Sault Ste. Marie Honors Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples

Annual gathering held outside courthouse to offer support and remembrance

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Nearly three dozen people gathered outside the Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse on Saturday to honor and remember missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples. The grassroots event, led by Indigenous justice coordinator Constance Manitowabi, included smudging, prayer, and song as part of a broader movement of memorial marches held across North America each year on Valentine's Day.

Why it matters

The gathering is part of a long-standing tradition to raise awareness and show support for the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people - an ongoing crisis that disproportionately affects Indigenous communities.

The details

The event was organized by Constance Manitowabi, who works as the Indigenous justice coordinator at the Algoma Community Legal Clinic. While the main MMIWG2S+ Memorial March in Sault Ste. Marie is held on May 5 for Red Dress Day, Manitowabi wanted to host a gathering on Valentine's Day to recognize the longstanding grassroots movement.

  • The gathering took place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 outside the Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse.

The players

Constance Manitowabi

The Indigenous justice coordinator at the Algoma Community Legal Clinic who organized the gathering.

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What they’re saying

“We continue to bring ceremony and prayer for the families who have lost their people in the most tragic way. We're offering support and positive energy and love towards them — and then also extending it to the community as a whole.”

— Constance Manitowabi, Indigenous justice coordinator (SooToday)

The takeaway

This annual gathering in Sault Ste. Marie is part of a widespread grassroots movement to honor and remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, and gender-diverse people. By coming together in ceremony and prayer, the community shows its support for the affected families and reaffirms its commitment to addressing this ongoing crisis.