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Thanks to Everyone who supported and attended the 10th Annual Day of Mourning.

Please join us on August 14, 2010 for the 11th Annual Day of Mourning to Remember Victims of the Sex Trade.

Every now and then, when we least expect it
they show up in our dreams
to let us think of them again
to let us know one day
we will be together again
until then we are together
once a year
on the Day of Mourning
—excerpt from Untitled (Day of Mourning), L.L. 2009

It all started a decade ago, with a group of at-risk Saskatoon youth who shared the desire to honour one victim—a 14-year old girl exploited through the sex trade and then murdered in Calgary—and those like her, who are lost on and to our streets.

Every year since, youth gather to organize the Day of Mourning to honour the children, women, and men who have lost their lives through involvement in the exploitation that is the sex trade in Saskatoon. Through the efforts of these committed young people, August 14th is officially recognized by the Government of Saskatchewan as the Day of Mourning to honour those who have lost their lives to murder, suicide, overdose, and disease related to the sex trade.

The 10th Annual Day of Mourning events took place on Friday, August 14 at 6:30pm in Pleasant Hill Park, at 21st Street and Avenue U South in Saskatoon. Despite pouring rain, we marked this special occasion with greetings, prayers, blessings by Elders, drumming, dancing, and singing, and a candlelight vigil and march down 20th and 21st Streets, through the area where the sex trade is most prolific. The ceremony featured a haunting original Day of Mourning-inspired performance by two talented members of Youth Committee, Mike & Jessica (http://www.myspace.com/dayofmourning2009), and a solemn reading of the victims’ names. Performances included the soulful drumming of the Sweetgrass Singers, a song by Daryl Benson, the vocal stylings of Wanita Bird, and enigmatic dancer Leslie Paul. Member of Parliament Kelly Block, Minister of Social Services Donna Harpauer, President of the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Robert Doucette, Saskatoon Police Chief Clive Weighill, and City Councillor Charlie Clark brought greetings, and the Youth Committee  received written commendations from Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Premier Brad Wall, Lieutenant Governor Gordon Barnhart, and Beverly Jacobs, President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. The evening culminated in a communal meal of Beth’s homemade soup and Nora’s famous bannock.

The 10th Annual Day of Mourning was made possible through the ongoing dedication of the volunteer Day of Mourning Youth Committee. We are youth who have all been touched by the people whose lives have been lost. For us, EGADZ is a home. Over the past ten years, we have shared our lives while organizing this event, dipping into each other’s memories of pain and loss we have each experienced, helping one another make it through our days of pain, our days of mourning. We organize this event every year to remember the victims, to support the families left behind, and to give strength back into the community. The Day of Mourning also helps to educate people about the root causes of the sex trade, while educating other high-risk youth about the very real dangers involved. Together, we can create a feeling of hope, dignity, and self-respect out of these tragedies by affirming our commitment and concern for the victims, making sure that they and their families know they are part of a caring community.

Please join us next year on August 14 for the 11th Annual Day of Mourning.

Spread the Word!

Download the 10th Annual Day of Mourning Poster (.pdf) and Bookmark (featuring the 2009 Day of Mourning-inspired poem by L.L.) to distribute and display everywhere!

RSVP for the Day of Mourning on Facebook and invite your friends.

Download the 10th Annual Day of Mourning Media Release (.pdf) and Public Service Announcement (.pdf).