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Portraits of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
An illustrated tribute and an attempt to elevate political interest
- by Evan MundayEvan Munday Updated 10:30, Oct. 8, 2020 | Published 9:00, Jan. 12, 2015This article was published over a year ago. Some information may no longer be current.
Since 1980, over 1,186 Indigenous women in Canada have gone missing or been murdered. Despite widespread outcry for a public inquiry into this tragedy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently noted the issue “isn’t really high on our radar.” On January 5, Toronto illustrator Evan Munday began tweeting illustrated portraits of the women to the prime minister—both as a tribute to honour them, and an attempt to elevate political interest. Similar initiatives include those of Lauren Crazybull, who is making an audio documentary of the women’s stories, and poet Gregory Scofield, who tweets the name and photo of one missing Indigenous woman per day.
Danita Faith Bigeagle (b. 1984), a mother of two, was last seen in Regina on February 9, 2007. Read her story at nwac.ca.Maggie Lea Burke (b. 1983) was last seen in Edmonton on December 9, 2004.Amanda Bartlett (b. 1979) was last seen in Winnipeg on July 30, 1996.Abigail Patrice Andrews (b. 1982) was last seen in Fort St. John, BC on April 7, 2010. She was pregnant at the time of her disappearance.Roberta Marie Ferguson (b. November 19, 1968) was last seen near Cultus Lake, BC on August 24, 1988. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.Angel Edna Carlick was last seen alive in Whitehorse on May 27, 2007. Her remains were discovered in a wooded area more than five months later. She was nineteen years old.Sharon Abraham, a mother of two, went missing from Vancouver in 2000. In 2009, RCMP investigators confirmed the discovery of her DNA on the farm belonging to serial killer Robert (Willie) Pickton.
The events of the last few weeks have been dizzying. We’ve read war plans shared over text messages, heard ongoing threats to Canadian sovereignty, and have felt the ripple effects of axed international aid and public health and immigration changes well beyond our borders. On the cusp of a federal election, our country faces significant questions as to how we should respond to these issues.
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Are we on a roller coaster?
The events of the last few weeks have been dizzying. We’ve read war plans shared over text messages, heard ongoing threats to Canadian sovereignty, and have felt the ripple effects of axed international aid and public health and immigration changes well beyond our borders. On the cusp of a federal election, our country faces significant questions as to how we should respond to these issues.
At The Walrus, we’re keeping up with all that is happening in Canada, the US, and beyond. Our editors are working hard to bring you fresh insights and reporting every single day on the issues that matter. The Walrus was built for this moment, but we cannot do this alone.
If you enjoyed this article, please make a donation today to help us continue this work. With your support, we can ensure that everyone has access to responsible, fact-based coverage of the very issues that will shape our collective future.
