Hundreds gather for Sisters in Spirit vigil in Lethbridge

Hundreds of people stood together for the Sisters in Spirit (SIS) vigil in Lethbridge Tuesday night.

“Just because we are First Nations, immediately we are a target,” vigil organizer Alison Frank said.

READ MORE: Aboriginal-Canadians are 6.4 times more likely to be killed than other Canadians

It’s Frank’s second year helping to organize the SIS vigil in the city. It started at city hall and then saw people march to Galt Gardens where a candlelight vigil was held.

For Frank, the issue of violence against indigenous women hits close to home.

“I know a few members of my community that have been directly affected by violence against indigenous women,” she said. “I do use my personal story to drive myself and come to these kinds of events.”

Volunteers hung several red dresses and made faceless dolls to represent missing and murdered indigenous women.

READ MORE: Red dress campaign looks to raise awareness about missing, murdered indigenous women

Jacinda Weiss, a  Lethbridge Sisters in Spirit committee member, said they are honouring as many as 20 or 30 local women.

“A lot of them are unreported, where they just go missing. You have to think about our homeless population where a lot of them go unnoticed,” she said.

Although a lot of work still needs to be done, Weiss said there has been progress within the city since the vigil started 10 years ago.

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“They keep that momentum going – it hasn’t stopped,” she said.

Frank is hoping next year more people will get involved.

“I think the more people that take initiative and come out and support the community and these families, I think that is where it’s going to grow and change and make the community a safer place for everybody,” she said.