Monica Jones knows first hand the pain of losing a loved one to violence. In 1977 her sister, Katherine Joe was murdered, a crime that remains unsolved.
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Now, as the executive director of Cowichan Missing and Murdered Women, Men and Children Society she’s dedicated to raising awareness for all of the families like hers.
“This touches my heart, and my family’s heart more than anything because we suffered the loss of my murdered sister Katherine Joe in 1977 which was a cold case unsolved,” said Jones. “I’m just being the voice of her and those who can’t speak for themselves. Her and many others being a cold case unsolved was why we started our non-profit society.”
The group’s next endeavour is the Lifting Spirits, Honouring Lives Gala & Silent Auction at 5 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Mellor Hall at Cowichan Exhibition Park.
Tickets for the society’s first large scale fundraising event since before the pandemic will be $100. With a goal of $24,000 all the proceeds of this prestigious community event will go towards the vital work of ending the violence and finding justice for all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Men, and Children.
CMMWMC became recognized as a non-profit society in March of 2019, which has assisted the movement. Since its inception over the decades CMMWMC has partnered on numerous Missing and Murdered Women, Men, and Children events including annual memorial walks and more recently the May 5 MMIWG walk/run and the Walk For Justice.
“We used to do walks with Vancouver and Victoria for their memorial march on Valentine’s Day, and then we created our own five years ago,” said Jones. “We were only able to do two because COVID set it, and set us back.”
Jones has spent the past 46 years of her life dedicated to bringing awareness to Vancouver Island First Nation Tribal communities which has included educating youth, local, provincial, and federal government, and a myriad of other agencies and groups.
“We have supported countless families with searches, advocacy, and providing solace in times of deep grief and loss,” said Jones. “My voice has been heard across Canada, and I have had the ear of Ottawa, Toronto, and Parliament.”
With the society recently bringing their concerns to the legislature in Victoria, the goal of the Lifting Spirits, Honouring Lives Gala is to bring all leadership under one roof says Jones. Municipality of North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas and council have approved $5,565 in funding which will pay for the hall for the event. Funding will not only be used to enact the society’s strategic goals for 2024, but will also go towards hosting a MMIWG2S conference in Cowichan next year.
“As a grassroots organization we are dedicated to supporting those who have lost loved ones, advocating for systemic change, working in the community through education and prevention, and participating in search and rescue missions when necessary,” said Jones. “All funds raised will go towards continuing our support and advocacy in the community.”
The gala dinner will begin at 5 p.m. and will feature a delectable meal prepared in local Indigenous tradition, followed by addresses from local leadership, Indigenous music and drum performances, a silent auction, with the evening culminating in a community dance at 9 p.m. At this time CMMWMC are still welcoming attention-grabbing and unique donations to add to their silent auction. Tickets can be purchased through EventBrite or for more information or to make a contribution contact executive director Monica Jones at 250-815-5321 or by email at comiakqueen1@gmail.com.
“My hope is that those in attendance will hear us, and that they can go out there and advocate to others on what took place,” said Jones. “Our hope is to be heard at a provincial and federal level, and have them advocate for us in the parliament. When we do this, it’s like no one hears us, but when the federal and the provincial leaders, and the chiefs step in and they start vocalizing for us on all those that are missing and have been murdered, then we will finally be heard and we can voice ourselves even further at the parliament building in Ottawa.”