Skip to content

A message in need of repeating (4 photos)

A familiar message was heard Sunday at Market Square, this time in memory of Tina Fontaine

The crowd might have been a bit smaller and the voices fewer, but the message was just as strong and just as important Sunday in Market Square.

Roughly 40 people gathered to remember Tina Fontaine and continue the call for liberty, freedom and justice for indigenous people.

Last week around 175 people attended a vigil at the same location for Colton Boushie.

The body of Fontaine, a 15-year-old First Nations girl from Manitoba, was pulled from a river in Winnipeg in 2014, wrapped in a blanket and weighted down by rocks.

The man accused of second-degree murder in hear death, Raymond Cormier, 56, was acquitted in a Winnipeg courtroom last week.

Similar vigils to the one held in Guelph have been held across the country this week.

Sunday's event, as was last week's, was organized by 16-year-old John F. Ross high school student Xicotencatl Lopez.

"I was not hoping to see you all again so soon," Lopez said. "Now we are gathered here for Tina Fontaine."

You would think that we would have some justice. You would think Canada would care. But all they care about is looking good," Lopez said.

"I am not all too surprised that the Canadian government treats Native Peoples this way, given the history of Native Peoples in this country," he continued.

Lopez said "we can not trust the government" and urged people not to be content with "what they tell us."

"When Justin Trudeau tells us they are going to change the justice system, we don't believe him until it is done," Lopez told those gathered.

Keep fighting, he said, keep spreading the message and organize to do what you can for liberty and freedom of Native People.

After a poem was read and a couple of people in attendance said a few words, some of the crowd proceeded to the river where a brief ceremony to honour Fontaine was held.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.




Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
Read more