Press Release
The Walk for Good Life 2011, “Empowering Youth by Celebrating their Gifts,” is coming through Northwestern Ontario this week (Aug. 1-7), with the group stopping at Couchiching First Nation and Rainy River First Nations tomorrow (Aug. 3).
About 15-20 core walkers will be participating in the 500-km journey using the Black Dog method, in which participants walk one-mile distances throughout the day.
Walkers will be travelling a full circle from Eagle Lake First Nation and back over seven nights, making stops for community lunches/gatherings and camping along the way.
Community members are encouraged to come out and greet the youth walkers from across the Treaty #3 territory and support them in their journey of self-discovery and accomplishment.
Walkers left Eagle Lake First Nation and began to walk down Highway 502 yesterday, stopping to camp at the Eagle Lake First Nation pow-wow grounds.
They were continuing their trek down Highway #502 today, expected to camp tonight at Timberwolf Lodge.
Tomorrow, they will walk down Highway 502 and then west on Highway 11, stopping at Couchiching, where a “soup and support” fundraiser luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the multi-use facility.
Everyone is welcome, with the guest speaker being Lori Flinders, director of Nanaadawewinan (Weechi-it-te-win Family Services Inc.)
Continuing their journey, walkers will keep going west on the highway, stopping for supper and a community gathering from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Rainy River First Nations’ pow-wow grounds, where they also will camp for the night.
There will be a campfire gathering, so bring guitars, hand drums, and stories. There also will be a guest performance by Jeremy Jordan (Mack Sickz).
Everyone is welcome to attend.
On Thursday, the group will head up Highway 71 to Onigaming First Nation, where they will attend a supper and community gathering from 5:30-9 p.m. at the round house before camping there for the night.
Elder Catherine Kelly will be the guest speaker.
On Friday, the walkers will continue up Highway 71 to Rushing River, where they will stop for lunch and a community gathering at AKRC at noon, with the guest speaker being Candace Tucker of Shooniyaa Wa Bitong.
Then they will have supper and camp at Rushing River Provincial Park.
On Saturday, the group will make their way to the Trans-Canada Highway and then head east to Blue Lake Provincial Park, where they will camp for the evening.
They’ll make the final leg of walk along Trans-Canada back to Eagle Lake First Nation on Sunday, where a “welcome home” fish fry and community gathering will be held at 1 p.m.
Youth and community members are encouraged to come out and take part in the community gatherings, join in the walk for a mile or two, and support the walkers with financial contributions.
As well, please be considerate on the highways when passing the walkers along their route.
Miigwech!
