By Sheena Roszell

Walking With Our Sisters ceremonial memorial installation in Grande Prairie

Jun 8, 2018 | 10:27 AM

For the next six days, the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie will be showcasing Walking with Our Sisters, a commemorative art installation for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of Canada and the US.

For the past six years, it has been travelling to various communities throughout Canada to honour the interrupted lives of the many grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, nieces and cousins who make up the national tragedy of our Missing and Murdered Women, and now it’s making a stop in Grande Prairie. 

“Not a lot of people know that Grande Prairie does have individuals who have been murdered and who are missing,” explained Omarla Cooke, Media Relations with Walking with Our Sisters Grande Prairie and Area. “So, our reasoning for bringing it here is to help those families.  When we do the display, when we ask people to come in, we’re offering our prayers to them, we’re offering our strength to those families because it is such a tragic way to lose someone.

The installation is made up of over 1,800 tops of moccasins (also known as vamps, tongues or uppers) that will be on display at the Art Gallery June 8 to June 14.

“We want them to know that they are not alone, that they have the community of Grande Prairie and surrounding area supporting them and walking with them through this hard, difficult journey that they have to endure because their loved one is no longer here and was taken in such a tragic way,” said Cooke. 

Before entering the exhibit, guests will be invited to smudge with sage. Women are asked to wear long skirts.  It’s free and everyone over the age of 12 is invited to attend.