The Tears to Hope relay was underway this past weekend, with runners taking on 10km legs of Northwest BC highways in support of the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Tears to Hope, the event organizer, is a society which encourages public understanding and raises awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls on the Highway of Tears.
Connie Greyeyes is the Northern MMIW Coordinator of the Indian Residential School Survivor’s Society and was in town for the event. She wasn’t a runner but volunteered in one of the relay cars that drove alongside, offering support and water.
She said it witnessing the relay was an incredible experience.
“It was honor to watch, you know, them pushing through because some had stopped and were like, man, I don’t know if I can, but they did it. And I was just, I’m so honored to be here. Amongst the runners, the families. You know, I know a lot of family members, that have missing loved ones. I personally have missing family members, murdered family members. So it really means a lot to be here to support Lorna, and Denise and, and the families.”
Denis Halfyard is the manager of the Tears to Hope Society, and co-ordinated the relay. But in addressing the crowd, she said that first and foremost, she is a family member;
“My cousin, Tamara Chipman went missing on the Highway of Tears just outside of Prince Rupert in September 2005. So this September will be 20 years that she’s been missing, and we don’t have any answers as to where she disappeared. It’s an honour to do this work, to have so many allies amongst us, so many family members. It’s not work that we chose to do. It’s work that chose us. And it’s hard work. It’s hard work that we do. Right to the bottom of our heart.”
The relay covered much of Northern BC, from Prince Rupert, Gingolx, Smithers & Kitimaat Village, ending in Terrace. There was also a virtual option which allowed users to Run or Walk, 5K or 10K, from any location.
Greyeyes said that the cause means a lot to her, as she had a missing family member.
“Mine is, her name was, Joyce Marie Cardinal. She was beaten and doused with gasoline in Edmonton in 1993. She passed away a few days later. And we are one of the lucky ones that got justice. You know, the guy happened to be at a party bragging about what he did, and somebody was like, hm, is this guy for real? Right? Called it in. And that’s how they caught him. He went to prison and he got life. And, you know, we’re lucky. There’s so many families across B.C., across Canada that don’t have that. They don’t even know where their loved ones are. You know, we’re lucky. It’s sick to even say that we’re lucky to have justice. But that’s the reality for a lot of families across Canada.”
The final runners were drummed in with singing and cheers at Ferry Island. Local police assisted in briefly closing the bridge to ensure safe passage for the runners.
The primary focus of the Tears to Hope Society is to support the families of missing and murdered loved ones, by honouring and remembering their lives while providing families with a safe, healing space.
The society works to create awareness for the need of community safety planning, addressing Indigenous-specific causes of gender-based violence. They also share information and tools to navigate the justice and public safety systems to ensure the self-determination of Indigenous communities. This was the 7th annual run.
- With files from Robert Pictou