A special gathering at the Arviat Sports Park was held on Aug. 20 to mark the one-year anniversary of the night Kadin Savikataaq, of Arviat, went missing and is presumed drowned.
Kadin's cousin, Celina Ivvaluajuk, helped organize the gathering and made a touching plea on Facebook for everyone to light a candle on their windowsill at midnight.
Ivvaluajuk also made a passionate post on Facebook to salute Kadin and encourage those who may know something about her disappearance to come forward.
Ivvaluajuk reminded everyone that Kadin (who was 20 years old when she went missing) was a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, a cousin to many, a friend and a pilot, who was always friendly and helped a lot of people.
Ivvaluajuk wrote, "and yet, there are monsters who are keeping their mouths shut. People who know are being forced to stay quiet.
She added, "I always wonder are these people able to sleep at night, when they know what happened to Kadin was wrong in many ways. How are they able to eat and do day-to-day things?
"Do they have nightmares?" Ivvaluajuk continued. "Do they choke while they're eating? Are they ever afraid of what will happen when judgment day comes?"
Kadin's dad, Joe Savikataaq Jr., said it's hard to believe a year has past already since Kadin last came home.
He said it's been 365 days since she went missing and they've all been challenging in one way or another.
"That was 365 sunrises and sunsets that we have endured since she went missing," said Savikataaq. "It definitely brought back memories of that fateful night, but also peace and comfort because of all the community support from everyone who went out and walked with us and had a barbecue with us in memory of Kadin and in hopes of finding her body.
"There still is hope."
