Awareness Walk Draws Hundreds

It was a sea of orange in Fort Frances on Friday.

Hundreds of people donned orange shirts to take part in an awareness walk on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Escorted by Treaty 3 Police and the Couchiching First Nation Fire Department, drummers headed the walkers from the Sorting Gap Marina to the Nanicost Grounds.

Charlene Allan was among those taking part.

“I’m glad that this is happening. It’s an honour to see this happening. It’s an honour that our children, our younger people, know what’s going on,” says Allan.

Several school children were also part of the walk.

They would later hear from residential school survivors while gathered at the Nanicost Grounds.

Hayden Paul attended to support her family members who went to residential school.

“I’ve heard a lot of stories from a lot of different people. Every story is different. It’s very, very sad when you hear those kinds of things. So that’s why I’m here to show my support and my respect for those people to survivors and the people that didn’t make it out of residential school,” Paul.

Marisa Payne also walked to support her family members.

Her mother and stepdad attended residential school.

“I think it’s really important for awareness for the community. That’s nice to see all these kids here too. I’m just here to support,” says Payne.

Erika Jourdain’s grandfather was a residential school survivor.

“I’m walking here in honour of him, says Jourdain, “and the rest of the people that I know come from the same thing. We’re all here collectively to honour those that have significance in this day. So it’s really important. It’s important for us to be out here walking with their families. One thing that I recognize is there’s lots of humour and laughter. As we’re talking about that and questioning, is it a day to be celebrated or what? What’s the purpose? I find that a lot of our healing is through laughter and through medicine. So coming together and being able to have conversations and laugh and make this a day about celebrating who we are and where we come from and honouring that moving forward is really important too.”

The event was organized by several organizations that held separate events last year.