Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

Hello fellow True Crime readers,


Welcome to our discussion about Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls a non-fiction selection, by Jessica McDiarmid, your discussion leader is Pam.
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Please note: If you have not finished reading the book spoilers are permitted in this discussion from the start. If you would like to use the spoiler formatting it can be found on the top right of the comment box in the "(some html is ok)" menu.
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Summary

A searing account of the missing, and murdered, Indigenous women of Highway 16, and an indictment of the society that failed them.

For decades, Indigenous women have gone missing, or been found murdered, along an isolated stretch of highway in northwestern British Columbia. The highway is known as the 'Highway of Tears', and it has come to symbolize a national crisis.

Journalist, Jessica McDiarmid, investigates the devastating effect these tragedies have had on the families of the victims and their communities, and how systemic racism and indifference have created a climate where Indigenous women are over-policed, yet under-protected. Through interviews with those closest to the victims--mothers and fathers, siblings and friends--McDiarmid offers an intimate, first-hand account of their loss and relentless fight for justice. Examining the historically fraught social and cultural tensions between settlers and Indigenous peoples in the region, McDiarmid links these cases to others across Canada--now estimated to number up to 4,000--contextualizing them within a broader examination of the undervaluing of Indigenous lives in this country.

Highway of Tears is a powerful story about our ongoing failure to provide justice for missing, and murdered, Indigenous women, and a testament to their families and communities' unwavering determination to find it.

Hi! I've just begun reading this one. I enjoyed watching the recently cancelled Alaska Daily TV series which ran from October 6, 2022 - March 30, 2023, starring Hilary Swank, the topic being the inordinate numbers of indigenous girls who were missing or found murdered in Alaska. Years ago, I remember watching a documentary about Highway 16 / The Highway of Tears in Canada. That documentary led me to purchase the book, which has been on my TBR for a very long time.

It is so very sad that Canada has not helped more of its indigenous families to learn what has become of the thousands of missing / murdered girls & women.

Some resources, including a map of the 450 miles of Highway 16 ... Highway of Tears - Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway...

For those who wish to watch the 2015 film:
https://www.highwayoftearsfilm.com/

Thank you Pam for hosting this discussion on Trail of Tears. Jessica McDiarmid's documentary sheds light on the tragic reality of racism, indifference and the quest for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. This is an important work that highlights systemic issues. Indigenous communities in Canada are fighting back. Similarly, as discussed, the trial of Adnan Syed. On the website https://eduzaurus.com/free-essay-samp... draws attention to the flaws in the criminal justice system. Both stories reveal the urgent need for social change when the voices of the marginalized are heard and justice is vigorously championed. By exploring such narratives, we gain a deeper understanding of the injustices faced by marginalized communities and can work towards a more just and inclusive society. It's important to learn, amplify their voices and advocate for meaningful change. Together, we can create a society that values the lives and well-being of all its members, regardless of their background.

Hi, Ron! Your comments are very well-received.

If you are interested in the different films, YouTube has several that are worth watching.

I also downloaded Dark Minds, Season2, Episode 8; it is probably the documentary I had seen years ago. It mentions a couple of serial killers not mentioned in this movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3wWj... was very good.

I had never heard of Highway of Tears until I saw the book as a group read. Unfortunately, the story she tells is not new in either Canada or the United States. In this case, First Nation women disappear along a remote section of Highway 16 over a long period of time with limited response from law enforcement. The situation is almost a perfect storm for this to occur - a marginalized group, small towns that are under resourced and remote locations where it is easy for people to disappear.

I enjoyed the book but found it oddly disjointed. Each chapter deals with a different victim and tells their story. I understand the logic of this format in that it highlights each person and allows the circumstances of each disappearance to be shown. The downside of a non-linear story is you lose a sense of how long this went on and how each tragic disappearance built on each other to the point where individuals with responsibility should not have been able to continue ignoring what was occuring.

Reading about the victims also brings a sense of frustration because you realize this is a wide spread social and cultural problem. There is no sense of closure because no serial killer or group of people are identified as being responsible. The women disappeared, law enforcement too often paid minimal attention and society basically shrugged.

Gary wrote: "I had never heard of Highway of Tears until I saw the book as a group read. Unfortunately, the story she tells is not new in either Canada or the United States. In this case, First Nation women dis..."

Interesting points Gary. There is a sense of frustration and a need for closure.