Tuesday, September 11, 2018 | Your community newspaper since 1916
KETLO
RCMP seek missing woman Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca
CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE
Roughly 60 men, women and children hold up red dresses at the junction of Highway 97 and Highway 16 on Sunday afternoon as part of the third annual Red Dress Campaign.
Red Dress Campaign takes to highways Christine HINZMANN Citizen staff chinzmann@pgcitizen.ca She seemed a bit surprised at her own tears as she listed those murdered and missing women who she was honouring Sunday afternoon during the Red Dress Campaign which started with a stand-in at the junction of Highways 16 and 97. Sandra McArthur remembers her high school chum Doreen Jack who went missing from Prince George with her entire family, including husband Ronald and children Ryan and Russell, in 1989. McArthur remembers Madison Scott who went missing in 2011 from the Vanderhoof area. Then as she spoke of her distant cousin Mackie Basil of Fort St. James who went missing in 2013. “Where is she? She’s out there,” McArthur said. “This event is about bringing the awareness to these people – some of them have been missing for 29 years and we need them to come home.” McArthur said it’s the overwhelming reality of it that brings the tears even after so many years. “This event isn’t just for Indigenous women but for all women,” McArthur said. What needs to be fought is the perception that women are dispensable beings, she added. Looking around at the 60 or so people who were in attendance at the highway event that began at Mr. P.G., McArthur said it felt empowering to see the support as the majority of people were holding a red dress to symbolize the vibrant life of each woman, which had now been taken away. During the event at the highway, there was a prayer and singing as everyone stood in a circle. Then in a long procession people stood along Highway 97 with dresses raised in honour of their fallen sisters as the Khast’an Drummers performed. The event then moved to the Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park pavilion where organizer Tammy Meise said a few words of welcome and she and others spoke about their personal experiences that led them to the Red Dress Campaign. During the event, Kelsey Abraham and his
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LOCAL HOROSCOPE NEWS OPINION SPORTS
CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE
Kelsey Abraham performs a men’s northern traditional dance on Sunday afternoon at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park as part of the Prince George Red Dress Campaign. Abraham had incorporated photos of some of the missing and murdered women into his regalia. seven-year-old daughter Bella Rain performed traditional dances. Abraham said this event is especially important to recognize all missing and murdered women but it really brought it home as they honoured their family members who have been murdered or are missing. “My daughter is seven years old and her style of dance is one of healing – the junior girls’ jingle,” Abraham explained. Abraham takes opportunities like the Prince George Red Dress Campaign to talk to Bella about her personal safety as she would like to walk home alone from school. Dad doesn’t think it’s such a good idea. To keep the murdered and missing women
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in their hearts Abraham said his daughter honours them often. “So we say her little prayers for the murdered and missing women – not only Indigenous, but women in general. To me that’s important,” said Abraham, who was dressed in traditional First Nations dance regalia. “To always remember them we attend important events like this one and we have placed pictures of the murdered and missing women on my regalia and on Bella Rain’s dress, as well. We need to keep praying for the murdered and missing women. My prayers are with my family today and all the other missing and murdered women and the families out there who need these prayers.”
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Chilliwack police are searching for a missing person who also has strong family ties to the northern interior. “Chilliwack RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in locating Kahlilah Angeline Ketlo, 21, of Chilliwack. Ms. Ketlo was in contact with family members on Aug. 22,” said Cpl. Mike Rail, spokesperson for the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment based in Chilliwack. Ketlo also has substantial family and social connections in this area. “RCMP investigators believe Ms. Ketlo is travelling around the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley,” said Rail. “Police and family are concerned for Kahlilah’s well-being.” According to police, she was reported missing on Sept. 1 and was last seen in the East Vancouver area. Ketlo is described as an Aborigional woman, five-footfour, 133 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. She is known to wear stylish nonprescription eye glasses, baggy clothing and a hat. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Ketlo is urged to contact their local police department or, should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 (TIPS).
Trio jailed for armed robbery Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff Three men were sentenced Monday to significant time behind bars for their roles in an armed robbery of a Prince George convenience store. Both Donovan Arthur Carter-Laliberte, 24, and Wilfred Patrick Prince, 28, were sentenced to six years and Andrew Dane Gifford, 26, was sentenced to five years during a hearing at the courthouse. — see HANDGUN, page 3
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