Today was the first day back on the bike after almost a week in Prince George that was filled with seeing Sebastian, then Colleen and last night Sonja again, intense discussions with new friends on violence against women, changing the political system, supposedly non sexist pornography etc. We also watched a great production of Les Miserables in which Sebastian played cello.
So, this morning I started the Highway of Tears portion of the tour. It is kind of strange, Highway of Tears makes it sound as if this highway may look different, be somehow stigmatized, but it’s just a highway with lots of lumber trucks and RVS zooming along at high speed and the shoulder is not always great. The wind became increasingly stronger from the west and combined with lots of hills and brilliant heat this became a slow day, and I biked 150 km.
However, from reading about it and particularly from conversations in Prince George I knew that this part of highway 16 carries a lot of meaning and pain and symbolizes the extreme violence against First Nations women in Canada.
There are several big billboards for Madison Scott who went missing in 2011 at age 20 without a trace. I sent the photo of the billboard around while having a break. As I was sending it I suddenly felt this huge pain, as this smiling woman could be anybody’s daughter. (Thanks for all the supportive feedback)
There are also a surprising number of crosses on the side of the road to commemorate those killed in accidents.
After 100 km I reached Vanderhoof a pretty little town in the very large Nechako valley. Here I did my routine early afternoon food shopping and had a coffee at a coffee shop (I was so tired from all the late nights). I met Herby from Stony Creek Reserve. We talked about Highway of Tears and he just felt speechless about what could be done. He personally knows women who were killed and are missing. Then he recognized me from the Global evening news from Edmonton.
In Fort Fraser I met Connie and Tom Sutherland. They were just talking about Highway of Tears and we kept on talking for quite long time. It seems like everybody of the First Nations between Prince George and Prince Rupert knows each other. They know most of the victims, there kids went to school with some of them and people are trying to make sense of this ongoing tragedy and at least think of preventive strategies to protect their girls and women. This has been going on for over 20 years and it seems that some organized crime is behind this. We talked about what needs to change and Connie and Tom both emphasized that poverty on reserve and isolation are the biggest issues that need to be overcome. Also, First Nations need support in finding their indigenous roots and identity.
We also spoke of John Furlong who has taught in the residential school in Burns Lake in the late 60s and two of his former students have just filed lawsuits against him for sexual and physical assault. Connie said people knew about this for a long time but Laura Robinson opened the door for the victims to come forward. Being in this are is obviously quite timely.
Tomorrow there is a 4 day vigil being held between the Nadleh Reserve at Fort Fraser and Burns Lake for Destiny Tom who went missing on March 23 2013. I will catch up with them tomorrow on my way to Burns Lake and will walk with them a bit.
Then Connie connected me with Bev who was part of the vigil and now I am staying overnight in Bev’s super modern trailer which is parked beside her house.
So, this was another day with contrasts. Tomorrow Sonja will join me by bike and Colleen will be our support till Prince Rupert.
Poster of missing Maddy along the highway
Near Vanderhoof
On the road to Vanderhoof
I truly commend you for what you are doing. I am from Burns Lake, and am working today in the Elizabeth Fry Transition House, Eagle’s Nest here in Burns Lake. I also live along the highway of tears. I remember years ago when Nichole Hoar went missing, hitchhiking from Bednesti outside of Prince George. We all walked along the highway searching for clues and Nichole. This endless searching never really stops. Two summers ago around this time a conservation officer shot my son’s dog and dumped her body in a undisclosed gravel pit. Walking the back roads looking for her, a member of our family, really put in perspective for me what the families of the missing women along this highway go through.
It hurts terribly to know that crows, bears, maggots and other things can further injure or just knowing they are out there hurts…all alone unprotected by those who love them. “It’s like when the last memory is of a loved one thrown away, you want/need to find them, wrap them up safe… to make them feel wanted one last time.”
Thank you for your dedication, resolve and action to end this preventable hurt! Thank you for coming to Burns Lake, BC on your journey, I really am glad you are here and have physically traveled where paths of innocence met with harm and violence.
Thanks Susanna for sharing your thoughts and feelings of pain with us. Yes we all need to hear your stories to understand what is really going on in Canada that is supposed to be based on equality and justice for everybody.
I hope with you that there will be actions on a national level and justice eventually will prevail.
Thanks
Hi Joachim
I’m at the Men’s Program seeing men and working with Joyce. We miss you!! Really admire how many people you have been able to reach and how much you’ve spoken publicly. All the best.
Thanks May
I have been thinking of all of you in Grey Bruce as i am on this amazingly intense journey of learning. The speaking publicly about the “Normal Injustice” in the midst of our country has become a must for me on this trip. Imagine we all would become part of Change the Cycle in one way or another.
Amazing, thank you for sharing.
I need to thank you Bev.
Please keep me/us posted about the things we all need to hear and work on towards change