SPOKANE, Wash. – A vigil is being held at Redband Park to honor Megan Stedman, a missing Indigenous woman who was found dead last year.
Stedman was murdered by her estranged boyfriend, Chris Foiles, who admitted to stabbing the 34-year-old. Her family is gathering to remember her life and raise awareness about domestic violence.
Christina Mitma-Momono, Stedman’s sister, is organizing the candlelit vigil. She hopes to share her sister’s light and love with the community.
“Nobody’s prepared to lose somebody that way that’s even a little more important why we need community because we can do this alone and we need each other and that’s what’s gonna be the light that she is,” said Mitma-Momono.
Mitma-Momono chose Redband Park for the vigil because she and her sister would visit the Indigenous grounds there as children. She felt guided to hold the vigil in that spot.
Now an advocate against domestic violence, Mitma-Momono aims to share a message of peace and healing with the community as a way of coping with grief and her sister’s loss.
The vigil is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Mitma-Momono also emphasizes the importance of recognizing violence against marginalized groups. She hopes to bring a voice to missing and murdered Indigenous women and offer comfort to those in similar situations.
