Bernadette Smith has been searching for her sister for more than four years.
Claudette Osborne, 21, disappeared from Winnipeg, one of almost 600 missing or murdered Aboriginal women from across Canada. Since then, Smith and the Coalition of Families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women of Manitoba have been searching for answers along with their loved ones. Speaking at the Ontario Native Women’s Association’s first annual Pow Wow to honour the missing women, Smith said more resources are needed. More partnerships between police and families are also needed.
When her sister disappeared, the police were notified within two days, but it took the Winnipeg force almost two weeks before they started investigating.
“Their response was ‘well she’s probably just hanging’ out with friends’,” Smith said.
And sadly, that’s what a lot of families hear when their loved ones go missing. Aboriginal women are eight times more likely to be murdered than non-Aboriginals yet there doesn’t seem to be as much community support for Aboriginal families Smith said. Along with honouring the missing and murdered, the Pow Wow wa meant to raise awareness and show support for those families as well.
“Just not to give up hope and seek out help from others in the community,” Smith said.
ONWA director Betty Kennedy said while awareness is being raised, the violence continues.
“Unfortunately the numbers continue to increase of our women who are either missing or murdered and that is something that we need to deal with collectively,” she said.
