A large group of mournful but optimistic people gathered in front of the Prince George Courthouse during the afternoon of October 4 as part of the second annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil, honouring the over 500 known cases of missing or murdered First Nations women across Canada, some of whom from the Prince George area.

"I’ve lived my life in Prince George and I’m humbled to be a part of this today," emcee Christina Draegen said, introducing the afternoon’s events to a crowd that surpassed organizers’ expectations. "It’s a day to be humble and to be together and show each other support… We have a chance to speak up together in honouring our missing aboriginal women."

According to the Native Women’s Association of Canada, as of March 2009 there have been 520 cases of missing or murdered First Nations women and girls entered into their database.

"Our fear is that there are many many more that are not documented," Draegen told the crowd.

The first guest speaker to share her story with those attending was Diane Paquette, a First Nations woman who has lost a mother, daughter, aunts and other family members in recent years.

"Aboriginal women and children are important and they must not be forgotten," she told the crowd, who proceeded to cheer her on.

After falling victim to abuse herself, Paquette said, "I’ve decided to take back my life as an aboriginal women… to be a voice for aboriginal women and children who can not speak for themselves."

There are many flaws in the system that need to be fixed, Paquette added. The RCMP and other law enforcement organizations have improved in recent years, but still need to take more note of First Nations people.

"I feel we are not treated and given the same respect in the justice system as others are," she concluded. "We need an inquiry and inquest into all the deaths in the Northern Interior."

Speaker Georgette Sackeney then shared her own first-hand dealings with loss. Ever since Sackeney’s daughter was murdered on January 1 2006 she’s gone through a rollercoaster of emotions.

"I am angry, but my anger I’m turning into something positive," she told the crowd. "It took me a long time to get out of this fog I was in… I died."

"At least I had closure," she said, unlike many other people across Canada whose loved ones have disappeared without a trace.

"God don’t make junky," she concluded. "I’m a human being and so are my sisters."

A number of people then volunteered to get up on the stage in order to share their experiences an impression of the topics discussed.

The most memorable speaker proved to be Lheidli T’enneh elder Frank Frederick, who admitted to having abused women in the past. Having seen his mother and sister abused previously, he said that he was carrying on a very unfortunate tradition. As soon as his grandchildren were born, he said that he finally smartened up and started treating his wife with respect.

"They are life-givers," he said, and are worthy of respect.

Winding down from an emotional afternoon, organizers closed the event with a traditional smudging ceremony in order to cleanse those who attended. Traditional Ojibwae dancer Tracy Peters danced in the middle of a large circle of observers

"I’m really impressed with the turnout," Draegen said after the events concluded. "It’s good to see so many people supporting aboriginal women."