Moving forward while remembering the past: Monument unveiled along river bank

“The women’s commission talked about doing something for missing and murdered families within the area of Prince Albert and the far north. We sat down and decided to do the monument,” Shirley Henderson, chair of the women’s commission said.

The monument is two feathers with faces on both sides the feathers.

“The monument depicts how it effects the mother, the child, and the grandmother. All family members,” Henderson said.

Prince Albert Grand Council Women’s Commission members unveil two statues in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls along the river bank on Wednesday afternoon. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Chiefs and vice chiefs of the Prince Albert Grand Council, the chief of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan, and the vice chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, amongst others spoke at the event.

One of the speakers was the artist for the statues, Tristan Sanderson.

“I wanted it to represent strength and resilience and to represent our sisters, mothers, grandmothers, and our children,” Sanderson said. “The red warrior paint on their face is the symbol of power, strength, and the knowledge they carry.”

The statues unveiled along the riverbank on Wednesday afternoon. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Sanderson hopes the community will see strength from the monuments and will know that people are still alive, well, and have power.

“I’m hoping it kind of unites and gives more of a story behind our history,” Sanderson said.

The back side of the monuments that face the river. The monuments show the four stages of the women life. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

The “We Rise” event will be hosted by the women’s commission today and tomorrow.

After the unveiling there will be entertainment at Kinsmen Park, followed by a mini powwow that will start at 6:00 p.m.

Tomorrow morning a walk beginning at 9 a.m. will start at the monument on River Street West and go to Kinsmen Park along central avenue. Following the walk, there will be entertainment at Kinsmen Park, leading to a healing circle which will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lastly, a thank you ceremony will wrap up the event.

Kinsmen Park Powwow

Powwow dancers at Kinsmen Park. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

The powwow begins at Kinsmen Park, Wednesday night. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Powwow dancers Wednesday night at Kinsmen Park. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

The powwow dancers line-up and get ready for the next dance, Wednesday night at Kinsmen park. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

The article was updated to include the video and photos of the powwow at Kinsmen Park Wednesday night.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On twitter: @dawsonthompson8

by Dawson Thompson

Moving forward while remembering the past: Monument unveiled along river bank

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