Highway of tears
Walk4Justice
I first heared about the „highway of tears” in 2009, when I was living in Canada.
To my surprise, I was reading about it in a German magazine.
I truly could not believe, what I was reading. I assumed, if it would be true, I must have heared about it living there. But it was true and even if the Highway of tears is also in British Comubia, the state where I was living, I have never herared about it before.
„Highway of tears“ is the section of Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert, where many indigenous girls and woman have been missing and murdered.
The police never interviewed any of the indigenous families about their missing and murdered daughters, sisters, and wives up until 2005, when the first white woman went missing.
The missing and murdering is continuing and even is significantly incrising this day.
Living on „the stolen lands“ of Canada, I felt a strong calling to support.
I wrote a article for our local newspaper.
I met the first nation human right activist Gladys Radek and stayed in touch with her ever since.
Our first meeting left me open and broken hearted and with no words for what I have heared.
I privately donated money for the Walk4Justice, a grassroots-funded, nonprofit organization that was cofounded in January 2008 by Gladys Radek and Bernie Williams to raise awareness about the plight of the far too many missing and murdered women across Canada.
I also felt the caling to bring more international presence and started looking for a journalist who would write about the Highway of tears.
Most journalists (and papers) refused to write about this topic.
But then I met the german journalist Sebastian Moll and he flew together with photographer Carolin Saage to Canada to meet Gladys Radek and report about the Highway of tears.
In June 2012 the article got published at „Spiegel Online“.
Now it ist he end oft he year 2025.
Gladys Radek, advocate for MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls) and MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples) writes:
„Only 2 out of 231 of the recommendations have been implemented. The rates of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and also our Boys and Men has risen significantly in the past decade, the genocide continues. The police have never been held accountable for their involvement by their brutality, the criminal justice system and racism that clearly exist today. (...)
We succeeded in walking 6 times in and throughout the country to raise awareness and make recommendations to protect our vulnerable people from further violence.
The National Public Inquiry proved our point that what they are doing is committing Genocide. (...) The systemic failures continue today as they have only implemented 2 od the 231 recommendations, thus far. Meanwhile our data bases for MMIP are still escalating daily.
This year we have a new Government to deal with.
This government’s plan is to violate our treaties and steal our lands to build infrastructure (...) to rape the land, resource extractions and contamination of our waters. Their plan is being fast tracked from 5 years to 2 years. This means there will be no consultation with us. The goverment will build man camps to bring foreigners into remote areas. When this happens many of our young women and girls, men and boys disappear and found raped and murdered. Since the new government has been in, racism is significantly higher and alive and well.
With this country’s political climate at this time, it would not be safe for us to be walking on the highways. We do not want to put our walkers lives in jeopardy.
We are, however, organizing the walk for next year Walk4Justice2026, June 21, 2026 to September 14, 2026. This walk will also be totally reliant on donation and volunteer.
All of our walkers are family members who have lost a loved one with no answers or justice for their losses.
What do we want?
We want answers, we want justice, we want change!
We want people to stop targeting the Indigenous people right across the land.
We are the stewards of this land called Canada and will continue to fight for our rights.
We will do what it takes to stop this ongoing Genocide.
Prayers to all our people to be safe, strong and healthy for our future generations.
Respect to all“
Gladys Radek, Advocate for MMIWG and MMIP.
„I will never forget what he said to me at this moment, "I don't have time"!
Well MR. Justin Trudeau, We don't have time for your dictatorship either! (...)
Enough is enough. We, the people need to fight for positive change for our future generations. Today our children are suffering in silence and dying with no hope for the future. Lets give them hope....if we don't the genocide will continue.“
❄
Tears to Hope Society
The Tears to Hope Society is an Indigenous-led organization which was formed in 2019. The primary focus is to support the families of Missing and Murdered loved ones by honoring and remembering their lives while providing families with a safe healing space.
Teras of hope Society takes donations – also for the final Walk4Justice.
https://tearstohopesociety.com/about/
❄
For more information about the highway of tears, the Walk4justice and Gladys Radeks work visit:
https://www.saanichnews.com/news/mmiwg-documentary-follows-northwest-b-c-activist-gladys-radeks-lifetime-journey-for-justice/?fbclid=IwAR0PSB5K2dfUhbJeLWMkM01r8zW-34CnUPbNFirqvVHXLa5d9-PAZluYau0
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6kuKuG0LPFmXDJpbc517Cd?fbclid=IwAR0b0mO6L-_IxuBOZOaEa4OSHvGi4NMPHXb83KxLw2Z2RcAd7feUDlrndNE