Vigil in Bemidji remembers dedicated Indigenous leader, honors boarding school impacts
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Tuesday evening, Native community members in Bemidji will gather for two reasons: to remember those impacted by boarding and residential schools and to pay tribute to a community leader.
An official state proclamation marks Sept. 30 as the Day of Remembrance for Survivors and Families Impacted by United States American Indian Boarding Schools.
The yearly event will be held at the Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues on the waterfront of Lake Bemidji. Since 2021, the community has come together, wearing orange shirts and holding candles as the sun begins to set.
This year, alongside the honoring, community members will pay tribute to Red Lake Nation citizen Simone Senogles, a founding member of MMIW 218 — an organization in Bemidji addressing concerns around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
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The tribute will acknowledge Senogles, who died on Sept. 20 at age 54, and her dedication to the community. Organizers say Senogles was the embodiment of a leader.
“She was so gentle, but yet she was fierce and powerful in what she said. And I think that just really made an impact on our community,” said organizer Wenona Kingbird.
Alongside the founding of MMIW 218, Senogles worked at Indigenous Environmental Network for over two decades, focusing on environmental justice, food sovereignty and uplifting the voices of Indigenous women.
“At the heart of it all, Simone’s advocacy was protecting what is sacred: our women, our children, our land and culture and making sure future generations have safety and justice and connection,” shared Valahlena Steeprock, who is with MMIW 218. Steeprock is leading this year’s vigil and gathering in Bemidji.
Audrianna Goodwin, also affiliated with the organization, says MMIW 218 was formed when there was a need to bring Native community members together.
“That was also something [Senogles] so courageously did,” Goodwin said. “It was to be able to organize in the face of adversity, and to have those really difficult conversations, even with people such as our chief of police. She did that, and she just embodied so many beautiful things.”
Tamika-Jo Andy has been involved with MMIW 218 since the beginning. She shared how Senogles took those first steps into forming the group, saying she was approached by a member of the Native community who was looking for a space to support those who have lost their loved ones to violence and for those whose loved ones are still missing.
“She came to [Senogles’] office and was like, ‘We need a space for families. We need a space to grieve and to honor our loved ones.’ And that's what kind of inspired Simone to do the first annual walk,” Andy said. The first annual walk was held nine years ago.
The group has grown and now hosts a walk in February to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and it holds another annual gathering on May 5, the National Day of Remembrance for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives.
While Tuesday’s march and vigil are held to honor those impacted by boarding and residential schools, Kingbird says the group has also reflected on the intersection between MMIW and the children who went missing while at boarding schools.
“We're still finding graves of children that were never identified or never reunited with their families, never given the ceremonies that were in their rights to be sent off to their relatives,” Kingbird said. “We wouldn't have had this conversation if it wasn't for Simone, because she really brought those conversations into our group.”
Organizers shared that Senogles brought out everyone’s gifts and talents, enabling them to contribute to their community in meaningful ways.
“She lives through us, and we will continue to do this work for her and for this tribute. It's going to be every single event we do. I'm never going to let her name go. Nobody will in this community. We all loved her globally, and especially here in Bemidji,” said Steeprock.
The candlelight vigil and tribute to Senogles starts at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
