Krista Fox holds a placard of her Grandson Mikey during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People event on Weds., May. 29. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

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May 30, 2024 | 8:27 AM

Noel Moosuk remembers dying in hospital during an operation in 1994.

“I left the earth, I had gone to the next world,” he said.

Moosuk came across a graveyard where he met an old white man who offered him rest.

‘He told me, ‘You’re welcome to camp here, your people are further south,’” he said.

The elder from Red Pheasant Cree Nation was speaking to an auditorium of friends, families and community members at the North Battleford Library. A sea of red, they listened with rapt attention.

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Moosuk explained the man pointed out a town in the distance that was surrounded by trees. The feeling he said he felt in that world was one of peace and love.

“That feeling…you can’t experience that feeling here on earth,” he said.

Walter Swindler, an Elder from Sweetgrass First Nation smudges and offered prayers during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People event on Weds., May. 29. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Before long, he heard a voice call his name. It was a nurse who called him back and told him it wasn’t his time to go.

Looking out at the auditorium and the dozens of people who came together in solidarity to raise awareness for their lost loved ones in a march for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), Moosuk told those left behind there was hope.

“They’re probably over there right now, because it’s really nice over there, it’s beautiful.”

The event on Wednesday began earlier at Atoskewin Success Centre with a walk to honour and raise awareness for all who are missing, murdered and never came home.

Lori Nicotine gets ready to walk during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People event on Weds., May. 28. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“It’s very close to my heart, I’ve had people missing, I’ve had friends go missing and community members,” said Lori Nicotine of the event hosted by the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs.

She explained it had been a couple of years since she joined a walk and she felt the need to do something.

“It’s a human thing, for one thing. Everybody’s affected,” she said.

“It touches the heart, it touches the spirit, right? It’s very personal, it’s a life.”

For Kim Morrison, executive director of Catholic Family Services of the Battlefords, it was important to participate because of what their organization does.

Marylou Whitecalf holds a placard is support of the Standingwater family during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People event on Weds., May. 29. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“We provide a lot of services to the families left behind who are grieving and have losses that they can’t even fathom but also as a Catholic organization, we are really invested in Truth and Reconciliation, there is a past history, a long history,” she said.

Morrison said that the walk was also personal to her as her best friend’s daughter was murdered.

“It is a very heart-breaking thing for many of us here in the Battlefords and so we want to draw attention to that… that we want the legal system to look after these women, to prevent it, to find our sisters, daughters, mothers and to help them stay alive before that has to happen.”

Prior to the walk getting underway, participants gathered for prayers and blessings that the event would be a positive one. With thoughts turned to their lost or taken, walkers spoke about remembering them and reminded others in the group their loved ones are still with them and they are watching.

Walkers head out during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People event on Weds., May. 29. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“My oldest brother was murdered when he was 34,” said Mary Lou Whitecalf.

In the 37 years since his death, there have been others in her family who have died or have gone missing including a grandson, a granddaughter and a nephew. Standing under an umbrella and holding a placard with a photo of a young man for his family, Whitecalf said she was honoured to offer support.

“I’m not going to let go of this until justice comes to them,” she said through tears.

As the walkers made their way to the library, led by a drumming circle in the back of a truck and escorted by community safety officers, they waved banners, held signs and supported one another.

During the presentation in the auditorium, speakers addressed the audience with thoughts of prayers, testimony and ultimately fellowship. As North Battleford Mayor David Gillan offered his support, he thought of his own family.

“For what it’s worth, I have not gone through what you’re going through,” he said.

“I can’t imagine waking up one day and I can’t find them. It’s amazing to think about. How do you go on when you can’t find your loved one, whether it’s your children or whether it’s your uncle or your sister or your mother,” he said.

“I pass on my deepest feelings for you all. I’m glad we continue to do this in North Battleford,” he added, noting it brings community closer.

“Recognizing that we have a long road to go to fix a lot of our problems, but we can only do it together.”

When Krista Fox stood surrounded by posters of the lost, she read aloud victims’ names along with their ages and the year they were taken from their families.

Family and friends march in solidarity during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People event on Weds., May. 28. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“Thank you to all the families that I see here today. You know, I bring these posters with me all across Turtle Island because so often our government, our local government, all they deal with are numbers, statistics,” she said.

“I refuse to allow that to happen to our missing and murdered.”

Among the last to speak, was Cecile Standinghorn who took the opportunity to talk of women’s strength. She said historically, Indigenous societies had elaborate and sophisticated systems which honoured women as sacred.

“Somewhere throughout the years, something happened to upset those systems,” Standinghorn said, adding now they are left trying to figure out how to get back to their teachings and get to a place where Indigenous women are once again held in respect.

“With the women being sacred because they bear life, Creator gave the women gifts,” she said.

“Those are gifts of great strength of mind, body, heart and spirit.”

It is estimated that between 1956 to 2016, 4,600 Indigenous women, men, boys and girls were either missing or murdered.

“Those numbers are astronomical and today the numbers are climbing. People today are at a loss…what needs to happen,” added Standinghorn.

“Families are grieving, communities are grieving, and we have to think of solutions in the midst of all that grief.”

Participants listen to speakers in the North Battleford Library Auditorium during the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People event on Weds., May. 28. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Meanwhile, in a follow up interview, Fox said the event was an emotional one.

“To look around and see so many people show up and all the hugs and the love and…just that connection with our community really helps families,” she said.

Fox said she lost her 14-year-old grandson in 2020.

“Quite often on this journey we feel alone,” she said noting often when walks are held, she and another mother who travel together are the only ones.

“To be able to come into our own community and have so many people show up today was just an amazing feeling.”

The next event will be the Walk for Ashley on July 10 to mark the sixth year of Ashley Morin’s disappearance.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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