Hundreds gathered outside a Quesnel motel to honour the spirit of an Indigenous woman found murdered and others who remain missing or whose lives have been tragically cut short.

Amid the faces seen on Thursday, Jan. 20, some had a red handprint across their mouth and some carried signs with phrases like B次元官网网址楴ever ForgottenB次元官网网址�, B次元官网网址楽ilent No MoreB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址楯ustice for Carmelita.B次元官网网址�

The ceremony at the Willow Inn at 856 Front Street drew people of all backgrounds to support the Takla First Nation mourning the loss of 33-year-old Carmelita Abraham.

Her brother Rick Abraham thanked everyone for showing their support and the work of law enforcement in finding her.

B次元官网网址淚f you have violence against you, speak up B次元官网网址� donB次元官网网址檛 hide it. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what happened here,B次元官网网址� he said in a distraught voice.

B次元官网网址淣o woman should go through this.B次元官网网址�

RCMP in Williams Lake, Quesnel and Prince George launched efforts to locate Carmelita on Tuesday, Jan. 4, after receiving a missing persons report from concerned family members.

Just over a week later, 51-year-old Quesnel resident, Joseph Simpson, was arrested and charged with murder and indignity to human remains in relation to CarmelitaB次元官网网址檚 death.

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Near the main entrance to the Willow Inn, where family said her body was found, smudging and singing was held.

Abraham said CarmelitaB次元官网网址檚 father and daughter had wanted to attend, but it was too long for them to travel.

B次元官网网址淢y little niece has got no mom now,B次元官网网址� he said.

Leading the afternoon ceremony were Takla Chief John French and Nazko Chief Leah Stump, who were joined with members of the Lhtako Den茅 Nation and Ulkatcho First Nation.

Takla member and Regional Chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, Terry Teegee shared words at the ceremony honouring his relative.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 help but remember all of my relatives that have become a statistic,B次元官网网址� Teegee said naming Jessica Patrick and Ramona Wilson murdered along the Highway of Tears, and Jacqueline Murdock who vanished from VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Downtown Eastside and Norma George who was found murdered.

B次元官网网址淎s Indigenous people, our women and girls are over-represented, and all I could think of is my daughter who just turned 18 that the odds of violence against her are seven times greater than the norm B次元官网网址� it has to stop.B次元官网网址�

RCMP action has, for the most part, been positive according to Teegee, who acknowledged parties were ready to sweep VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Downtown Eastside for Kenlynn Megan West who was found safe, and that detachments from Williams Lake, Quesnel and Prince George had files and were involved with the search for Carmelita.

B次元官网网址淭here has been some semblance of closure here, but the fact remains that the vast majority in this country and this province are unsolved,B次元官网网址� he said, noting ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 ceremony was part of their healing journey that has become all too familiar.

B次元官网网址淭he physical Carmelita isnB次元官网网址檛 here but her spirit is here, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what this ceremony is for.B次元官网网址�

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North District RCMP Chief Supt. Warren Brown thanked CarmelitaB次元官网网址檚 family for trusting them and giving them the strength and intimate knowledge that allowed police to forward the sad and unfortunate investigation.

He also thanked her family for allowing the RCMP to be part of the ceremony releasing CarmelitaB次元官网网址檚 spirit.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a heavy day for the community, and I hope this provides some closure,B次元官网网址� Brown said, acknowledging the RCMP still has a long way to go toward reconciliation with First Nations.

TeegeeB次元官网网址檚 sister Mary described Carmelita as a beautiful and fearless woman who always spoke the truth and was an advocate for Indigenous youth who had danced at the Olympics.

B次元官网网址淗er spirit rests easy and is now at peace,B次元官网网址� she said, calling on Indigenous people to remember the strength and resilience of their ancestors that will keep them going as long as they stay together and hold each other up.

CarmelitaB次元官网网址檚 family will return to Quesnel on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. where they plan to hold a rally at the Provincial Court seeking justice during SimpsonB次元官网网址檚 next court appearence.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com