20 years of marching for missing, murdered loved ones on B.C.’s Highway of Tears

In 2022, the federal and provincial governments brought cellphone coverage to Highway 16 from Prince Rupert to Prince George. This came in response to a Highway of Tears Symposium Report’s recommendations aimed at enhancing safety for Indigenous women and girls.

Some Indigenous leaders in B.C. have reported that since 1970, more than 50 girls and women have been murdered or have gone missing from the highway. The Highway of Tears Recommendation Report says more than 30 women have been confirmed as missing or murdered, but say the exact number is not known, as some cases have not been recorded.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Action Plan suspects thousands of Indigenous deaths and disappearances across Canada have gone unreported or have been misreported.

“There are loved ones that are missing. Loved ones that are murdered and nobody seems to care,” said Gladys Radek, an elder with the Tears of Hope Society who advocates for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, boys and men.

Gladys Radek is an elder with the Tears of Hope Society. She also works as an advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, boys and men. (Catherine Garrett/CBC)

“They don’t take our cases seriously. To major society it’s just another dead Indian,” said Radek.

“There’s a lot of flaws in the judicial system.”

Radek has been involved in advocacy work regarding violence against Indigenous people for more than 20 years. She meets with the families of people who have lost a loved one, and are now grieving with few answers.

According to data from Statistics Canada collected between 2009 and 2021, Indigenous women and girls are six times more likely to be murdered than non-Indigenous females.

Radek said it’s a shame that advocacy and awareness efforts have to continue. She said the government and law enforcement need to update their strategies in handling cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people to better protect and serve the communities that are being impacted.

She also asks that people speak up when they see a woman in need.

Link to full story here.