Dozens of people donned pink vests Saturday and joined the first-ever walk through the community with a new outreach group led by Indigenous women.
People of all ages met at St. John’s Park Saturday evening, before making their way through Winnipeg’s North End as part of Morgan’s Warriors. The group will hand out food and hygiene kits to people in need, as well as conduct wellness checks and pick up discarded needles— all while working to curb cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people.
“I want to be able to be there and spend that time with our women, with our most vulnerable relatives in the community,” said co-chair Melissa Robinson.
“Sometimes you just need to spend that extra time with them to show them that they matter as well,” she said.
The group is named in honour of Robinson’s cousin, Morgan Harris and their motto “helping is healing” is on the patch adorned on all of the group’s bright pink vests . Each of the vests were smudged Saturday before the group set off on foot on their patrol.
Harris is one of four vulnerable Indigenous women killed by convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki. Robinson said part of why the group was founded is to make sure that never happens again.
She also said she wants to see more shelter spaces in the city that are specifically for women.
“I think of specifically my cousin, Morgan, she was preyed upon,” said Robinson. “She was preyed upon by a vicious monster because he had access to her.”
“We need to change things, obviously that way is not working, we need to have an all-women facility where our women can go to and feel safe and feel like they can unwind,” she said. “You go to some of these shelters, it’s a scary situation in there.”
Geraldine Shingoose, an elder and advocate better known as “Gramma,” called the patrol a “beautiful sight” and said that the group was created with love for Harris. Shingoose added she felt strength and support standing among those who came out to be with the group.
“It brings them comfort knowing that they can protect other women, because Morgan wasn’t protected,” she said. “One patrol could make a difference.”
Shingoose said the interactions with people the group meets during their walks through the community might help them learn more information about one of Skibicki’s victims that remains unknown.
She was given the name Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, by community leaders. She was believed to be in her 20s, and court determined, based on the evidence she was also Indigenous.
“I think we’ll be able to and just bringing out information on her, I think it will really [help],” she said. “But not just her, but other missing MMIW … girls, men and boys that are missing, I think that will help.”
Before the group left on an hours long walk, Robinson told them the organization meant more to her than anything and reminded everyone the work they’ll be doing is important.
Robinson also said it’ll be different every time they go out in the community, but that everyone they meet along the way deserves to be acknowledged.
As for the future of Morgan’s Warriors, Robinson is aiming for them to be out in the community five days a week.
Morgan’s Warriors is now also incorporated and they’re in the early stages of opening a bank account that Robinson hopes people will eventually be able to donate money to. There’s also a more pressing need for supplies like water to give out to community members amidst Winnipeg’s scorching heat, she said.
Harris’ youngest daughte Elle is co-chairing the group alongside Robinson who said “she was made to do this work.”
“I’m not getting any younger,” said Robinson. “So, I would like to see her come in, take over and be able to build that relationship with community as well.”