The ongoing effort to remember murdered and missing indigenous women has been recognized in a downtown Windsor vigil.
Over 100 people of all ages gathered Wednesday evening at Dieppe Gardens on the riverfront for the 12th annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil. The remembrance event is part of a Canada-wide effort Wednesday to honour the lives of murdered First Nations, Inuit, Metis and other indigenous women and girls. The vigil also remembers those who have gone missing.
The vigil featured candlelight as darkness fell, along with traditional native music and speeches. A tent was set up on the lawn with figures representing those missing or murdered.
The plight of indigenous women in Canada received unprecedented attention 13 months ago when the Canadian government launched its first full-scale inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women. Statistics provided by a press release from Legal Assistance of Windsor show that the percentage of homicides involving indigenous females was 21% in 2014, compared to 14% in 1990.
One particular local case was mentioned in remarks during the vigil. 36-year-old Diane Dobson from Saugeen First Nation was last heard from on February 14, 1995, when she telephoned her daughter to say she was on her way to see her in Kingsville. Her body was found in a west Windsor ditch the next morning.
No one has ever been charged in the crime and the case is still considered open.
For complete information about the government's inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, click here.