A march of approximately 50 people Friday afternoon from the Yukon government main administrative building along the waterfront to the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre represented just one of more than 200 vigils held across the country over the weekend.

The Sisters In Spirit demonstrations, held annually, continued the call on the federal government for a national inquiry into missing and aboriginal women.

While many dispute the numbers, arguing they are likely greater, most agree there are at least 1,200 aboriginal women who have been murdered or are missing in the country.

Friday’s noon-hour event saw the crowd, which included RCMP officers, territorial politicians and city council members, carry placards along with 38 balloons, representing the number of Yukon cases.

After arriving at the cultural centre, the crowd formed a circle around the fire pit. A minute of silence was observed to remember the women and girls who have been killed or gone missing as well as their families and friends dealing with the grief.

Lorraine Netro, who’s involved with numerous aboriginal women’s groups and has been a leader on the Sisters In Spirit movement, then offered a prayer asking that mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunties, daughters and granddaughters be remembered and that the families who have been dealing with grief find strength and courage so they can find peace and comfort.

The 38 balloons – environmentally-friendly, organizers reassured – were then released, drifting off toward the sky.

The crowd then moved into the cultural centre for a lunch and speeches, all of which continued the call for a national inquiry.

“This is a national crisis,” said Ta’an Kwachan Council Chief Kristina Kane.

It was a sentiment echoed by each of the following speakers as they took to the microphone, demanding action from the federal government.

Marian Horne, the president of the Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council, pointed out aboriginal women are more than three times more likely than any other group to be missing or murdered.

“These statistics are Canada’s shame,” she said, as she pointed to the impacts of colonialism and residential schools on the aboriginal population.

Like many speakers at the event, Horne noted that violence against women is not solely a women’s issue.

“It’s a human rights issue,” said the former Yukon Party minister of Justice.

Solutions to prevent violence need to continue to be identified, said Krista Reid, the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle president, after pointing to work on creating a database of missing and murdered aboriginal women.

What those who worked on the project in the territory got, she said, was the life stories, and those stories will be documented, she said.

Netro then spoke, echoing the sentiments expressed and stating supporters should continue to talk to ensure their voices are heard.

RCMP Cpl. Calista MacLeod then noted the media campaign held last year is also happening this year, until Oct. 10.

Ten Yukon cases will be featured on the Yukon RCMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages in the hopes of increasing both awareness and generating new information on each case.

Teslin Tlingit Council Chief Carl Sidney and Mayor Dan Curtis also spoke, highlighting the need for both a national inquiry and individual change.

“These are our sisters, our grandmothers, our aunties,” Sidney said. The federal government is not doing anything to help, he argued, and it’s time that changed.

Curtis noted his frustration when he reflected on the fact that last year, the same sentiments had been expressed and still no inquiry has happened.

“An inquiry has to happen,” he said, encouraging everyone in the room to “demand” an inquiry.

He noted Horne’s earlier comments on the request that a city proclamation be made acknowledging the Sisters In Spirit campaign. As Horne had stated, while she had requested the proclamation, it had come in too late.

This morning, Curtis said the proclamation is something he “definitely” wants to happen next year, and the city may talk to Horne about the possibiliy of acknowledging the event this year with a resolution.

What’s more important than any proclamation, though, is action, he stressed.

In his speech, the mayor also called on residents to do what they can, emphasizing small efforts, such as not making or laughing at sexist jokes, can go a long way in helping to change attitudes.

In an interview following the formal speeches, Netro called the event “very powerful and meaningful.”

She noted more people representing a broader cross-section of society are calling for an inquiry, something she and the other supporters will not give up on.

“We will not be silent,” she said.

As supporters dispersed into the hallway, a number stopped at a photo-booth set up by the Victoria Falkner Women’s Centre for a national social media campaign, asking “Am I Next?”

The campaign can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/316337358549026/?ref=br_tf