Krista Fox has walked the 100 kilometres from North Battleford to Saskatoon, Sask., each year since her close family friend Ashley Morin went missing in 2018.
Today (Feb. 18), Fox will start her 7,426-kilometre cross-Canada trek -- from Kilometre 0 of the Trans Canada Highway in Victoria, B.C., to St. Johns, N.L. -- to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Since Morin’s disappearance, the 53-year-old grandmother has been the spokesperson for the family. After learning more about the disproportionate number of missing or murdered Indigenous women in Canada, Fox felt she had to do more.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the walk, with a goal of raising $100,000. The fund says the walk will cost Fox $11.75 for every kilometre trekked, and money raised will go towards food, transportation, and housing for the 10-month journey.
“Our goal is to bring awareness to the severity of this human rights crisis that is surrounding MMIW and to generate more resources to find these women. Ultimately, we hope to see the numbers of MMIW decrease and for Indigenous women to repossess their rightful power and respect,” the GoFundMe says.
According to an RCMP report in 2013, updated in 2015, more than 1,100 Indigenous women have gone missing or murdered. However, according to the Native Women’s Association of Canada, due to limitations in data and reporting, that number could be as high as 4,000.
“Too often when Indigenous women go missing, their cases are met with systemic inaction or apathy due to stigma and institutionalized racism,” Fox’s GoFundMe says.
You can keep up with Fox’s journey on her GoFundMe, the Krista’s Kilometres Facebook page, or her TikTok.
Fox is asking for people to accompany her on her trip along the way.
“[When] she comes to your community, please join her for a few kilometres. Your support would mean so much to her, and give her energy on this long journey.”
