By Rebbeca Marroquin

Men walk a mile in heels to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women

Aug 31, 2017 | 4:52 PM

Police officers, band council members, and young men strapped on red high heels to remember missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Community members participated in “Walk a Mile in her Shoes” on the Ahtahkakoop First Nation, Aug. 31. The international event began in 2001 to raise money and awareness for domestic and sexual abuse.

Among the group of men who paid tribute to the many lives lost was Michael Isbister, whose great aunt Jean was murdered 18 years ago. Although Michael never met her, he knows her through stories told by his grandmother, Louisa Isbister.

Louisa described her sister Jean as “kind,” and someone who was always laughing and joking around. Louisa said the last day she spoke to her sister was on a Thursday. Jean told her she was ready to buy a house for her children and enroll them in school.

“I was so happy for her,” Louisa said.

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Two days later on a Saturday night, Jean went out with friends and never returned home. Instead, a police officer knocked on Louisa’s door and broke the tragic news that Jean had been found almost completely naked with wounds to her chest in a field close to Prince Albert.

“I had so many mixed feelings, anger,” she said while holding back tears. “There is hope for me… I am thankful for that. There are other people who care.” 

Jean’s murder is one of hundreds across Canada that remain unsolved. Karen Pelletier, a Shellbrook RCMP officer who directed traffic at the event, said most of the time there’s not enough evidence for the investigations to continue.

She said families of missing and murdered Indigenous women often feel out of the loop when it comes to investigations, and in order to better communicate with the families, Pelletier’s job is to find out exactly what the families need.

“We’re not waiting until the inquiry is done. We want to find out and get their input on how we can better that [communication],” she said.

One of the male officers who walked in heels wearing full gear was Sgt. Kent Ashworth with the Shellbrook RCMP, who said the missing and murder Indigenous women’s inquiry has been a concern “for quite some time now” Sgt. Ashworth said it’s his first time participating in the walk.

“I learned that there’s strength in unity when you want to get behind a cause,” he said.

rebbeca.marroquin@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @becamarroquin