Candle Light Vigil To Be Held For Loretta Saunders

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A candle light vigil will be held on May 1st for Loretta Saunders, a young Inuk woman and mother-to-be, disappeared from Halifax, Nova Scotia on February 13th and was found two weeks later murdered.

At the time of Loretta’s disappearance she was working on an undergraduate honours thesis researching three cases of missing and/or murdered Indigenous women in Nova Scotia.

Her writing and work to stop the violence is reflected in her words: “I refuse to allow my past to dictate my future and define who I am. My own personal life experiences as an Indigenous woman and the obstacles that I faced, fought, and overcame have inspired my interest in exploring the issue of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada…I hope to inspire other Indigenous women and girls to come forth, begin their journey of healing and make strides towards breaking the cycle within their own life.”

Following her devastating murder, Loretta’s younger sister and best friend called for a national vigil to honour Loretta’s legacy and to call for action on the issue of violence against indigenous women.

On March 27th, groups across Canada came together to honour Loretta’s life and her dedication to ending violence against Indigenous women and girls.

The vigil at Point Pelee National Park – The Tip will take place on Thursday, May 1st at 7pm.  . All are invited to attend, to remember, to honour, and to stand up to stop the violence.

Amnesty International’s ‘Stolen Sisters: No More Indigenous Women Lost to Violence’ petition will be available for signing and donations will be accepted for the two scholarship funds that have been created in honour of Loretta.