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Photo taken of the Memorial Walk for the Search the Landfill in Solidarity that took place in Calgary. (Image Credit: Courtesy/Warren Drunken Chief)
IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat’s first MMIWG2S Memorial Walk recognizes reconciliation and honours those affected

Feb 9, 2026 | 1:48 PM

The 1st annual MMIWG2S Memorial Walk is taking place in Medicine Hat, bringing a powerful visual act of community solidarity and a direct call for action toward reconciliation on Valentine’s Day, 2026.

MMIWG2S represents Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People.

Participants taking part in the walk create a visible symbol of the community’s commitment to ending the violence and injustice faced by Indigenous peoples and to honour the lives of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people who have been murdered or are missing.

Advocate and Survivor Janice Randhile said the event’s visuals are very important for the public to see.

“It may spark some attention as to what [we] are doing,” Randhile said.

“The greater public is more aware of this unfortunate issue that impacts our Indigenous communities in regards to our missing and murdered loved ones,” she added.

“There’s some people out there that still don’t know that is happening or that they don’t know the extent of all of the things that have happened over the course of like three decades.”

Randhile said, as this is the first year the walk is being held in Medicine Hat, it is a positive movement to bring to the city.

“I feel like it’s just the best opportunity to start bringing that awareness more to the City of Medicine Hat,” Randhile said.

“Being on Highway 1, it’s a gateway in and out of the province, and in some ways, it’s been a corridor for some of our loved ones who’ve gone missing or been murdered,” she added.

“It’s also an opportunity to remember [lost loved ones] in a good way, for healing within their families, but also the healing of a community, you know, as a whole.”

The walk runs from noon to 1:30 p.m., starting at City Hall and ending at the corner of Altawana and First Street.

Speeches from organizers, community leaders and family members calling for justice and safety at the local and national levels take place before and after the walk.

It’s recommended that the public attend the event wearing red to represent the symbolic colour of the MMIWG2S movement.