The president of the Native Women’s Association says it was the “Highway of Tears” that helped convince her group to launch a postering campaign aimed at female hitch-hikers.
Since 1969 at least 18 women, almost all of whom were First Nations or Metis, have gone missing or murdered on B.C.’s infamous highway 16.
Last week the Native Women’s Association partnered up with the RCMP on a new project designed to educate aboriginal women who are hitchhiking.
The group’s president, Michele Audette, says she knows many women don’t have a choice when it comes to getting around and they may have to thumb a ride.
But she wants them to do it safely, and not wind up like the women on that highway:
“Well we’ve been thinking for a long, long time. For us, knowing the highway of tears from British Columbia and other places, Qubec included and the east, west and south. We told ourselves that we need to work with the RCMP.”
She says any community that wants a poster can get one, they just have to contact NWAC or the Mounties.