UPDATE: The Cassidy Bernard Memorial Vigil will not block traffic, they will stand alongside Hwy. 105 in We’koqma’q.
Thursday marks exactly one year since Cassidy Bernard was found dead in her home in We’koqma’q.
Police have yet to lay any charges in the case.
Annie Bernard-Daisley, Bernard’s cousin, says family members, friends and residents aren’t satisfied with that, so they’re holding a memorial demonstration in her honour to show she hasn’t been forgotten.
Bernard-Daisley tells The Hawk they want to show support for all indigenous women and girls.
“We don’t want them to live in a world where their lives are so devalued that if they ever go missing or (they’re) murdered, nothing happens,” she says. “We need to show our kids that it’s okay to stand up.”
Bernard-Daisley says the event is about Cassidy, but also about all other missing and murdered indigenous women.
She says it’s important to stand against injustice.
“When you show your solidarity, when you show that you’re united and that you’re passionate about what’s going on in this country, then it all helps,” she says. “We refuse to remain in silence any longer.”
Bernard-Daisley says they’ll stand along Hwy. 105 for 72 minutes starting at 4 p.m.
In an email, Cpl. Jennifer Clarke, an RCMP spokesperson, tells The Hawk their investigation is ongoing, and they remain in regular contact with members of Bernard’s family.
Clarke says they fully realize community members are waiting for answers from them, and they look forward to being able to provide an update.
