THUNDER BAY — Ensuring that memories of loved ones aren’t forgotten and providing support to their surviving families and friends are two core themes of an annual walk held in Thunder Bay.
The 18th Valentine’s Day walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People was held on a cold Thursday evening in Thunder Bay. About 25 walkers and supporters gathered at The Bannock Lady restaurant at Intercity Shopping Centre for a sombre opening ceremony, prayer and remarks before the walk to a sacred fire at the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway.
The frozen floodway is where the body of Sandra Kaye Johnson was found on Feb. 13, 1992. Her killing has yet to be solved. Sandra’s sister Sharon Johnson started the commemorative walk 18 years ago and has been a longtime advocate for the Missing and Murdered, and their families.
Sharlene Bourdeau and Kim Ducharme were subsequently asked to help co-organize the event; this year Jeanette Posine — the owner of The Bannock Lady — also joined those efforts.
“It’s (about) helping the families and the relatives, and supporting them and gathering around them,” Bourdeau said. “I just want the families and relatives and friends to know that their loved ones will never be forgotten.”
“This isn’t a celebration by any means and it’s hard work and it’s personal work for a lot of people involved in this walk,” Ducharme said. “I feel really honoured to be involved in this process and I’m happy to participate in organizing it because I think it’s an important event in our community.”
“The walk means I can carry on with my healing,” Posine said.
One of Posine’s employees, Deborah Anishinabie, was killed in December 2024 on Thunder Bay’s south side. It’s something that Posine said has hurt her greatly.
“I’ve always been interested (in the walk), but since we lost Deborah, and because it was forefront and centre to us, that I needed to do something to start my healing.”
Data from Statistics Canada shows that First Nations, Inuit and Métis are overrepresented among victims of violence in Canada. Additionally, the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls shows Indigenous women and girls are 12 times more likely to be missing or murdered than other women in this country.
The walk supports the victims and families of all Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and the current reality, Ducharme said, means continuing to walk every year is needed, as “the issue is still ongoing.”
“The walk is really important to this community,” Ducharme said. “I remember Sharon telling me one time that the families need a space to gather and heal together and share in community so that they don’t forget.”
“To me that’s what this walk represents — we’re not going to forget.”
