LONGLAC, ON – Members of the public are cordially invited to attend an event this Thursday where walkers from the Healing Walk for all First Nations and Communities will be available to speak about a 7-day walk that began yesterday at the Keemeshomnishnanak Monument in Ginoogaming First Nation.
The walk, hosted this year by Long Lake #58 First Nation, brings spiritual focus and attention to the many different issues facing Indigenous Peoples. Each day, walkers will pray and bring attention to the following issues: Drugs/Alcohol Addictions, Cancer, Missing Women/Men, Residential School/Day School Survivors/Descendants, Suicide, Land Water & Air, Racism. The walk continues the vision of Elder and residential school survivor Fred Thomas of Lac Seul First Nation near Sioux Lookout, Ontario. It began last year.
Walkers are covering 40 – 50 km per day passing the communities of Longlac, Long Lake #58 First Nation, Geraldton, Jellicoe, Aniimbigoo Zaaging Anishnawbek (Lake Nipigon Ojibway First Nation), Beardmore, Bingwi Neyashi Anishnawbek (Sand Point First Nation), Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishnawbek (Rocky Bay First Nation), Lake Helen First Nation, Nipigon, Red Rock, Hurkett, Dorion, Pearl, Pass Lake, and Thunder Bay. Walkers have invited members of these communities to join them as they go along.
By Thursday, walkers will have walked 191 kms on Trans-Canada Highway 11. They will be starting the last leg of their journey along Trans-Canada Highway 17 which will be 131 kms to conclude on Mount Mackay in Fort William First Nation on July 1. They will start their walk to Mount Mackay in Thunder Bay at City Hall with speeches and a ceremony.
