Walk to raise awareness about truth of residential schools

WINNIPEG — Residential school survivors and members of Fox Lake Cree Nation are walking over 1,000 kilometres to raise awareness about the truth of residential schools in Canada.

The walk also looks to keep pressure on governments to continue the search of all former residential school sites for the unmarked graves of Indigenous children who never made it home.

Among those walking on Monday, was councillor Sophie Lockhart.

She says the walk itself is symbolic, each step she takes is for the thousands of Indigenous children who were stolen from their families and never returned home.

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“There are lots of survivors that are telling their stories and there are still lots that haven’t, because they are afraid of the outcome, to reopen wounds and stuff, that’s why people are afraid to talk about their experiences,” said Lockhart.

Lockhart, along with others, started the walk in Gilliam, ending on the steps of the legislative building in Winnipeg on Sept. 30 to coincide with Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“I encourage everybody to come to the legislative building on Sept. 30 and listen to what speakers have to say,” said Lockhart.

“The crowd has been really good and stuff, I like the part that we are actually bringing awareness to this whole thing,” said Chief Morris Beardy of Fox Lake Cree Nation.

Vehicles passing by honked and waved in support of those walking, and among those travelling by foot is Chief Morris Beardy.

Chief Beardy says he thinks it’s important Canadians reflect and educate themselves on Sept. 30 about the pain and suffering inflicted on those who survived the residential school system and in turn passed on much of that trauma to their children and home communities.

Chief Beardy also wants Canadians to think about the thousands of children who were stolen from their families and never went home.

“Help support the cause and keep the pressure on all levels of government to bring awareness to this.”

Meanwhile, George Beardy is from York Factory First Nation. He found out about the walk and knew it was something he had to participate in.

Beardy says the horrific discovery of unmarked graves is something the Indigenous community has known about for generations.

He hopes as more honest dialogue begins about the truth of residential schools, now with a federally recognized holiday, it will help Indigenous people feel comforted that Canadians finally believe what they have been saying all these years.

“People are starting to realize those stories that are being told are true.”