After 6 Indigenous people were killed by police or RCMP across Canada in the span of just 11 days, has family members and advocates like myself asking: who do we call when we need help?

I wrote this so I could let some of my feelings and sadness out.

“I can't delete your number, even though you're gone. I can't delete you as my follower or friend because it feels so wrong.

I can't remove your e-transfer or your email at all, I can't imagine not seeing your name as I scroll & type along.”

Since the 1500’s there has been this expression “I would die for you” that people say when they want to say how they would protect the ones they love. If you know what I truly want for you, if you know what is in my heart, you would know I don’t want you to die for me - but would you live for me?

Orange Shirt Day is going to be very different this year for many reasons. For me it has to do with the holiday, the actions that (I hope) non Indigenous people will be taking and the systems change that will result from it. What are you doing to make a difference?

It is a hard time to process grief, but when I think of the many gifts left behind by one of my relatives, I think this perspective can help us process feelings and work towards the good life our loved ones would have wanted for us.

I made a couple long Facebook statuses about healing and grief recently. I hope they provide a little bit of comfort to those of us, and let’s be honest, there are many, who have lost relatives this year and are coping with that grief. Take care of yourselves, and take care of each other!

I miss hearing him say those words while he did this small physical gesture. So now I do it. As much and as often as I can. And I hear his voice when the words leave my lips: “I appreciate you”. And I have no choice but to put my hand on my heart to contain the love and the joy that he taught me to express that I want to share with others. It feels so special - because it is.