Hundreds of people have indicated they will be attending a healing gathering at the Legislature Building in Victoria on Thursday, June 18 for Chantel Moore.
The 26-year-old Indigenous woman was shot five times by a police officer who was performing a wellness check on June 4 in New Brunswick, where she had moved to from Vancouver Island.
Moore had previously lived on Tseshaht First Nation in Port Alberni, before moving to Edmundston with her mother and 5-year-old daughter.
“This is an event to honour Chantel Moore, and also to acknowledge racism and police brutality as it relates to Indigenous communities in Canada,” reads the event page on Facebook.
Organizers of the event are asking for everyone who attends to wear yellow in Moore’s honour. The gathering will include a moment of silence in memoriam.
According the the event on Facebook, the goal is to “echo love, not hate”, and attendees are asked to bring Indigenous spirit, sage for smudges, drums, sacred pipes, red shawls, and moccasins.
Masks will be required for all attending, and everyone is asked to maintain physical distances as much as possible, especially when it comes to elders. Those who do not bring masks will be provided one, and volunteers will also be dispensing hand sanitizer.
There will also be a smudging ceremony at the beginning of the event, and near the end. According to an update on the event page, Moore’s family will be attending the ceremony.
Members of the Tseshaht First Nation have recently called for an inquest into the death of Chantel, but say they have not been consulted during the investigation.
The Vancouver Island First Nation community has also recently been victim of racism, when a video on social media surfaced of a truck driving through reserve while its passengers yelled racial slurs.
One suspect was arrested in relation to this incident, and has been released from custody, while awaiting a court date.
Healing Gathering for Chantel Moore
- When: Thursday, June 18, 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Where: B.C. Legislature Building, downtown Victoria
With files from Seanna Wainman.
