
Sisters in Spirit Day vigil and community event held at City Hall
The City of Edmonton, in partnership with Esquao, the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW), hosted a gathering and commemorative event at City Hall recently in recognition of Sisters in Spirit Day.
Observed annually on October 4, Sisters in Spirit Day honors the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people. It serves as a day to support grieving families, provide comfort to loved ones, and foster community healing.
“As an Indigenous woman navigating colonial spaces, remembering our matriarchal teachings has kept me grounded during challenging times,” said Kayla Bellerose from the City’s Indigenous Relations Office. “We must remember our power as iskwewak (women). Call on your grandmothers to guide you – you are never alone and always have helpers just one prayer away. Tonight, I encourage everyone to light a candle for our missing and murdered relatives and offer a prayer for their families to find healing and peace.”
The event opened with a prayer and smudge led by Elder Hazel McKennitt. Guest speakers included Rachelle Venne, CEO of Esquao, IAAW; Ashleigh Cardinal from the Premier’s Council on MMIWG2S+ People; Kayla Bellerose from the City of Edmonton; and Kari Thomason, an Indigenous navigator with the Edmonton Police Service’s Missing Persons Unit and a community advocate helping individuals exit the sex trade.
“Esquao, IAAW, is proud to join the City of Edmonton in sharing resources, supporting families, and honoring the survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2S+ individuals,” said Rachelle Venne, CEO of Esquao, IAAW. “We will continue hosting events, delivering programs, and amplifying voices until real progress is made towards increasing safety and achieving justice for Indigenous women and their families across Alberta.”
The Sisters in Spirit initiative, led by Indigenous women through the Native Women’s Association of Canada, began in 2005 to research and raise awareness about the high levels of violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.
In September 2022, the Government of Alberta officially designated October 4 as “Sisters in Spirit Day.” Vigils and walks in remembrance are held in communities across the country.
The City of Edmonton released its MMIWG2S+ Action Plan in November 2022, outlining short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to raise awareness, address root causes, and support Indigenous resurgence. The City’s ongoing commitment to building relationships with Indigenous Peoples is grounded in the Elder-shared concept of wahigicicobi, a lethka Nakoda word meaning “kinship relationships,” which is central to the City’s Indigenous Framework.