to work for an employer that understands where I害羞草研究所檓 coming from because in this day and age, my youngest daughter was followed from my work to her school,害羞草研究所� said Archie, who has two daughters, 19 and 16. 害羞草研究所淚 know to make certain I get to work extra early in the morning and my day ends when her day ends so that way I know I害羞草研究所檓 the one driving her home and I害羞草研究所檓 the one picking her up, because we are visitors on the Sylix traditional unceded territory so we don害羞草研究所檛 have a lot of family here.害羞草研究所�

Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society executive director Edna Terbasket said it warmed her heart to see the support Friday.

害羞草研究所淭he message is getting out there to many, many people,害羞草研究所� said Terbasket. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e lived with it for a long time as Indigenous people and when I see a lot of the folks here that are from the mainstream, I go 害羞草研究所榃ow, we害羞草研究所檙e getting our message out there.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Terbasket explained red is symbolic because it害羞草研究所檚 spiritual to Indigenous people. It also stands for the violence behind what害羞草研究所檚 been happening, at the same time representing love.

害羞草研究所淚 think families talk more with their children about safety and even lifestyle and taking good care of themselves,害羞草研究所� said Terbasket. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not only Indigenous women and girls, it害羞草研究所檚 all peoples. I couldn害羞草研究所檛 imagine if I lost a sister or a niece or a granddaughter and she wasn害羞草研究所檛 found, I couldn害羞草研究所檛 imagine that. Is she alive? Is she okay? Has she been brutally assaulted or murdered?害羞草研究所�

Both Terbasket and Archie have seen tremendous growth and awareness, especially since the remains of 215 Indigenous residential school children were found in Kamloops almost two years ago.

害羞草研究所淲hat we are doing here today, we害羞草研究所檙e becoming stronger as a people, we are being more aware of who we are as a people and how we contribute to our families, communities, and nation,害羞草研究所� said Archie. 害羞草研究所淗aving this awareness across Canada and North America is huge for us, and it all started with residential school. That ripple effect comes into today and we害羞草研究所檙e answering back with our own ripple effects and it害羞草研究所檚 becoming more powerful.害羞草研究所�

And for more people who want to become aware, learn, and be a part of the solution, Terbasket and Archie say to ask questions and have open conversations.

害羞草研究所淲e all have to work together, collaborate together, heal together,害羞草研究所� said Terbasket.

READ MORE: West Kelowna RCMP asking for public害羞草研究所檚 help in finding missing 13-year-old boy

READ MORE: From great tips to saving lives, Kelowna Uride drives into Penticton

jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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