Overwhelming response to exhibit honouring Indigenous women
- Tyrone Tootoosis | January 05, 2015
The 1,808 moccasin vamps that form the Walking With Our Sisters (WWOS) Exhibit commemorates Canada`s 1,200 missing and murdered Aboriginal women. The vast majority of the vamps were made by Aboriginal women from across the country and then submitted to well known Toronto based artist Christi Belcourt. She originally conceptualized the exhibit and sent a call out through social media hoping to get about 500 vamps for the show.
However, the overwhelming nation-wide response resulted in 1,808 moccasin vamp submissions.
The Grand Opening of Walking With Our Sisters was at 7:00pm, Friday, Oct. 30th and coincided with the first Grand Entry of the 2014 Annual FSIN Powwow and Cultural Celebrations at Saskatoon`s Sasktel Centre.
Amongst other unique aspects of this exhibit is that no government money is requested nor accepted by WWOS with all money being generated through various fund raising efforts.
To that end, a blanket dance for WWOS was held on the last day of the Pow Wow and to everyone`s disbelief, $1,808.00 was generously given by the peopleā¦.the amount matching the number of vamps in the WWOS Exhibit!
WWOS Exhibit is a truly amazing and ground breaking endeavor as everyone involved from the Bundle Keepers, the Grandmothers, the Volunteers and the Fire Keepers did so on a volunteer basis.
In as much as it was artistic, it was also a commemorative and spiritual ceremony in respectful and solemn remembrance to Canada`s 1,200 Missing and Murdered First Nation and Metis Women.
An added and important component to the Exhibit was that a fire was started with the arrival of the 1,808 vamps and the sacred fire burned continuously for approximately 21 days, 24/7, non-stop.
Men, from different nationalities both from the City of Saskatoon and from the surrounding community came together and had several meetings to discuss and plan on they could contribute and assist the women as Fire Keepers.
Several went into the Nesbitt Forest to cut wood. On behalf of the Beardy`s Okemasis First Nation, Councilor Kevin Seesequasis generously offered assistance by donating split firewood with the help of inmates from the Willow Cree Healing Lodge.
On Dec. 2nd, a Volunteer Appreciation Night was held and each Volunteer and Fire Keeper was presented with an Eagle Feather by WWOS. The exhibit drew over 3000 people to Wanuskewin. The host committee wants to send a big thank you to everyone.
FIRE KEEPERS
Keith Sanderson * John Noon * Boss Gardypie * Bob Badger * Michael Henricks * Marcel Petit * David Werner * William Moosewah * Frank Clinton * Chris Altragge * * Lamarr Oksasikewiyin * Bayley Kryzanowski * Curtis Peeteetuce * Sebastian Hansson * Dean Shingoose * Bryce Donaldson * Kelley Thackeray * John Elander * Doug McKay * Jeff Baker * Aloys Fleischmann * Jordan Schultz * Arden S * Kevin Wesaquate * Joseph Bohan * Kyle Rosvold * Adam Gaudry * JD Bell * Brett Williams * Corey Miller * Gabe Lafond * Gary Eagle * Neal Kewistep * Clinton Takakenew * Andrew Hatala * Urban Camp guys * Rod McLaren * Warren Isbister * Peter Garden * Paul Labelle * Kelley Thackerey * Joseph Gardipy * Francis Kennedy * Elvin Nicotine * Mark Bigland-Prichard * Stan Tui * Robert Innes * Jamie Martell * Matt Kaarjard * Bryce Donaldson * Charlie Clark * Anthony MacKay * Samson MacKay * James Desjarlais * Randy Morin * Matt Coe and sons * Grant Young * Jim Waldram * Elvin Fred * Dale Jack * Wayne McDonald * Kota Kimura * Jed Huntley * Rodney Orr * David Gee * Jeff McKay * Sean O'Connor * Aloys Fleischman * Fred Reiben * Wade Klassen * Josh Gibb * Kain Boldt * Lindsay Brittain * Elvin Nicotine * Ranjan Datta * Joel Kroeker * Maurice Bear * Tyrone Tootoosis * Chris Mulhall * Dale Jack * Derek Chesney * Paul Sartisan * Jim Miller * Mark Brown * Alan Prosper * Ryan Herity * Don Kossick * John Lagimodiere * Riel Lagimodiere * Andrew Hatala + youth * Marty Watson * Dave Moors * Dennis Flaherty * Alex Munoz * (My apologies as I probably don`t have all the names of the Fire Keepers who came and helped out.)
Please visit our Missing People page for outstanding cases.