Pictured above: CMHA Regional Director, Marv Fried holds a picture of local missing woman Lorlene Bone Brass

ValleyBiz Story | Over 60 people from the Swan Valley area attended a luncheon at the Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre (ECFC) on October 4, 2017 to honour lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“Lord, hear our prayer for the families that lost a loved one or are missing a loved one. Give them strength, Lord, that they may carry on their lives and ease their pain.” prayed Elder and ECFC Lifetime Member, Sara Sutherland at the beginning of the luncheon.

Sisters in Spirit Vigils is a national movement, led by The Native Women’s Association of Canada, that encourages concerned citizens and Aboriginal community members to gather on October 4th to raise awareness and to provide support to families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Brittany Moore sang “Tin Man”, a fitting song lamenting how lucky the Tin Man is that he has no heart and cannot feel the pain of loss.

“We all know someone from our own community who is missing a loved one.” said Tanya Powell, consultant with ECFC.

Marv Fried, Regional Director of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Parkland Region share the story of a local indigenous woman who has been missing since February, 2016.

“Today, I want to represent CMHA and our Echo apartments.” said Marv Fried, Regional Director of Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Parkland Region. “We want to recognize one of our missing women as well. Her name is Lorlene Bone Brass.”

Fried explained how Lorlene had spent about a year at Echo apartments beginning in early 2015. “She was a good tenant. She was always positive and polite and she liked to help with cleaning tasks.” commented Fried “We felt she was on her road to recovery and we felt terrible when she went missing in the end of February 2016.” he added and concluded by saying, “We at CMHA hope that we can get some answers and get some closure on her disappearance and we want to recognize her here today.”

Attendees then light tea lights and observed a moment of silence while holding up messages of hope and support they had written on large red hearts for the families of those who have experienced loss.

“This issue does not end on October 4th.” said Powell. “We need to honour and support these families every day of the year.”