SASKATOON — Krista Fox is thankful for men like Derek, the husband of Lindsey Bishop, who has been supportive of their goal of helping raise awareness of the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples.
“We’re hoping to have more men rise to the challenge and support this cause. We need more men to step up. We don’t need men to walk behind us or in front of us, we want men to walk beside us as we make this journey,” Fox said.
Fox and Lindsey Bishop are doing a cross-country walk as a way to continue the conversation on MMIWG2S, two of which are Ashley, who went missing from the former's home community of North Battleford and the latter’s sister Megan. They began their journey on Feb. 18, Fox’s 54th birthday, in Victoria, B.C.
Derek joined his wife and Fox for a few weeks in British Columbia but had to return to Saskatoon as they made their way to Alberta.
“He had to come back and finish a contract that he was doing. He needed to finish a job. As soon as he was done with that [job/contract], he said that he wanted to be out here with us,” Lindsey told SASKTODAY.ca.
“He told me that he wanted to be out there making the journey. He told me, ‘I need to be with you.’ So, we found a way to get him out here with us. He has been with us ever since and fully supporting our every step.”
Fox says she is thankful for the sacrifice and support Derek has provided as they near the halfway mark of their 10-month-long walk that will end in St. John’s, Nfld. Once they've completed the journey, they will have walked more than 7,000 kilometres.
“I am thankful for Derek who stepped up and has been looking after us, driving us and supporting us. That is what we’re looking for in every man, one who is supporting his wife,” added Fox.
She said that they are determined to finish what they started in British Columbia as the issue of MMIWG2s must be not forgotten and needs to remain in everyone’s consciousness.
“We are going to continue talking about this issue. Everybody across Canada needs to know. My heart bleeds for the families. The government needs to change things, listen and start doing something,” Fox told SASKTODAY.ca.
“Every chance I get, my goal is to keep this issue out there. The prime minister, either way, is going to make a choice: sit down and listen to the stories of the families. Stories that I have to share with him. Sit down with us and listen to what we have to say.”
She added that the federal government denying them a meeting with Justin Trudeau would just show the MMIWG2s community — family and friends — their stand on the issue.
They made a brief stop in Saskatoon, arriving in the city April 8 where they had an emotional welcome from their friends and family. They left for Regina a few days later to continue their cross-country journey.
Early Thursday, they were joined by some members of the Ochapowace and Cowessess First Nations including Chief Margaret Bear and Chief Cadmus Delorme, respectively. They rested at Whitewood and then resumed walking towards Moosomin, where they plan to spend the night.
