Vigil of the Sisters of the Spirit in Calgary

The annual ceremony brings together families and friends of missing and murdered indigenous people in hopes of raising awareness of the issue.

The vigil of the Sisters of the Holy Spirit will take place on Friday at 6:00 p.m. on the steps of the town hall

The event has been held annually on October 4 since 2005 and now includes over 300 locations in Canada and abroad.

Families of the victims, as well as supporters, community leaders and members of the public will gather to honor murdered, missing and exploited Indigenous people from across Canada.

The program will include traditional drumming, songs and dancers, as well as speeches by families and friends of missing and murdered people.

According to public records, more than 5,000 Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people have been missing and murdered in Canada

Organizers say the data shows how overrepresented and more vulnerable indigenous people are when it comes to homicides and violence.

The aim of the vigil is to raise awareness and initiate open dialogue with governments

Organizers are calling on all levels of government to work with indigenous peoples to develop a transparent and effective nationwide investigation and action plan.

They also call on all community members to gather, learn, and participate in ceremonies.