Youth walk to Assembly of First Nations for action to replace despair with hope
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY—Walkers on the Youth Walk of Hope have walked over 950 kilometres to deliver their message to inspire action on the crisis in Northern Ontario communities.
The Youth Walk of Hope left Cochrane June 7th and arrived in Niagara Falls for walkers to address the Annual Assembly of First Nations taking place July 12-14.
There were 13 young people who started the walk from various communities. They were challenged on their journey physically, mentally and spiritually.
Walker Pat Etherington Jr. from Moose Cree First Nation, started from Attawapiskat and was interviewed in North Bay. “I’m showing action for change by walking.”
He warned that throwing money at the problem is not going to fix it. “When we leave the reserve, we are judged right away with systemic racism. People say racism doesn’t exist anymore but it does. We face it and live with it every day. Sometimes it’s hard, other times it doesn’t bother us. We get used to it. ”
Etherington says to fix it we need more education. “About how we were raised and how life on reserve really is. All they see is our struggles. They don’t see the causes from the trouble we get in.”
He is cautious about the government’s promises. “We’ve been told that before. We want to see the change and see us do better.”
“By walking to Niagara Falls, we want to show them it’s really hard. The walking is the easy part. There are struggles we go through every day. We think about them while we are walking. We will get stronger,” added Etherington.
Etherington says that on the walk, “It starts getting real for everyone. And everybody handles it differently. We have to support each other to keep going. Some of us aren’t used to that. Because where some of us come from, it’s like dog eat dog. If you are weak, you get pounced on. That’s just the way it is. We have to change that in ourselves. As time goes in Canada we will have to see the truths in both sides.”
Miranda Okimaw, of Attawapiskat First Nation, started to walk with the group at Kirkland Lake on June 17th. At 22 years old she is mourning as she walks, but presses on to help the youth. “It was hard for me to join this group because I lost my baby sister to suicide. She was 13. It was seven months ago.”
Even though she was anxious about joining the Youth Walk For Hope, it is part of Miranda’s own journey to wellness. “I lost my uncle in 2010. I am healing.”
Kristina Echum Pitawarakwat of Moose Cree First Nation says she is the oldest walker. Kristina joined the walk in Kirkland Lake. “We are doing it for the youth, to show we care. My heart is in this.”
“We are speaking up about suicide prevention, but I’m doing it for the kids to prove to them that they are loved and cared for. This walk is for them,” added Pitawarakwat.
Kristina was taking it easy for a few days, walking about half the distance daily, after becoming dehydrated walking into North Bay.
“We are like a family now. I’m proud of all the walkers and how well they are getting along and working to get to the finish line in Niagara Falls. It will be a big accomplishment when we get there.”
The suicide crisis has touched everyone on the walk. That is why Kristina joined up. “There was a suicide that morning in Moose Factory. And there was an attempt the night before.”
The Muskegowuk Council funded the trip while many people supported the group along the way. The Muskegowuk Council is made up of Attawapiskat First Nation, Kashechewan First Nation, Fort Albany First Nation, Moose Cree First Nation, Taywka Tagamou First Nation, Chapleau Cree First Nation, and Missanabie First Nation.
Grand Chief Jonathan Soloman said the walkers carried a message of real hope with them.
The Youth Walk of Hope addressed the National Assembly of First Nations on Tuesday July 12 during the afternoon. Patrick Etherington Jr. spoke at the podium on the national stage.
“I’ve been on eleven walks and this has been the hardest one. I want to give you the message we bring of hope. Suicide is ugly and it’s hard. The system failed us. I don’t even know what to say, because everything has been said already. We showed our action through this walk. We need to see commitment. What is hope? We have to figure it out together,” said Etherington Jr. as he addressed the National Assembly of First Nations.
The Youth Walk of Hope delivered this message in their address: “This Walk of Hope is actually responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action and the Reconciliation Movement in our country. Further, these Courageous Young Walkers are doing this for the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls, the Mushkegowuk Inquiry on Suicides, the recent Inquest into the death of 7 youth in Thunder Bay.”
Here is the list of the walkers, drivers and helpers.
- James Kioke (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Xavier Nakogee (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Clayton Koostachin (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Anthony Fireman (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Sarah Hookimaw (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Miranda Okimaw (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Melanie Koostachin (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Michaela Koostachin (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Ayden Okimaw (Attawapiskat First Nation)
- Kristina Echum Pitawarakwat (Moose Cree First Nation)
- Jonathan Tippeneskum (Takwa Tagamou Nation)
- Patrick Etherington Jr. (Moose Cree First Nation)
- Peggy Formsma (Support Worker, Moose Cree First Nation)
- Danny Metatawabin (Support Worker, Fort Albany)
Anyone can call 1-866-531-2600 at anytime to speak to a mental health worker. You can also go to MentalHealthHelpline.ca for information.
An Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of his or her residential school experience.