'A way of understanding': All Nations Hope highlights healing for Indigenous storytelling month

A vigil remembering MMIWG2S+ was held Wednesday night as part of All Nations Hope winter gathering.

They held a vigil in the evening to remember those lost and who are still missing.

“It is with heavy hearts but also with hope and determination, we gather here today,” said the night’s emcee.

Every person in attendance tied a ribbon around a dreamcatcher and heard stories from mothers who have lost and are still searching for their daughters.

Five mothers remembered their lost daughters.

“I hope you never have to go through what a family goes through, especially the mothers,” said one mother. “It’s really hard.”

“I’m so sorry to the mothers out there that are hurting,” said Michelle Bear. “Everyday I wake up hoping one day, we’ll all find healing.”

“You never get over it,” said Amanda Poorman.

Gwenda Yuzicappi rembered her daughter Amanda Redman. Her daughter was only 19-years-old when she went missing and it took two years and 10 months to find her remains. She said only 42 per cent of her daughter’s remains were found.

“Her Dakota name means ‘Red Star Woman,’” she said. “So the second year when she went up to the stars and they taught her that star knowledge, that’s a part of who she is.”

The mothers gifted star blankets as a symbol of love, support and remembrance.

Wednesday’s vigil concluded events celebrating Indigenous storytelling month, celebrated annually in February. This year’s event was called "Sākihitowin – Stories From a Place of Love."missing

Oral teachings have always been deeply rooted in First Nation culture. Five storytellers from across the prairies came to Regina this week to participate.

They brought their knowledge and wisdom to the gathering, using teachings from creation to use in modern-day life.

Elder Betty McKenna said storytelling is one way of understanding.

“People have a different way of understanding. Every individual could have a different understanding of the stories,” she said.

The stories covered a variety of topics and issues. Some of the stories were told as a way of healing.

The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) said Indigenous people in Saskatchewan face higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases, addictions-related mental health issues, domestic violence, and the removal of children from families and homes.

“We can talk about these problems,” said CAAN’s CEO Okimaw Margaret Kisikaw Piyesis. “But we want to talk about the solutions and that’s going to bring life to people.”

“They have to come from community-based organizations, from communities,” she said. “Indigenous people have the solutions.”

CAAN is searching for those solutions to tackle the health and social conditions Indigenous people face in Canada.

“What exists within the institutions, systems and agencies that have been set up on this land to help people are not helping Indigenous people,” said Kisikaw Piyesis.