Over 50 men participated in Saturday’s Walk A Mile In Her Shoes.
Among them was Lower Kootenay Band Chief Jason Louie who painted a red hand print over his mouth.
“This paint that’s on my face is the symbol of the missing and murdered indigenous women. It’s a symbol of [the attempt] to silence the epidemic. But despite the paint, we still have our voice. Everybody in this square has their voice. As well as this red dress I’m literally wearing on my back.”
The red dress represents Claudette Osborne, who bought the red dress for two days prior to going missing in 2005. It symbolizes the 1,200 missing or murdered aboriginal girls and women in Canada.
“Right now in this moment, I’ve never felt so vulnerable and weak in my life.” Chief Louie addressed the crowd in Spirit Square while wearing the uncomfortable and unstable red high heeled shoes. “And I think that is very fitting, given the cause that we’re walking for today. Those women. their power was taken away from them. The situations, the violence, the sexual assault and even the murder.”
The walk along Canyon Street in Creston was lined with cheering supporters. Creston Fire Rescue made up the largest and fastest team. Blaze Dobson was honored at the end for raising the most pledges and bringing the event to Creston from Cranbrook.
