A multi-stakeholder group walking from Edmonton to Calgary this week and next to raise awareness of Indigenous issues plans to make stopovers in several area towns, say officials.
Starting on May 31, the 15-day Walk For Action will see a core group of about 30 Indigenous people from across the Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 regions, heath professionals, members of the faith community and educators visit communities along the 350-kilometre route.
The walk is being undertaken to spur dialogue and seek solutions to areas of concern.
“It is important for non-Indigenous people to truly appreciate the privileges we have gathered because Indigenous nations allowed our ancestors to share this land,” said Scott MacDougall, a board member of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta and an event organizer.
“It is equally important that we recognize that our well-being has come at a cost to the descendants of those original treaty makers that welcomed our ancestors here. We must all now apply our minds coherently and cooperatively to building a different regional model.”
Pat Makokis, a servant leader with the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, added: “I want everyone to ask the question: how are we as red, yellow, black and white family members of this land going to come together to transform our relationships? This cannot happen unless we all understand our history. We need to talk and listen to each other to accomplish that.”
Event participants will be spending their nights at churches, colleges and community centres along the way.
During the stopovers, from 7 to 9 p.m., officials will be hosting viewings of the documentary film Treaty Talk: Sharing the River of Life, followed by discussions with community members.
The walkers are scheduled to be at St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Innisfail on June 8, St. Andrew’s United Church in Bowden on June 9, Olds College on June 10, and the Carstairs Bancroft United Church on June 11.
Day walkers are welcome to walk with the core group between the community stopovers. For details on walking times and departure locations, contact MacDougall at 1-780-690-8199.
