The families of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls came together at B.C.'s Parliament Buildings as the province unveiled a memorial quilt to honour their lost loved ones.
Province of B.C. on Flickr.
The quilt was designed using patches crafted by the families, with a total of 90 patches created from victims' clothing, blankets or from cloth in their favourite colour.
Many are embroidered and adorned with messages and symbols of remembrance from family members.
Province of B.C. on Flickr.
The creation of the quilt was a key outcome of the three-day B.C. Family Gathering in Prince George held in February 2016 when at least 350 B.C. residents, and people from other provinces, gathered to remember those they’ve lost, and heal from it.
"I was powerfully moved by what I heard from families at the B.C. Family Gathering in Prince George earlier in the year, and those emotions stay with me with the tangible memorial of tragic loss embodied by the B.C. quilt,” said John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation for the province. “It underscores the need to ensure that our communities are safe for all our citizens and our most vulnerable community members can live without fear."
Province of B.C. on Flickr.
A display of individual quilt patches is available in an online photo gallery.
The memorial quilt will be on display in the B.C. Parliament Buildings throughout the spring and summer.
Province of B.C. on Flickr.
"We are on a healing journey together as indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in British Columbia,” said Chastity Davis, chair of the Minister's Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women. “One step in the collective healing journey is to honour the lives of the indigenous women who have gone missing or have been murdered.
“The creation and sentiment of this remarkable quilt is part of our shared journey and I honour all of the family members who are keeping the memory of their loved ones alive in such a beautiful way."
Province of B.C. on Flickr.
The memorial quilt is about three metres wide and two and a half metres long. The central patch was created by two members of the provincial government's Aboriginal Youth Internship Program.
Province of B.C. on Flickr.
