By Katarina Ziervogel

Tamara Chipman, a 22-year-old woman from Moricetown First Nations in British Columbia first went missing on September 21, 2005 near Prince Rupert. Tamara was last seen hitchhiking from Prince Rupert to Terrace in British Columbia, on Highway 16, best known as the Highway of Tears, where several other women have gone missing or have been found murdered. The name “Highway of Tears” gives Highway 16 an ominous energy. It’s a long route for hitchhikers who once thought it was safe to travel the highway in beautiful British Columbia.

Chipman’s aunt Gladys Radek did not foresee that the time she spent with Tamara in 2001 would be the last time she saw her. All families of missing and murdered Indigenous women unfortunately share that in common with Gladys, which led her to create a non-profit organization called “Walk4Justice” which she co-founded with Bernie Williams in 2008. The organization, Walk4Justice was created to fight for the families and all women who went missing or found murdered, as well as to get all of the answers they deserve.

What started all five of the major walks dedicated to the ambitious cause, was the first walk; a 4,000 kilometer march from Vancouver to Ottawa in the summer of 2008. The dedication to the cross-country march lasted three months, ending it with the feast for the trekkers. Not only does the organization raise awareness for the families and all of the missing and murdered women, but it brings a sense of peace and accomplishment to the community because they are fighting for the cause. Walk4Justice brings out some of the loudest, most empowering voices in the country. We are in an era where no voices should be silenced and where we should create more positive change for all of our people.