SASKATOON—Crystal Duquette wanted to join the Red Dress Day Walk on Monday, May 5, to honour her daughter, Melissa. However, her strength failed her, her knees becoming weak, as the memory of Melissa’s tragic fate almost two years ago came flooding back.
“She was a beautiful soul. She was smart, beautiful, kind, caring, and strong. She's everything she was. I wanted to be here to represent her and join the walk, but I could not do it,” the elder Duquette, who could not hold back her tears, told SaskToday.
“I wanted her name to be remembered. I wanted people to know who she was. I wanted people to know she's still loved, cared for, and missed daily. Some days are tougher than others. But today is harder, because it's remembering those who are victims of violence.”
Melissa, who has six other siblings, was the second oldest and 24 years old when she was murdered in April last year in Saskatoon, with her body being found shot in the basement of a house after two days. Three men are now in custody awaiting a pre-trial set in August.
Despite the suspects already in jail, Duquette still can’t accept the fact that her daughter is gone. They might get justice for her daughter’s murder, the suspects could get sentenced to life, but this won’t bring back her daughter’s life.
“She’s gone. She was 24 years old when she was murdered, and they left her there for two days before anybody found her. The three men who murdered her were supposed to be her friends,” added Duquette.
“It didn't take long for the detectives in Saskatoon here to piece together enough evidence to charge all three men with first-degree murder. [Melissa] knew them. They were supposed to be her friends.”
Faith Bosse, the daughter of Daleen Bosse, organized the Red Dress Day Walk three years ago in the city. Her mother, who was a 25-year-old University of Saskatchewan student, went missing in 2004 and was later found dead.
“She went missing when I was three years old here in Saskatoon. Many of the stories I know about here came from this community when I was growing up. I have two beautiful babies, but sadly, my mom is not here to meet them and guide me through life,” said Bosse.
“But I try to be her voice and all the other families here with us. Sadly, this is a continuing issue. So, bringing awareness like this is good for us. It gives us a safe space to talk and share our stories. To have a safe space and love each other.
Bosse added that a gathering, like the Red Dress Day Walk, gives families and friends of victims of violence, especially the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People, strength.
“Hosting this walk is being her voice, as well as the voice of other women and girls, who have been taken away from their families. My main goal is to get the message out to our community and also educate them about the dangers we as Indigenous women face every day,” she said.
