FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2009
Anniversary of Mohawk woman’s disappearance memorialized; media indifference, issues with police jurisdiction, and discriminatory taxi cab practices continues
Kahnawake, Mohawk Territory / - In an event initiated by family members to commemorate the disappearance of Tiffany Morrison, Quebec Native Women Inc., community members, the Sisters in Spirit Campaign, Amnesty International, Missing Justice and supporters, many from Montreal, will gather for a memorial walk and candlelight vigil on June 18 at Kahnawake’s K103 grounds. It marks the third anniversary of the disappearance of 24 year-old Mohawk woman, who went missing after she took a cab ride home with a man from the community.
For the Morrison family, the anniversary marks three years of agony, many questions and few answers, and frustration with media indifference, lack of cooperation with off-reserve police forces and jurisdictional issues, and discriminatory taxi cab practices for Kahnawake residents. As the family and police investigations reveal, cab drivers do not commonly log fares for rides that end up on the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve.
“These practices are overlooked by company owners and other drivers,” says Melanie Morrison, Tiffany’s older sister. “Why should our community be at risk? It leaves so many unanswered questions because we can’t get past the obstacle put up by the taxi company with their ‘no warrant, no evidence stance.’”
In less than a year, five Indigenous women have gone missing in Quebec alone. A study by the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) confirmed that 520 indigenous girls and women have gone missing or been murdered since 1980, but the number may be higher, as many cases go unreported, often due to distrust between First Nations communities and the police. If the non-native population in Canada were subject to proportional disappearances and deaths, the number would be 18,000.
Amnesty International's comprehensive 2004 report Stolen Sisters, put forth many recommendations to the Canadian government, which have so far been ignored. The UN recently gave the Canadian government an ultimatum: report back by the fall of 2010 on the status of more than 300 cases that “have neither been fully investigated nor attracted priority attention, with the perpetrators remaining unpunished."
Energetic and completely devoted to her daughter, Tiffany would never willingly disappear, her family says. “Someone knows something. Our hope depends on them coming forward.”
"Every day you listen for the phone to ring because there might be some news,” says Carol Morrison, Tiffany’s mother. “If somebody pulls in the driveway, you run to the door - always expecting to see her."
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Event: Memorial Walk and Candlelight Vigil
Date and Time: Thursday, June 18th at 8:00pm
Location: K.103 grounds in Kahnawake (In case of rain, it will be moved to the Legion Hall)
Transport from Montreal: Kahnawake School buses will leave from Angrignon Metro at 7:00pm, bringing passengers to the site of the walk, and leaving the K103 Grounds at 10:30pm to return to the Angrignon Metro. Cost is $2.
Schedule:
8:15pm - Walking route:
Beginning at K103 radio grounds heading towards the bus depot
Turning right on the street towards Kane’s Corner
Turning right onto the Old Malone Highway towards the Fire hall
Turning right after the fire hall down towards River Road
Turning right onto River Road back towards the K103
Ending at the K103 grounds
8:45 pm - Scheduled speakers:
Eddie Stacey, Kahnawake Peacekeepers
Chief Johnny Montour
Beatrice Vaugrante, Amnesty International
Melanie Morrison, Tiffany’s sister
Media Contact:
Kary Ann Deer, Quebec Native Women Inc. (450) 632-0088 ext.221 //
info@faq-qnw.org
Melanie Morrison, Tiffany’s older sister (450) 638.7126 or (514) 442.5385
Website: http://ping.fm/EmU7Q
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