Northern Manitobans walk to Winnipeg to honour missing, murdered loved ones
CBC News | Posted: July 6, 2016 10:02 PM | Last Updated: July 6, 2016
Walk for Healing and Love began in Thompson, Man., and aims to raise awareness of violence
Family members of missing and murdered Indigenous people from northern Manitoba have walked more than 750 kilometres from Thompson to Winnipeg to remember their loved ones and raise awareness of violence in their communities.
Dozens of people taking part in the Walk for Healing and Love left Thompson on Sunday morning and took turns walking on the 761-kilometre route to the capital city. They arrived at the Manitoba Legislature on Wednesday afternoon.
Among those who took part was Delia Saultier, whose 28-year-old son, Mark Dumas, was killed in July 2015.
"We are torn apart as a family because Mark was the heart of our family," Saultier said.
"We all have good memories of Mark. He was a very loving person, he loved us all very much."
Dumas, who worked as a hunting and fishing guide at a lodge in the South Indian Lake area, was reported missing on July 22, 2015, and was found dead near the lake the next day.
RCMP charged an 18-year-old man with manslaughter. He is expected to make a court appearance in two weeks, according to Dumas's family members.
Saultier said as she walked toward Winnipeg with the group, she thought of her son and focused on healing.
"It's so hard. I get really angry and in denial and frustrated and all these emotions, and all of those were going through as I was walking," she said.
She added that the family wants "to honour him and to [show] how much we loved him, and we want it to be aware of the violence in the communities.
"People don't say anything. They just watch things happen and walk away from it," Saultier said. "They don't know it could have been prevented if somebody would have stopped it."
'I want to find my husband'
Marilyn Flett walked to honour her husband, Raymond, who has been missing since mid-July 2015.
"I wanted to do this walk so I could be heard, because he has been missing. Pretty soon it will be one year," she said.
"I hope RCMP will start looking for the answers we are looking for."
Raymond Flett was 58 years old when he was last seen in Thompson, Man., on July 14, 2015. He was reported missing three days later.
Flett said she walked with her daughters, three grandchildren, her sister and niece.
"I want to find my husband so I can take him home," she said, as she broke down in tears.
"I care for my husband. I never gave up on him. Why should I now?"
Flett said she and her family members had a lot of support during the walk to Winnipeg and they were surrounded by other people who understand what they're going through.