(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Walking for a cause

Unity Walk makes successful return

Sep 30, 2023 | 3:01 PM

Raising awareness for a number of causes including children lost to residential schools, suicides, violence, and missing and murdered men, women and children, a group of concerned people are walking over 80km.

The second annual First Nations Unity Walk left Mistawasis First Nation on Friday and is expected to arrive in Prince Albert by late Saturday afternoon. Organizer Connie Primeau told paNOW this walk is meant to bring First Nations people together and to bring awareness to the struggles First Nations people face.

“We as First Nation People face these issues everyday and it’s sad that a bad outcome has to happen for us to open our eyes and our hearts to help those in need of love and support. Our bands need to come together to deal with this issue, this is why this Walk is being done,” she said.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Primeau noted the idea came for the walk actually came about after hearing her cousin talk about something similar being done in Manitoba. Primeau then thought a walk could be a great way to bring people together.

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“Myself as a mother, I have faced the drug issue to not only my son but to all the other’s I have watched growing up and I tried to help, some I have been successful and some not so successful but I never give up and I feel it is important for a parent to stand by your child, even another persons child no matter how old or how hard it is with the negativity we face from other’s, we are not perfect but we can still all learn together.”

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

And with respect to concerns around suicide, Primeau explained suicide is something she doesn’t want to recognize.

“But I have no choice as it is happening all around us, it’s so sad to see our young people hurt themselves, thinking there is no way out, we need to talk to our kids more about this and we need to get a better understanding of Suicide, ” she said, adding within the last two years they have had three death in Mistawasis due to suicide.

Primeau also noted the success of last year’s event and expressed her gratitude to the Town of Shellbrook for providing meals and a place for people to camp.

“We had lots of people dropping in all through the walk,” she explained. “It felt good for us to have that much support and the also of support we had along the highway with all the drivers passing by, even giving us donations.”

After arriving in Prince Albert on Saturday, the group will join the FNUC hosted event at the Indian Metis Friendship Centre and take part in the round dance.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell