A Saskatoon woman and cousin of a murdered Indigenous woman is helping others share their stories of loss.
Darlene Okemaysim-Sicotte, co-chair of Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik (Women Walking Together), has created a template for the women’s group and for some families to tell their stories through slide-show presentations at this week’s Saskatoon stop of the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
"The very last slide is the recommendations, what do they recommend could be improved with what had happened with them, what wasn't working, what actually was working or to expand on something that wasn't working or needs more,” she said. “There's lots of opportunity, and I think every family that’s going to testify will be given an opportunity to say what the recommendations are.”
Okemaysim-Sicotte lost her cousin Shelly Napope in 1992. She says her family reported her cousin missing more than 30 times. Napope’s body was found in early October 1994, about 16 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon in a farmer’s field. Serial killer John Crawford was convicted for the deaths of Napope, Eva Taysup and Calinda Waterhen in Saskatoon. He was handed three life sentences in 1996 and remains behind bars in the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert.
Her cousin’s death led Okemaysim-Sicotte to join Women Walking Together. The grassroots women’s group established in 2005 raises awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women — which it calls a human rights crisis.
Okemaysim-Sicotte will testify on behalf of the women’s group and to tell her personal family story this week in Saskatoon, during an in-camera session at the inquiry.
She says her cousin’s death took a heavy toll on her family.
“As a bystander being away from my community and starting university here in Saskatoon, I had my two younger boys who were little at the time and I really had no skills to comprehend what was happening,” she said.
“We won’t get total satisfaction, but we’re still moving forward with that healing process.”
Since the inquiry was launched in September 2016, it has travelled the country, hearing from families, communities, experts and institutions.
The mandate of the inquiry is to examine and report on the underlying and systemic factors that contribute to violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
The government has dedicated $53.8 million for the inquiry. The commissioners say the final report will include: findings on the systemic and underlying causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls, and actions to address this violence; policies and practices to reduce violence; and ways to commemorate missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Opening ceremonies for the missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls inquiry stop in Saskatoon began at 4 p.m. Monday at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel. Hearings will run Tuesday until Thursday.
--- with files from Rachel Aiello, Ottawa News Bureau Online Producer for CTV News
