In-person, online events across the country planned to honour MMIWG2S

Families and friends of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people are planning marches and online events to honour their loved ones this Valentine's Day.

"It's a real opportunity for the general public to learn something … from different people who are doing advocacy or direct work, for missing and murdered Indigenous women," said Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal.

In Montreal, Quebec Native Women, the Native Women's Shelter of Montreal and the Iskweu Project have partnered to bring back a vigil that had been on hiatus for four years.

The vigil, which starts at 6 p.m. ET, will include a walk and guest speakers including MMIWG family members and Sen. Michèle Audette, a former commissioner of the MMIWG inquiry.

Nakuset said the vigil will push allies to think about the inquiry's 2019 final report, and how to get its 231 calls to justice implemented.

"It's for the general public that sees red dresses or reads articles about it, but doesn't actually get to be involved in any way," said Nakuset.

In Winnipeg, starting at 4 p.m. CT, organizers at Manitoba Moon Voices Inc. will host a private online event for families. 

"How can we do something that's safe and it's going to have an impact with the families without gathering? We thought,  what better way than getting together over food and teachings," said Shannon Hoskie, Manitoba Moon Voices' executive director.

Hoskie said families have been struggling with the cost of food, so they sent out gift certificates and plan on having elder Leslie Spillett share traditional teachings with the participants over Zoom.

"Leslie will share teachings on how to honour our loved ones that have gone on before us and how to instill respect and honour our loved ones that remain," said Hoskie.

Starting at 1 p.m. PT, Arlene Henry will lead a walk in Cranbrook, B.C., billed as the community's first MMIWG event.

"I really want people to hold space for themselves long enough to heal," said Henry, who is originally from Dzawada'enuxw First Nation (Kingcome Inlet), and lives in Cranbrook.

Henry said she is organizing the walk to honour the memory of her mother Lavina Henry, aunt Janet Henry and friend William Warbrick who was lost to violence two years ago.

She said she plans on bringing in someone from the Rocky Mountain Martial Arts Family Centre for a self-defence demonstration, as well as an RCMP officer to talk about an app that helps to keep women safe.