Nikki Fraser is organizing an Indigenous Peoples March for Friday, Jan. 18, 2019.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Billie-Jean Gabriel Photography
January 14, 2019 - 5:00 PM
KAMLOOPS — Nikki Fraser from Tk’emlups te Secwepemc is marching this Friday to elevate the Indigenous voice as a whole.
“I’m marching to uplift those voices that need to be heard,” Fraser says.
Fraser is organizing a local Indigenous Peoples March on Friday, Jan. 18, to stand in solidarity with the one being held in Washington, D.C.
“I saw a post initially on social media and I saw that this (march) was in Washington,” Fraser says. “I did some research and I saw there were some opportunities to host a solidarity march.”
The Indigenous Peoples March is a grassroots event to help shed light on issues affecting First Nations people across the world.
“It’s really to give a platform for the Indigenous voice,” Fraser says.
With the help of her dad, Dave Manuel, a wellness counsellor with Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, and others, Fraser began planning the event for Kamloops.
“We will be starting off with a water ceremony at the beach, some prayers, some opening remarks, speakers,” Fraser says. “We’ll just be peacefully marching and drumming, and then ending at city hall.”
Everyone is welcome, Fraser says.
“Allies are for sure welcome, it’s open to everybody,” she says. “It’s not just for Indigenous people from Kamloops, it’s for Indigenous people all around the world.”
Fraser says this is the first Canadian solidarity march behind held.
“We just want to show that there are Indigenous people in Canada that will be standing in solidarity,” Fraser says. "This is something we are really proud of."
The march will start at noon on Friday, Jan. 18 at Riverside Park Beach. The walk will start in front of the Sandman Centre and finish at City Hall. Participants are reminded to dress warmly.
For more information contact Nikki Fraser at nikkifraser@live.ca.
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