A three-day gathering for family members of murdered and missing Aboriginal women and girls drew about 350 people to the Prince George Civic Centre this week, the provincial government said.
The event, which was closed to the media, offered families an opportunity to share their experiences including discussions on trauma and recovery led by renowned speaker and author Dr Gabor Maté.
A series of sharing circles for youth, women and men where participants provided their stories, perspectives and offered support to one another. Cultural and health support workers were present to support family members as needed.
Attendees participated in the Lheidli T'enneh custom of 'Gathering of the Rocks' by laying stones from their home communities and contributed patches that are being sewn into a quilt to honour their lost loved ones.
Lheidli T'enneh Chief Dominic Frederick said the First Nation was honoured to host the gathering on its territory.
"Grief and mourning are great burdens, but I hope that by coming together and supporting each other, we can provide some measure of healing and a way forward into a future where no other families need to suffer such loss," Frederick said in a statement issued by the province.
The provincial government will share family members' feedback at the second National Roundtable on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls slated for later this year in Winnipeg.
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad to B.C. committed to holding the gathering when he attended the inaugural national roundtable in 2015.
"I have the greatest respect for all the family members who made the journey to this gathering and those who have been unable to attend," Rustad said in the statement. "I hope that people have found some measure of comfort and healing in such a supportive environment."
