Walk For Justice

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Walk4Justice Begins One Last Long Trek to Ottawa
June 21 2011
Murdered and Missing Women Honoured and Remembered

On June 21, 2008, Walk4Justice co-founders Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams, joined by a dedicated group of walkers, began their first walk to Ottawa. Walk4Justice arrived in Ottawa on September 15, 2008 and with family members of murdered and missing women, community activists and community leadership marched to the steps of Parliament. They presented documentation of over 3000 missing and murdered women and a petition signed by 2900 people calling for inquiries into these cases to MP Libby Davies and MP Jean Crowder. Walk4Justice walked again to maintain awareness of murdered and missing women in 2009 and 2010. Walk4Justice will begin their walk once more today on National Aboriginal Day on June 21, 2011.

"When we walk, we meet many families who lost a daughter, a mother, a sister. We share their grief and smiles as they each recount story after story of how much they miss their loved ones," said Gladys Radek. "What is most disturbing is how many people tell us how difficult it is to convince police that their case is not about a runaway who will turn up soon in another city but an urgent case about a missing person who could not come home. We are walking for our elders, our youth and children yet to come."

Bernie Williams stated, "It is a hard journey every time we walk. But we know, deep in our hearts, we need to honour the many beautiful women who have yet to make it home or will never be able to come home. We walk because we want accountability and justice."

Sue, one of this year's walkers, observed, "There needs to be reform of the judicial system, law enforcement practices and all levels of government and leadership must work together so we may move forward into a society free of systemic neglect and discrimination."

"When a government is so quick to respond to a hockey riot with an independent inquiry or so quick to form a task force into the deaths of sled dogs and yet need to be publicly shamed into calling an inquiry into murdered and missing women, it is clear we need a national public inquiry to address the whole of the problem. We need to address the racism, poverty, homelessness and domestic violence epidemics in this country," said Bernie Williams.

On behalf of the Walk4Justice families we would like to thank all our volunteers and sponsors for their participation, donations and genuine care for all of us as we walk to honour our beautiful women, children and men.

Contact information:
Gladys Radek, (604) 569-5989 or frillyfrog08@yahoo.ca<mailto:frillyfrog08@yahoo.ca>
Bernie Williams (604) 568-8701 or skundaal@yahoo.ca<mailto:skundaal@yahoo.ca>

For more information about the Walk4Justice, 2011 route plans, photos and how to donate go to: http://fnbc.info/walk4justice

[admin]

August 04, 2011

Re: ONWA Calls on Communities to Support Walk4Justice
For Immediate Release

The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) supports the Walk4Justice and its participants who are due in Thunder Bay mid-August.

Walk4Justice is a not for profit organization that was co-founded by Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams in 2008. Its primary objective is to raise awareness about the hundreds of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women across Canada. Many of the group’s supporters are family members who have lost their grandmothers, mothers, sisters, aunts and daughters – women, men and youth from all walks of life who want justice, closure, equality and accountability for their loved ones.

The walk began in Vancouver, BC on June 21st, 2011 and is making its way across Canada in hopes of reaching its final destination in Ottawa, Ontario in late September. Upon its arrival, the group plans to hold a rally on Parliament Hill.

ONWA together with Sharon Johnson, Ann McGuire and Lakehead University’s Aboriginal Cultural and Support Services will be supporting the Walk4Justice by collecting donations and planning events to welcome the walkers. Upon their arrival to Thunder Bay, the walkers will be escorted to the Friendship Gardens where all community members are welcome to join them. From there, the group will walk to City Hall.

ONWA Event Organizer, Tracy Gagnon says, “ONWA is very honoured to be able to support the Walk4Justice and we are so pleased that the community of Thunder Bay is joining us in helping this group reach its goal.” She continues, “Tragically, Aboriginal women still remain the most at risk group in Canada for acts of violence and with recent announcements to reduce funding to address this issue, groups such as Walk4Justice are necessary. We as an organization, as a community and as individuals need to make sure these missing and murdered Aboriginal women are not forgotten. It is our hopes that other communities continue to support the walkers once they leave Thunder Bay.”

Donations for Walk4Justice can be dropped off at the Aboriginal Cultural and Support Services RC0002 in the Region Centre to Nicole House, (807)343-8085. Inquiries about events planned to support the Walk4Justice walkers can be made to Tracy Gagnon at ONWA, (807) 625-8584. For more information about Walk4Justice, visit their website at www. http://fnbc.info/walk4justice

The Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA) is a not for profit organization that empowers and supports Aboriginal women and their families in the province of Ontario.

For more information please contact: Lorene Rego, Media & Communications Officer ∙ Phone: 807-623-3442
Toll Free: 1-800-667-0816 ∙ E-mail: communications@onwa-tbay.ca