Nearly six years after her 14-year-old grandson was killed, Krista Fox still waits for him to visit her in a dream.
On June 6, she hopes a new gathering in North Battleford will help keep his name – and the names of many other Indigenous men and boys – alive.
“He hasn’t visited me in my dreams or anything,” she said, pausing through tears. “I feel that maybe because years ago I made a promise that I would continue to give him a voice.”
Fox has spent years advocating alongside families affected by violence and disappearances involving Indigenous people. But she said one question followed her from community to community.
“‘What about our men? What about our men? What about our men?’” she said.
Now, she is helping bring that conversation to North Battleford.
Blue Jean Jacket Day, set for June 6 at City Park from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., is meant to honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Men and Boys (MMIMB). Fox said the gathering is intended to stand alongside Red Dress Day, which raises awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
The movement began about three years ago in Edmonton through a friend, Stephanie Harpe.
The North Battleford event will include a memorial walk through the downtown core, family story sharing, live acoustic music and a community barbecue. Families are expected to travel from Edmonton, Saskatoon, Beardy’s and northern Saskatchewan to attend.
Fox said many families of missing or murdered Indigenous men and boys often feel left out of broader public conversations and memorial gatherings.
“And as we know, even our own community that the numbers, if you will – I hate using statistics – but you think of Ryan Nicotine, you think of Wade Whitehead,” she said.
“It just seems like our numbers in our own community recently, the unaliving of the young men in the back alley, it just seems to be increasing and yet the awareness for them hasn’t been brought to light.”
She said the event is intended to create space for families to feel seen and supported.
“This is a really good opportunity for us to be able to honour our brothers that have been taken and at the same time allow the families a space to feel like their loved ones are being remembered,” she said.
The walk will begin at City Park before moving through downtown and returning for the barbecue and performances.
Fox said she hopes even people not personally affected by loss will still come out.
“Half of this battle is showing up and showing our families that their loved ones mattered and that we say their names and we see their faces.”
Fox later identified her grandson as Michael Roy, who was murdered Dec. 7, 2020.
“I just feel like maybe if I host this, I’ll get a visit,” she said.
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*For those who have a missing or murdered loved one, a national, toll-free support call line is available to provide support for anyone who requires assistance. This line is available free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-844-413-6649.
Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com
