Representatives from Métis Nation Western Region Two were joined Thursday by a representative from the Prince Albert Police Service, as well as members from the public. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Raising awareness

Local residents take a stand against human trafficking

Feb 6, 2020 | 1:57 PM

As a human trafficking case makes its way through the courts in southern Saskatchewan, a group of people in Prince Albert braved the cold Thursday to raise awareness about the issue.

On Jan. 28, four adults were arrested following a traffic stop near Swift Current. Two young female passengers were found inside the two vehicles and did not have identification. Police arrested the four adults and charged them with human trafficking.

Sherry McLennan, the Area Director for Métis Nation Western Region Two, organized the protest and said the recent story compelled her to take action.

“People don’t know there are actually people that are taking our children and selling them to other people to use for sex slaves, for organ parts, and then [the parents] never find their children again,” she said.

McLennan, who also sits on the national board for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women for the Métis, feels a very personal attachment to the issue as well.

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“Being a mother and a foster mother I can’t imagine the hurt, and the pain, waiting to hear where your kids are,” she said.

McLennan explained as a community, everyone has the responsibility to watch their own kids and be aware of their surroundings, but should also help by watching other peoples’ children too. McLennan said she plans to start a local program to teach women self-defence, and awareness.

Sara Daniels who has two young daughters, was among the participants in Thursday’s protest. She shared as a child she suffered her own trauma.

“It was so intense healing from it and I just can’t imagine my kids going through that or somebody else’s daughters,” she said.

The four people charged in connection to the recent traffic stop near Swift Current made their most recent appearances on Wednesday. Shawn Alexander Kelly and Shermineh Sheri Ziaee, both from Victoria, B.C., were granted bail.

The two men believed to be Ziaee sons, Seyed Kamran Miralinaghi and Seyed Kourosh Miralinai, from Nanaimo, B.C., were denied bail. All four are scheduled to make their next court appearances March 11.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell