A week dedicated to reminding New Brunswickers of missing and murdered aboriginal women in the province concluded with a run on Saturday.
"I was thinking about my grandmother,” said Deanna Price of Duncan’s First Nation. “Her life was taken way to short, and so I carry her with me and all the young women whose lives were taken tragically and too soon."
Brad Firth has been running across Canada since Mother's Day of this year, to raise awareness for those aboriginal women who can't do it themselves.
"My sister was a victim to domestic violence last year and as a result she passed away, so I wanted to use my running effort, my endurance, my abilities to shed light on that and join forces with Sisters in Spirit and just carry the message and challenge men to be better men," said Firth.
Firth is headed to Nova Scotia now. He figures he has about 1,500 kilometres more to run in order to get to everywhere he wants to in the Maritimes.
Peggy Brooks works for Gignoo Transition House – a shelter helping First Nation women and children escape domestic violence.
She hopes to start a conversation.
“It's important for us to acknowledge that this just isn't a problem out west. It's a problem (in New Brunswick) as well," said Brooks.
Brooks wants the events to continue next year, and every year following until the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women exists only as painful memories and poignant symbols of loss and grief.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Laura Brown.
