Blue Jean Jacket Day originated in Edmonton in 2023, the goal is to raise awareness on missing and murdered Indigenous men and boys and recognize the unique challenges faced by Indigenous men.
In Quesnel, the ECHEN Healing Society hosted an event at Baker Creek Park in Quesnel's west side on June 6 to mark the day.
A group of Indigenous men spoke about a men's group that has been created in town for men to learn from, talk to and work with each other.
"Before the men's group, I was talking with a few people and realized that there's nothing out there for men and supports for men," said Geronimo Squinas at the event. "A lot of our men nowadays are struggling because we've been so affected by the colonialism that our people adapted to so quickly."
Squinas said over the years there have been many promises to Indigenous peoples about how reconciliation would happen, but much of that has fallen flat. He said he's travelled across most of B.C. and sees the lack of supports for men everywhere.
"A lot of the men have to stick together and work with each other, help each other. Because that's how we used to do it a long time ago," he said. "We're trying to bring back that traditional place for men where we could stand and say 'I helped with that, I helped with this. I brought salmon to these people, I helped out at this funeral, I helped out at this gathering. I helped out here and had that place in the community again.'"
Often, attention on men is negative and given when they've done something wrong but they aren't thanked or noticed when they do something helpful, Squinas said. He said people who play drums, who dance in powwows and who support their communities should be given more recognition for what they do.
Throughout the event people, including Squinas, talked about loved ones who have been murdered or gone missing. Squinas said his uncle was killed by RCMP after being put in a headlock. A group of three speakers talked about their brother who was killed in Downtown Vancouver in a case of mistaken identity. Another speaker talked about her brother who went missing from Quesnel's Front Street years ago, his loved ones and community still search for him around the area.
Archie Chantyman is another member of the men's group, he said he's been able to learn from the other members of the group.
"Being a man in a family, I struggle a lot. I didn't know how to be a father. I didn't know how to be a brother or uncle. Coming from a residential school, they didn't teach us that," he said. "They taught us to lie, cheat, steal. So when I left residential school, I fit right into the streets. I didn't know how to raise a child. I didn't know how to raise a family."
He said part of his involvement with the group is to help him learn some of the things he didn't in his youth.
"I'm far from being perfect. And my spiritual growth needs to expand because if I don't, it'll be a struggle for the rest of the people following me," Chantyman said.
Chad Stump, executive director of ECHEN Healing Society brightened the event with puns and dad jokes at times, but also recognized how hard it is for many people.
"A lot of emotion. A lot of pain. It's one of the steps we have to follow through as individuals who are fighting and yearning for these lost souls that are no longer with us," he said. He then listed names of people from around the community who are missing or have been murdered.
The day is exactly one month after Red Dress Day, which recognizes missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
