March for MMIW goes on despite frigid weather

Despite the stinging cold, the annual Valentine's Daymarch in honour of murdered and missing women took place in Montreal Sunday afternoon.

However, the weather did take its toll and cutthe march short. The plan was to walk on St-Laurent Boulevardfrom St-Laurent Metro station to Rachel Street, but marchers stopped just south of Sherbrooke Street.

The march, in its seventh year, aims to draw attention to violence suffered by women in Canada. Although the march honours women of all backgrounds, organizers say special attention is given to indigenous women, "who are the disproportionate targets of this systemic violence," the Facebook event byCentre for Gender Advocacy says.

This year,the march route was lined with red clothing, a nod tothe REDressphotographyprojectan art installation that honoured themissing and murdered aboriginalwomen of Canada.

Former Native Women of Quebec president MichleAudette and Qubec solidaire MNA Manon Mass werein attendance.

Two days before themarch, Mass called on the provincial government to do more to prevent this kind of violence. She said services for aboriginal peoples outside of reserves is the province's responsibility, and that many incidents of violence happen in cities.

About half of native people in Quebec live in urbansettings.