Fort William First Nation celebrates Hope in the Darkness Walk

By Rick Garrick

FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION—The Hope in the Darkness Walk for Youth Mental Health by Anishinabek Police Service Sgt. Kevin Redsky was celebrated on July 13 at the Mt. McKay Pow Wow grounds.

“It takes a big heart, a big leader, a big commitment to go on that journey and take that walk on behalf of the young people in our community,” says Fort William Chief Peter Collins. “I want to recognize some other folks here, our law enforcement detachments all across our land — they have to deal with this kind of issue on an ongoing basis. They see it day in, day out; they have to go home with that on their mind. We have to work together to change the landscape in our territories.”

Chief Collins says it takes a whole community to create an addict and a whole community to heal an addict.

“We have to work as one to change that landscape,” Collins says. “We have to work as a united front.”

Redsky, detachment commander for APS in Curve Lake, began the Hope in the Darkness Walk on April 1 at Cape Spear, St. John’s, N.L. The western part of the walk began on May 15 at Masset, Haida Gwaii, B.C. A final ceremony and celebration are scheduled for Aug. 3 in Winnipeg, where both legs of the walk will meet.

“This is Day 104, probably 83 per cent of the way done,” Redsky says. “We’re enjoying everything Canada has to offer — the most enjoyable part is meeting with the youth and having conversation.”

Redsky says there was a range of responses from community members during his journey across eastern Canada.

“I’ve had adults come cry on my shoulder — this walk is also helping them,” Redsky says. “They feel like they need to get the help themselves before they can help their children, so it will trickle down that way. We’re just learning of what is lacking, resources in school, policing relationships, a lot of conversation about things needed now.”

Thunder Bay Police Service Acting Chief Sylvie Hauth says the ceremony on Mt. McKay was an “excellent way” to recognize Redsky’s journey.

“What he is doing is very important in terms of the work that we do,” Hauth says. “He is a police officer and his journey in terms of bringing to light mental health, especially with respect to youth, is very important and we share in the work that he does and thank him for everything he has done to bring this important issue to light.”

Fort William Councilor Michele Solomon says it was good to see the number of youth and police participants during the ceremony on Mt. McKay.

“It was really important for [the youth] to know and be aware and be part of this movement to bring awareness to youth mental health,” Solomon says. “While there is no doubt that there have been issues with the police in this country, the more active they are in events like this, the better it will be for our people.”

Solomon says mental health is a “dark issue” for people in Indigenous communities.

“There is really a lack of resources, there is a lack of awareness and a lot of times mental health issues go untreated or unacknowledged,” Solomon says. “There is not lots of services available to Indigenous communities for mental health problems.”

A link to the GoFundMe campaign for donations to the Hope in the Darkness Walk for Youth Mental Health is available online.