The story is the same: In Canada, Aboriginal women continue to be targets of hatred and violence based on their gender and their race. They continue to be objectified, disrespected, dishonored, ignored and killed, often with impunity.

Excerpts of Peter Smith, “Vanished: Somewhere Along the Highway of Tears Nicole Hoar Simply Disappeared”, Calgary Sun, Peter July 14, 2002.

Since the time that the Gitksan and Wet'suwet'en peoples began their historic court battle in British Columbia for the recognition of Aboriginal title, Aboriginal women - thirty-two in all - have gone missing along Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George, now referred to as the Highway of Tears.

Between 1988 and 1995, five young women -- Alberta Williams, Delphine Nikal, Ramona Wilson, Roxanne Thiara, and Lana Derrick - went missing along that stretch of highway.

Despite community vigils and protests by the Terrace First Nations Council of Women and others, neither the police nor the media took seriously the disappearance of these women. Then in June of 2002, another young woman went missing. Nicole Hoar's disappearance immediately sparked media attention and government action. How did this case differ from the others? Nicole Boar was the first non-Aboriginal woman to disappear on the Highway of Tears.

One Calgary reporter, alluding at the time to the lack of response when Aboriginal women had disappeared, wondered if those praying for Nicole's family would “extend their prayers to the [five] other families who years ago went through every minute of the nightmare they are living today, but the families in those Native homes were alone without any community support.”

Young Aboriginal women speak out agains violence...

*By Denise Cook, Pimicikamak Cree Nation

As a youth, I think that it is unacceptable for our sisters and relatives to be put in any harmful situation because it means our sacred lives are not honored. It affects our community, the way we feel about who we are. It is devastating to know that this can happen and that this is happening, and it is unjust to our women.

I think that it is important to raise awareness about this issue. It is appalling that these issues do not matter to the larger community just because the victims are Aboriginal women. It is inhumane that their lives are not valued, and it is disgusting that people do not take these issues to heart. The question is why there is no support in mainstream society for providing justice for these women.

My vision for the future is that we would not even need campaigns such as these because these things would not even be the reality and our women would be viewed and honored the way they should be. However, this campaign is very important to educate and put forward these issues as first steps towards stopping violence against Aboriginal women. I believe that it is the responsibility of every person in every community to help make these changes.

*Denise Cook is a member of the NWAC Youth Council.

Link to other stories:

• Campaign honours missing native women, Anglican Journal, January 2004.