Loving young mom mourned as ‘shining star’

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This article was published 30/05/2022 (941 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A mother of four who had moved to Winnipeg for a new start in life was remembered as a loving person who had done her best for her children, at a vigil Tuesday evening.

About 250 people mourned the death of 31-year-old Tessa Perry near the Marlow Court home where she was found severely injured Saturday night. She later died in hospital.

“She was such an awesome woman… We don’t know where to go from here. It’s going to be hard,” said her mother Angie Perry. She choked back tears as she talked about her family’s struggle to cope with the tragedy.

Mourners lit candles to honour Perry.

“Tessa was a shining star who impacted everyone that met her,” said Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, an advocate for marginalized Indigenous women, and also Perry’s aunt.

She said the large attendance at the vigil, which opened with a moment of silence, lighting of tobacco and prayers, shows how much Perry was loved.

It was important to the family to help them recover, said Anderson-Pyrz.

“When a tragic event like this happens, families don’t get the opportunity to have closure,” she said. “For them to see all of that support and love will help in these hard times.”

Justin Alfred Robinson, 29, is charged with second-degree murder and failure to comply with a probation order. He remains in custody.

Lyle Perry had posted a tribute to his sister on Facebook, saying she had recently moved to the city from Thompson.

“She was a loving, caring, charismatic, beautiful soul and a devoted mother,” he said. “Whether she was on top of the world or just scraping by, she always made sure those around her were taken care of.”

He is working with the northern chiefs organization to organize a vigil for her in the northern city.

Perry was the fourth Indigenous woman to be killed in Winnipeg this year and the third since May 16.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee said Tuesday violence toward Indigenous women must stop.

“The homicide of a third young Indigenous woman in a span of three weeks is extremely concerning. These women were sacred and loved,” he said in a statement. “We are seeing an increase in deadly violence impacting First Nations women in the city of Winnipeg. It is clear we have much work to do in this area.”

Winnipeg NDP MP Leah Gazan called on the federal government to fund a 24/7 shelter for women fleeing violence.

“Women are dying in Winnipeg, ground zero for MMIWG (missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls),” the Winnipeg Centre MP told the Commons on Tuesday.

Winnipeg has numerous 24/7 shelters and drop-in centres for people coping with addictions or escaping domestic violence. Yet Gazan argues the city lacks a space that shelters women and girls fleeing violence, who often need a place to stay overnight for weeks.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday that Gazan’s request “is clearly one that needs priority, and it’s something we support as a government.”

Gazan later said her request aligns with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls call for justice 4.7. It calls on “all governments to support the establishment and long-term sustainable funding of Indigenous-led low-barrier shelters, safe spaces, transition homes, second-stage housing, and services for Indigenous women, girls, and (LGBTTQ+) people who are homeless, near homeless, dealing with food insecurity, or in poverty, and who are fleeing violence or have been subjected to sexualized violence and exploitation.”

The fatal attack on Perry was Winnipeg’s 23rd homicide of the year.

— with files from Dylan Robertson

bryce.hunt@freepress.mb.ca