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Cars and trucks honk their support as
Gladys Radek waves back while she makes her way into Redcliff along
the sun-beaten shoulder of the Trans-Canada Saturday as part of the
Walk For Justice from Vancouver to Ottawa.
ALEX MCCUAIG
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Cars and trucks honk their support as
Gladys Radek waves back while she makes her way into Redcliff along
the sun-beaten shoulder of the Trans-Canada Saturday as part of the
Walk For Justice from Vancouver to Ottawa.
The purpose of the 60 women walking relay
across the country is to raise awareness of the thousands of
missing First Nations women, some of whom have fallen prey to men
like Robert Pickton or have disappeared along the “Highway of
Tears” between Edmonton and Prince George.
“Doing this really makes me realize
what a caring society we do have,” said Radek who organized
the march.
“And that a lot of people
don’t realize what is going on in Canada — which is sad
to say.”
Radek said it’s time that attitudes
change in regards to violence against women, and the way the court
system handles men who perpetrate these crimes and prosecute those
responsible for the murders they commit.
The tragic murder and dismembering of
Rachel Quinney was one such violent act that needed to see justice
done, she said.
Thomas Svekla was charged with that crime.
He was acquitted earlier this year but convicted on another
murder.
“I think about the family members
that we have met throughout this journey where they have been
victims of so many injustices after so many years of pain looking
for their loved ones,” she said.
“We have a high percentage of women
who are driven into the streets because they have nowhere else to
go.”
Radek said that this country has two sets
of laws, the Indian Act and the federal justice system.
“That plays a large part in it and
it is time that Canada realizes that First Nations are humans too
and we deserve to be treated with respect and honour.”
See Marchers, Page A2
Ross Cross Child, representing the Blood
Tribe during the Walk For Justice’s stay in Medicine Hat,
says he feels emotional about what the march represents.
“I’ve been looking forward to
this day because it was so long in coming. We have lost so many
relatives and nobody seems to care and we don’t know where
their gravesites are. Nobody is doing anything about it —
it’s like they are sweeping it under the carpet,” he
said.
“Who is going to do this for us
except the First Nations people? They need to come forward and say
enough is enough.”
The marchers will arrive in Ottawa on
Sept. 15 to address the issue of missing women with Prime Minister
Stephen Harper and Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.
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