Newlyweds walk for murdered and missing Indigenous people

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This article was published 21/06/2023 (684 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A woman in a neon yellow vest walks along the Trans-Canada Highway roughly 15 kilometres west of Falcon Lake. She holds a pink leash for a French bulldog. Red, orange, blue and white handprints cover the tailgate of the dark blue Ford F-150 that trails her with its blinkers on.

Charity and Cameron West have been walking across the country from Alberta near Siksika First Nation since the beginning of May to raise awareness about murdered and missing Indigenous people.

“There is a lot of awareness for murdered and missing Indigenous women, murdered and missing Indigenous men. There is awareness of it but there is no actions going behind it,” said Cameron. “We want more action.”

The couple, married in October 2022, grew up along the Highway of Tears, a part of Highway 16 that runs 720 kilometres across northern B.C. Since 1969, 18 women and girls have reportedly gone missing or been murdered, but local Indigenous groups believe that number could be closer to 50.

Both Charity and Cameron have gone through the loss of loved ones and know first-hand the grief that follows.

Barry Blain Thomas Seymour, the father of Charity’s son Tyrrehz, has been missing for more than a decade. Seymour drove out from Kwadacha Nation for Tyrrehz’s ninth birthday in May 2012. He went missing from Prince George, B.C. and has not been seen since.

Cameron’s cousin, 18-year-old Jessica Patrick from Lake Babine Nation, went missing from Smithers, B.C. in 2018. Later that year, she was found only because members of the search party saw birds circling above the Hudson Bay Mountain, Cameron said.

“A lot of our friends from high school are part of the statistics,” said Charity. “You grow up all the time hearing about it.”

Indigenous women represent 10 percent of all women missing for at least 30 days in Canada. Indigenous women make up only four per cent of Canada’s female population according to a 2011 National Household Survey.

During their walk, many people have opened up about traumatic experiences they have gone through and were scared to speak about for fear of their families being put in danger. Charity said she understands the courage it takes to share those stories.

Charity and Cameron said it’s disheartening to see the mistreatment of Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people happening consistently across Canada. The couple hopes to make non-Indigenous Canadians more aware of the losses happening within Indigenous communities.

They also want to see more effort put into fulfilling the 94 Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Since their release eight years ago, 13 Calls to Action have been completed according to the Yellowhead Institute in Toronto.

“I understand that it’s hard to talk about something you have no exposure to. That’s really what we want to do, is make sure people are having these conversations,” Charity said. “These are uncomfortable conversations to have and that’s just how it is.”

As they near the border of Manitoba and Ontario, the couple reflects on their journey so far.

After stopping in Brandon earlier in the month they were invited to a memorial for Tessa Perry, a 31-year-old Indigenous woman from Winnipeg who was murdered last year. Family members placed their painted hands on the truck, leaving their mark.

Recent rain has begun to wash them away.

“When I look at these handprints and I see that we’re almost out of Manitoba and they’re starting to fade, it just seems so fitting,” Charity said, her eyes watering as she points out a tiny handprint made by a little girl. “They stayed with us for all of Manitoba.”

Cameron and Charity travel between 40 and 50 kilometres each day taking turns walking and driving the truck. Cameron said they’re basically alone on the road because of this set up.

The pair exchange text message ‘I miss you’s’ and FaceTime each other when the days get too lonely. They pitch a tent at night to sleep, cram into the truck if it’s raining or are welcomed into the Indigenous communities they pass through to rest.

“I just feel everything that is around me and then the emotions come in,” said Cameron. “We have our little breaks where we get to see each other.”

The couple has received a lot of support along the way for themselves and their dog, Gretchen, including tick medication and food. While in Brandon, the neighbourhood renewal project Ask Auntie provided them with decals to show the reason they are walking.

The Wests have also been sponsored and supported by the Tsay Keh Dene First Nation, Kwadasha Nation, Takla Lake Nation and Lake Babine Nation in their home province along their trek.

Charity said that no matter your race, she wishes there was equal support for those going through the loss of a loved one.

While walking one day, they stopped after they heard news that the remains of Madison Scott, a Caucasian woman that had gone missing near Prince George 12 years ago, had been found.

More than a thousand local residents showed up for her vigil in late May, including many Indigenous community members.

“Race really doesn’t matter when you’re going through grief. All these lines of race need to be blurred,” Charity said. “Everybody should be treated equally and with the same compassion. Everybody should be showing up for everybody.”

Cameron and Charity expect to reach St John’s, Newfoundland, their final goal, by the end of July or beginning of August. Once completing this journey, the Wests plan to walk the Highway of Tears from Prince Rupert to Prince George, B.C.

The couple is asking that anyone wanting to send donations can send them to local organizations that work positively with Indigenous victims and families of people that are taken.

“The fact that so many people have just been compelled to uproot their lives and do this pilgrimage to show that these issues need to be dealt with is so powerful,” said Charity.