Crushed
Bernadette Mertens-McAllister
This photograph pays homage to the indigenous women who went missing and murdered on Highway 16, BC. It combines both a narrative and metaphorical perspective. The red dresses are symbols of the cherished, lost women. They seemed to be crushed by men. I’m inviting you, the viewer, to remember their dignity, to know that their lives matter and to hold a space in your thoughts for their family and friends so deeply affected.
Personally, I’m very grateful, because, like them, I hitch-hiked the “Highway of Tears” in 1972, but without incident.
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Instagram: @bearmmc