On the 12th day since setting out from Gillam, Fox Lake Cree Nation members arrived in Winnipeg Sept. 29, one day before participating in National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremonies at the Manitoba legislature.
The walkers began their journey on Sept. 18 and arrived in Thompson two days later, then resumed their trek Sept. 21, accompanied by York Factory First Nation members. More participants from Tataskweyak Cree Nation also joined the unity walk to honour residential school survivors and children who never made it home after being forcibly taken from their families.
Walkers include residential school survivors, leaders and youth from the three northern First Nations.
“This has been an emotional journey for all of us,” said Fpx Lake Coun. Sophie Lockhart, who initiated the walk. “I want to thank the team that helped bring it all together and made it possible through the collective effort of our people and our communities. People really stepped up. Everyone from the planners, the walkers, the drivers, the donors, to the communities that supported us along the way were important to making this all happen.”
The group will leave Victoria Inn at 10 a.m. Thursday to complete the final leg to the legislature, joined by elders and residential school survivors who were unable to walk alongside them.
Fox Lake Chief Morris Beardy says there should be more addictions treatment and other supports in the north to deal with the intergenerational fallout of Canada’s residential school system.
“For too long, supports and funding have been concentrated in the south,” Beardy said. “Survivors and their families suffering from the intergenerational effects of the residential school system should not have to again be taken away from community and culture to get the treatment they need.”
