By Mitchell Ferguson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Cape Breton Post
November 28, 2023
ESKASONI — Eskasoni residents marched on Sunday from the community health centre’s healing garden to Allison Bernard Memorial High School wearing red toques and holding signs featuring the faces of Indigenous women and men across Canada who never came home.
Jolita Stevens of Eskasoni organized the event and walk and says the event was to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
“It’s a walk and ceremony for the missing and murdered Indigenous men and women, just to share awareness,” Stevens said. “I’m very passionate about spreading awareness. I am a big advocate for women and men, especially in my job. I’m an addiction treatment counsellor at Mi’kmaw Lodge Treatment Centre. I work one-on-one with the clients all year long.”
Stevens organized her first walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic began. She says the event was initially supposed to happen annually.
“This wasn’t my first walk for this cause; it would have happened yearly if COVID-19 hadn’t hit,” she said. “Now that COVID has settled down, I decided to do one because so much has happened this year. Too many people died.”
‘MORE THAN A WALK’
The walk was followed by speeches, sharing of helpful resources and performances during a reception at the ABMHS gymnasium. The Eskasoni Women’s Drum Group and ABMHS Drum Group joined together to perform multiple songs and Stevens’ great-uncle Benji Lafford said an opening prayer for those lost.
Stevens says she wanted the day to be more than a walk for awareness.
“The walk is powerful and makes a statement, but I felt we needed more information, talking, and sharing. I asked my coworkers to come and share about addictions or illness. And then my sister works at a mental health centre, so I asked them if they would come and share about mental health,” Stevens said.
“I felt like I needed all of that there. So, if they did have somebody out there that they’re worried about, that needs help. They will find it.”
The day continued with local dancer Kaylei Denny performing a red-dress dance in honour of Indigenous people who never came home. Kathy Denny then shared the story of losing her daughter Sarah earlier this year and sang a song in her honour.
Stevens, who created the Eskasoni Women’s Drum Group, says Kathy Denny’s piece was especially important to her and her drum group.
“Her song was beautiful and touching. Sarah was actually in our women’s drum group from the start,” Stevens said.
The day concluded with food and a giveaway featuring a ribbon skirt and a painting of “The Spirit of the Red Dress.” Stevens says she has plans to keep spreading awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.
“Already, yesterday I was talking to my mother, and I was saying I want to do this next year, I want to change that up,” said Stevens. “I feel like every reserve should share that awareness. If I could go to every reserve, I probably would.”
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