Jasmin Marie and Erica Van Vlack are the founders of the Butterfly Embrace Infant and Pregnancy Loss Support group.

The project supports individuals or families experiencing a loss of a pregnancy or an infant.

They raised Painted Lady butterflies because “In the big cities, the hospital will place a butterfly on the door of the patient’s room if they have given birth to a stillborn or if there is a neonatal death or pregnancy so people can respect their privacy,” they told the Star in a story published June 1.

“This was such a beautiful idea, and I am hopeful in the coming years I can also make this reality here in the Yukon,” said Marie.

The group released their butterflies last Saturday at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. Unfortunately, only five of the 59 survived.

Before the release, there was a ceremony for all the butterflies, and they were released by and into the Yukon River.

Marie said this was her first time trying to raise butterflies, and she learned a lot. Next year, she knows she will do better.