The Gitxsan people's history is marked by a struggle to preserve traditions amidst the generational impacts of colonization.

For thousands of years, the Gitxsan people have inhabited the northwest region of what is now known as British Columbia. Their deep-rooted oral histories and traditions tie them closely to the land and rivers within their ancestral territory. However, the arrival of European colonizers brought about catastrophic changes, including the spread of disease and the seizure of Gitxsan lands. Despite their resistance, the Gitxsan lifestyle was significantly disrupted by resource extraction and the construction of infrastructures such as Highway 16. This road is now infamously referred to as the Highway of Tears due to the numerous Indigenous women who have tragically disappeared or been killed there. The complexity of Gitxsan ancestry is evident, marked by a history of both preserving traditions and grappling with the generational impacts of colonization. Even though she was not brought up in her ancestral territory, gaining knowledge about her people's history provides her with a sense of identity and a responsibility to accurately narrate these stories. Her family's past is a blend of beauty and pain, but their resilience serves as a source of inspiration. She is also inspired by strong Gitxsan women like Brenda Wilson, whose sister tragically disappeared on the Highway of Tears. Navigating between different worlds, she seeks truth and healing in the process of reconnecting with her roots.

The unsolved murder of Ramona Wilson, a 16-year-old Gitxsan girl, highlights the ongoing issue of violence against Indigenous women and the societal neglect they often face.

In 1994, Ramona Wilson, a 16-year-old Gitxsan girl, was living in Smithers, British Columbia. She was part of a loving family and had a promising future. On June 11, 1994, she prepared to attend a graduation dance at the community hall in Hazelton, an hour's drive from her home. Dressed in her favorite outfit - a white sweatshirt, acid-washed jean jacket, and pink-and-white high-top sneakers - she left home but never made it to the dance. When Ramona didn't return home that night, her mother Matilda began to worry. She started making calls, but no one had seen Ramona. The following day, when Ramona failed to show up for school or work, her family's concern deepened. Despite their worry, when they reported Ramona missing to the RCMP, the officers initially dismissed their concerns, suggesting that Ramona had run away. Feeling helpless, Ramona's family took action. They created missing person posters and reached out to the media for help in finding Ramona. Sadly, ten months after her disappearance, Ramona's body was discovered in a wooded area near the Smithers airport. Her clothes from the night she disappeared were found at the scene, but her shoes were missing. The mystery surrounding her death remains unsolved, leaving her family without closure even after nearly 30 years. The story of Ramona resonates with many, especially those who share her Gitxsan heritage. One such individual, who also grew up Gitxsan, led a more unstable life than Ramona. As a teenage runaway, she hitchhiked across North America, often finding herself in dangerous situations. She could easily see herself in Ramona's shoes. She noticed the parallels in how the police and society often overlook cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women compared to their white counterparts. She pointed out that factors such as racism, poverty, and lack of transportation expose Indigenous women to higher risks of violence. Despite increased awareness over the years, Indigenous women continue to face disproportionately high levels of violence. By sharing Ramona's story, she hopes to honor her memory and shed light on this ongoing injustice.

The exploitation of resources and neglect of Indigenous communities in Vancouver led to a cycle of poverty, violence, and disappearances.

K'emk'emeláy, translating to "place of many maple trees", was once a lush rainforest. This forest was home to towering cedars, hemlocks, devil's club, huckleberries, and bigleaf maples. Indigenous communities, such as the Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), depended on these resources for their sustenance, crafting tools, and building shelters. However, with the arrival of settlers in the 1800s, the exploitation of these resources began. They built a seaport, railway, and sawmills, which eventually led to the establishment of Vancouver. Transitioning to the Downtown Eastside neighborhood, it was once a bustling cultural center. However, the departure of businesses in the 1950s led to its decline. The area was plagued by poverty, drug abuse, and a severe lack of housing. A teenager, after experiencing an unstable childhood, found herself living in dilapidated hotels in the area, struggling to survive amidst violence and trauma. During the late 1990s, a disturbing trend of Indigenous women and girls disappearing from the area was observed. Despite desperate pleas from their families, the police showed a lack of interest. In 1998, journalist Lindsay Kines brought this issue to light after interviewing the victims' families, which put pressure on the police to investigate these disappearances. Advocates like Terri Brown also played a crucial role in raising awareness about this issue. In 2002, a breakthrough occurred when the remains of the victims were discovered at Robert Pickton's farm, leading to his conviction. The Pickton case not only highlighted the shortcomings of the justice system but also led to some improvements, such as better coverage of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Later, as a reporter, the teenager learned more about the disappearances along the Highway of Tears from activists like Gladys Radek. The truth about the violence against Indigenous women, which they had been asserting all along, was finally acknowledged. Although there is still a lot of work to be done, their courage in speaking the truth has paved the way for justice.

Levina Moody's unsolved murder in 1969 exemplifies the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, underscored by pervasive racism and inadequate investigations.

In 1969, a 26-year-old Nuxalk mother of two named Levina Moody was brutally killed near Williams Lake. Levina, who hailed from Bella Coola, was known for her love of baking, cooking, and playing basketball. She was a cherished mother and sister. In the late part of 1969, Levina embarked on a Christmas shopping trip to Williams Lake with her parents and brother. During a stop at a cafe, she was subjected to uncomfortable stares from a stranger. Once in Williams Lake, she visited a bar one evening and tragically, she never came back. The following day, hunters discovered her naked body, which had been subjected to torture, physical assault, and sexual abuse. Despite the presence of evidence that could lead to potential suspects, Levina's murder case remains unsolved even after more than half a century. This lack of justice and closure has had a profound effect on her family, particularly her daughter Vanessa, who was merely four years old when her mother was taken from her. During that time, Williams Lake was a hotbed of racism against Indigenous peoples. The town practiced segregation, and the nearby residential school attended by Levina's family was a common site of abuse. Levina's case is a stark representation of the crisis faced by Indigenous women who have gone missing or been murdered. These women have been denied justice due to pervasive racism, inadequate investigations, and the silence that shrouds their stories. Despite these challenges, Levina's family remains undeterred. They continue to seek the truth and honor Levina's memory, ensuring that her story and the larger issue it represents are not forgotten.

The unresolved murders and disappearances of Indigenous women along Canada's Highway of Tears highlight a disparity in the priority given to cases involving Indigenous victims.

Prince George, British Columbia, a city situated along the infamous Highway of Tears is a place where an urban Indigenous person might feel like a fish out of water. This feeling was amplified when law enforcement started probing into the unresolved murders and disappearances of Indigenous women along Highway 16 and its adjoining routes, collectively known as the Highway of Tears. In an attempt to shed light on these mysteries, the RCMP established Project E-PANA in 2005. The task force initially focused on 18 cases spanning from 1969 to 2006. However, the actual count of missing and murdered women along these highways exceeded 70. Despite the alarming numbers, there has been minimal progress in cracking these cases. It's important to understand that Indigenous women in Canada are at a significantly higher risk of falling prey to serial killers compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. Five notorious serial killers - Cody Legebokoff, Garry Handlen, Bobby Fowler, Edward Isaac, and Brian Arp - are known to have operated along the Highway of Tears, claiming over a dozen lives. Obtaining information about Project E-PANA from the RCMP proved to be a daunting task. The task force, having suffered severe budget cuts, operates with a bare-bones crew. There's a growing sentiment among some families that the leads they provided were not thoroughly investigated. Questions arise as to why certain cases are deemed resolved when the killer is deceased, yet the family was never informed.

Canada's colonial history is intrinsically linked to the ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, a situation recently acknowledged as genocide in a national inquiry.

Canada's history of colonialism is deeply connected to the tragic tales of Indigenous women and girls who have gone missing or been murdered. For many years, Indigenous leaders and families have been sounding the alarm about women vanishing from places like Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, the Highway of Tears in northern British Columbia, and other parts of the country. Unfortunately, their pleas for justice often fell on deaf ears. In the late 1990s, a lack of coordination between the Vancouver Police Department and the RCMP resulted in a botched investigation into serial killer Robert Pickton. This allowed him to continue targeting vulnerable women for several years. The Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, under the leadership of Wally Oppal, was tasked with examining these police failures. However, the commission itself was flawed, as it did not provide legal representation for Indigenous groups. Despite these shortcomings, it confirmed the existence of police bias against marginalized women. After years of tireless advocacy, the federal government initiated the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in 2016. The goal was to provide families with an opportunity to heal, to be heard, and to investigate the root causes of this violence. The inquiry faced numerous obstacles, including staff resignations, delays, and criticism for not providing adequate trauma support. Despite these challenges, it offered a platform for long-suppressed truths and validated the experiences of the families. For some Canadians, hearing these testimonies was a transformative experience, opening their eyes to the reality of colonial violence. In 2019, the inquiry's final report concluded that the ongoing human rights violations against Indigenous women and girls amount to genocide. While the inquiry was not without its flaws, it marked a significant milestone in the decades-long struggle for Indigenous advocacy. The quest for justice is still ongoing, spearheaded by resilient families like Gladys Radek's, who march in memory of their missing loved ones and demand action from those in power. The narratives of missing and murdered Indigenous women are now being acknowledged as a part of Canada's colonial history and its present.

Indigenous women in Winnipeg formed Drag the Red to search for missing family members, highlighting overlooked cases and advocating for policy changes.

In Winnipeg, a collective of Indigenous women took action to search for their missing family members along the Red River. This initiative, known as Drag the Red, was co-founded by Bernadette Smith, whose sister Claudette Osborne-Tyo disappeared in 2008. The investigation into Osborne-Tyo's disappearance was delayed due to her being an Indigenous woman with a criminal record. The catalyst for Drag the Red's river searches was the discovery of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine's body in the river in 2014. Assisting in these searches were volunteers like Kyle Kematch, who was personally affected by the disappearance of his sister Amber Guiboche in Winnipeg. The group employed hooks and chains to trawl the river for any remains, and also conducted searches along the riverbank. To aid in their mission, they received training from university professors on how to identify human remains. Through their efforts, Drag the Red highlighted the overlooked cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. They sought to influence policy changes and foster relationships with the police to secure justice for Indigenous families. In 2017, Smith took her advocacy to the political arena by becoming a member of the Manitoba legislature. She proposed a bill to prevent children from being taken from their families due to poverty, a common consequence of colonization. By keeping Indigenous families intact, it is believed that future tragedies can be averted. The determination and resilience of the Indigenous women leading Drag the Red served as a beacon of hope. Their actions demonstrated the potential of community collaboration, skill, and resolve in seeking justice and instigating change.

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Unbroken - Book Summary (2024)

Angela Sterritt

"Unbroken" is a deeply personal account by Angela Sterritt that explores the violence against Indigenous women and girls, drawing from her own experiences of trauma, homelessness, and survival. The book also highlights the resilience, hope, and love within the Indigenous community, and Sterritt's journey as a journalist advocating for Indigenous stories and voices in mainstream media.

Key Ideas

Indigenous women, once held in high esteem as the pillars of their communities, were displaced from their leadership positions due to colonization. This shift in power dynamics forced them into subservience to men, a lingering effect of colonial influence. This has resulted in a pervasive fear among Indigenous women, a fear for their own safety and that of their loved ones. The fear is heightened for those with darker skin, as they are more susceptible to violence and injustice.

The issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, in brief MMIWG, was overlooked for a long time. However, the relentless efforts of Indigenous families and advocates, who tirelessly marched and voiced their concerns, eventually brought the issue to light. The tragic death of a 15-year-old girl, Tina Fontaine, served as a catalyst, drawing attention to this crisis. The revelation of nearly 1200 missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls cases through a report was a shocking revelation for many Canadians.

The media has also played a role in this issue. Those in control often deemed stories about MMIWG as unworthy of coverage and prohibited the use of terms like "survivor." However, Indigenous reporters have gradually managed to change the narrative. The National Inquiry and several major newspaper projects have helped keep the MMIWG issue in the spotlight. Despite these efforts, there are still issues with how the media handles stories about Indigenous people.

As a journalist, there is a sense of duty to thoroughly investigate MMIWG cases and to narrate these stories with respect. By intertwining personal experiences of vulnerability with those of MMIWG, the goal is to humanize the crisis and help others understand the cycles of violence that stem from colonization. While this is just one story among many, it's important to highlight the resilience of families who are fighting to prevent the loss of more women and girls. To truly comprehend this issue, it's crucial to remember a time when Indigenous women were the pillars of their communities.

"Unbroken" by Angela Sterritt is a powerful and deeply personal exploration of the violence and trauma experienced by Indigenous women and girls. Sterritt, an Indigenous woman herself, shares her own experiences of trauma and survival, while also giving voice to the stories of other Indigenous women and girls who have been victims of violence. The book is a testament to the resilience and strength of Indigenous women, and a call to action for justice and healing. It also sheds light on the systemic issues and historical injustices that contribute to the violence against Indigenous women and girls.

Educate Yourself: Learn about the history and culture of Indigenous peoples, and the systemic issues they face. This can help to foster understanding and empathy.
Listen and Learn: Listen to the stories of Indigenous women and girls, and learn from their experiences. This can help to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions.
Advocate for Justice: Speak out against violence and injustice, and advocate for the rights of Indigenous women and girls.
Support Indigenous Organizations: Support organizations that are working to address the issues faced by Indigenous women and girls.
Challenge Stereotypes: Challenge and confront stereotypes about Indigenous peoples, and promote a more accurate and respectful understanding.
Respect Indigenous Cultures: Respect and honor Indigenous cultures, traditions, and practices.
Promote Healing: Support initiatives that promote healing and reconciliation for Indigenous peoples.
Be an Ally: Stand in solidarity with Indigenous peoples, and use your privilege to amplify their voices and advocate for their rights.
Encourage Representation: Encourage and support the representation of Indigenous peoples in media, politics, and other areas of society.
Teach Others: Share what you have learned with others, and encourage them to educate themselves and take action.