THUNDER BAY – Sharon Johnson knows all too well the pain that is endured from losing a loved one to violence.
In the 11 years since she first organized a walk to honour her sister and other missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, Johnson has experienced the strength that be felt from coming together.
“It’s a good feeling to know that there are people out there that feel that way, that they get that strength from being a part of this and coming to take part,” Johnson said before the start of the Valentine’s Day Memorial Walk on Thursday.
“I know what it’s like to be there. I know what it’s like. When I lost my little sister, I couldn’t talk about her for years. It was just here in my throat, like somebody took me and held my throat anytime I wanted to speak Sandra’s name.”
Her sister, Sandra Johnson, was found dead on the ice-covered Neebing-McIntyre Floodway on Feb. 13, 1992 at the age of 18. Nearly three decades later, the case remains unsolved.
The walk had nearly 50 people travel from Thunder Bay city hall to the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition’s Heritage Building.
While the walk honours the memory of those who were taken too soon, it’s also for those who are still grieving the loss of their loved ones.
Johnson said it’s overwhelming to see people continually coming out to lend their support.
“We’re also walking for each other as family members. We’re here to support each other,” Johnson said. “We know who’s a family member and who’s not. We all reach out to each other eventually or else after the walk we’ll get together and talk.”
The hour-long gathering at city hall that preceded the walk included speeches from Thunder Bay mayor Bill Mauro and Thunder Bay Police Service chief Sylvie Hauth, who each acknowledged
Ann Magiskan, the City of Thunder Bay’s Aboriginal liaison, said the walk is an important event.
“This brings awareness to the broader community of Thunder Bay that we just need to honour the survivors that are with us and provide support and understanding and empathy to the families that have experienced losses of this magnitude,” Magiskan said.
Magiskan, who lost a cousin to violence, said it’s heart wrenching to hear the stories.
“It’s hard sometimes to stand in front of people and share your story to talk about it but the more we talk about the losses that we experience, I think the more that we heal,” Magiskan said.
It’s important to keep the memories of Sandra and others who have been murdered or gone missing alive, Johnson said.
“It’s just not fair what happened to her. It’s not fair what happens to a lot of people,” Johnson said. “It’s hard on family members.”
