HALIFAX – Students at Saint Mary’s University paused for a moment Monday morning to remember fellow student Loretta Saunders, who was murdered last month in Halifax.
The university’s Aboriginal Society held a traditional smudging ceremony outside the school, then raised the Mi’kmaq Grand Council flag at half mast, which is a tradition that shows a community is in mourning.
“She was a really awesome person,” said former classmate Alexia Lopez, as she held back tears.
“This is the least we can do for her. This doesn’t stop here. There has to be justice for all the people who are taken from this life in such a manner.”
Saunders, 26, was reported missing on February 13. Her body was recovered two weeks later near Salisbury, N.B., and her two former roommates are charged with first-degree murder.
Saunders, who was Inuk, was working on her thesis about missing and murdered aboriginal women at the time of her disappearance.
“There are many aboriginal people who go through Saint Mary’s, but her thesis and her purpose was to find these missing aboriginal women,” said Elora Flores, vice-president of the Aboriginal Society.
“So, coming from the aboriginal background and being aboriginal, her death made a major impact, as did she when she came to the school. It hit hard. It did. So this is closure for us as well.”
Students say she remains an inspiration and hope her legacy lives on.
A vigil is planned for Wednesday in Ottawa, where advocates will call for a federal inquiry into the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women.
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