It's a journey they wish they didn't have to make.

They're stories they wish they didn't have to share.

Yet with so many Indigenous people missing or murdered, including members of their own families, they felt they had no choice.

On Feb. 18, on her 54th birthday, Krista Fox left Victoria, B.C. from Kilometre 0 of the Trans-Canada Highway on a cross-country walk. She has been joined by Lindsey Bishop and Diane Morin in spreading hope, healing, and awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited people (MMIWG2S).

They arrived in Stoney Nakoda Nation on Mar. 11. Gloria Snow, Equity and Inclusion Committee Indigenous advisor for the Town of Cochrane, reached out to them to bring their stories to Cochrane on Mar. 14.

Fox spoke at the Centennial Plaza, then was joined by some Stoney Nakoda people and other supporters on a walk to the St. Andrew's United Church for a further presentation.

"It's a tough journey, and I don't wish this upon anybody," says Fox, attempting to hold back the tears. "I don't wish for anybody to become part of this family, because there is a lot of pain in this family."

Later on, she shared a fear she carries with her every day. 

"My husband and I raise our 8-year-old granddaughter, and I'm scared to death."

Ashley Morin, daughter of Diane, was 31-years-old when she was last seen in North Battleford, SK in July 2018. Her disappearance is being treated as a homicide case by the police.

Since Morin’s disappearance, Fox has been the spokesperson for the family.

Bishop's sister Megan Gallagher, 30, was last seen in Saskatoon in September 2020 and her disappearance is also a murder case. 

As Fox learned about the extent of MMIWG2S, she felt she had to do more.

"Somebody somewhere knows something," says Fox. "So please help these families bring their loved ones home, and please help the thousands of others."

Certainly, it's about awareness, but it's also about connecting with people who have been left grieving over missing, or worse, murdered loved ones.

"It's for the families out there who need to know somebody cares. I care. If I didn't care, I wouldn't be out here walking. I'd be snuggled up at home."

"I know that's tough for people to hear, but I think the more that people hear, the more they understand and they can take that person's story and share it somewhere. There's no better feeling than opening up social media and seeing a loved one's face out there because somebody cares. Somebody took the time to go and find her missing or murdered person's story and shared it."

She appreciates the few days of the year are set aside to bring attention to MMIWG2S, but says it's not enough.

"I think we need to go from just a couple days a year to throughout the year."

They hope to complete the 7,426-kilometre trek in time to share Christmas with their families.

Their journey can be followed here. 

In June 2019, the federal government's MMIWG2S report entitled "Reclaiming Power and Pace" was released and made 231 recommendations in response to what it says is a "Canadian genocide", spurred by "State actions and inactions rooted in colonialism and colonial ideologies."