On Thursday, April 14, a ceremony was held in Lower Nicola to celebrate the life of Nicola Cree Belcourt.
The ceremony was held at the Belcourt compound in Lower Nicola. A number of relatives from across BC attended the ceremony to pay their respects.
Belcourt, 30, was a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. After an incident on April 2 in Port Alberni, RCMP found Belcourt unresponsive and, though acting quickly, was not successful with their medical response.
Belcourt’s family had gone to Port Alberni to visit the site where Belcourt was found. With the help of Tseshaht First Nation, the family was able to conduct a spiritual ceremony.
She was taken to Kamloops and from there she was picked up by her family and they started a procession heading back to Lower Nicola.
Belcourt moved to Port Alberni two years ago. The young woman was described by her family as an artist who loved music, and dance.
The family hung a Red Dress in Port Alberni, across the site where Belcourt was found. The dress symbolizes the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. As of now there have been no arrests made for the death of Belcourt.
