The monument is designed by Cree artist Lional Peyachew and sits near the front steps of Saskatoon’s police headquarters.
Several hundred people gathered under the sun in Saskatoon on Friday to witness the unveiling of a monument devoted to missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The monument is on the front steps of Saskatoon’s police headquarters and was designed by Cree artist Lionel Peyachew.
The bronze statue features a fancy dancer riding on a cloud with her shawl becoming the wings of an eagle.
Peyachew says he drew inspiration from the monument after hearing one mother’s description of her missing daughter dancing and how it reminded her of an eagle in flight.
The new monument was made possible through a partnership between the Saskatoon Tribal Council, Saskatoon Police Service along with the City of Saskatoon and the province.
For Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill, Friday’s monument unveiling will be an important day to remember in the city.
“It is our hope that this monument to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls will serve as a beacon to all people in Saskatoon that we should never forget the victims of violent crime,” said Weighill.
Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas was brought to tears during the unveiling ceremony when he addressed the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
“Your women made the ultimate sacrifice… to better our community and they are still watching over us from the heavens and the clouds,” said Chief Thomas.
Several dignitaries, community members and family of missing and murdered Indigenous women attended the unveiling.
“This monument recognizes all mothers, daughters, sisters, cousins and grandmothers and they will never be forgotten,” said Carol Wolfe while addressing the crowd.
Carol Wolfe is the mother of Katrina Wolfe who went missing near Saskatoon in 2010. Her body was found in 2015. Jerry Constant, her convicted killer, is currently serving a life sentence.