Trekking through the heartland

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Making the journey from Whapmagoostui to Waskaganish on foot is not a feat to be taken lightly but it is a personal journey that a group of Crees has decided to turn into a month-long project.

Part two of last year’s Journey Through Eeyou Istchee, “Journey of Hope, Embracing Life,” wellness walk began on February 23 and has been gaining momentum ever since.

Over the span of one month, this group of youth, Elders, mothers, fathers and friends will travel to all five Cree coastal communities. Since beginning, they have gained more participants.

According to Youth Grand Chief Stacy Bear, who organized the journey with the help of the Youth Council, what started out as a group of 26 walkers continues to grow as the group hits each stop.

“There are people on this journey from every community with the exception of Oujé, where there were no participants. Another 20 people joined the walk when those on the journey arrived in Chisasibi,” said Bear.

The purpose of the walk is not just to travel traditionally as the Cree ancestors once did so that some youths can get their first crack at traditional life, this particular journey has specific spiritual significance. The journey itself is also intended to help those who have suffered as a result of their lives being touched by suicide.

According to Bear, as the walkers take each step along the weather-beaten path, many of them are praying. Before the walkers left Whapmagoostui they were handed cards featuring a prayer that Bear wrote in part for a young boy from her community who had committed suicide. The prayer was added to by the Youth Council at last year’s AGA meeting and has since become the chant of some walkers.

Suicide however is not the only issue that has driven these folks out to the bush, as others have taken on the challenge to lose weight and get fit. Other youth are also out there as they were recommended to do so by Social Services, or in some cases the local police, as a means of dealing with their life struggles.

Though many on the journey are youth, one as young as 13, they are being carefully guided by Elders Matthew Neeposh of Mistissini and Lawrence Neeposh of Nemaska. Supplies are also being brought out to the group.

“I know it was very hard for them between Whapmagoostui and Chisasibi because it is so much more isolated there and a much longer distance. There was no break in between either, it was very cold and we had a hard time getting food to them,” said Bear, marveling at the resistance of the participants.

Deputy Grand Chief Ashley Iserhoff spent time with the walkers when they arrived at their first rest stop in Chisasibi March 7 and he too was amazed a the efforts of those who had braved the journey.

“It was all very positive. Many of the participants talked about how hard it was at times during their walk between here and Great Whale but it sounded as though they were learning from that experience,” said Iserhoff.

As the group arrived in Chisasibi, excitement could be felt throughout the entire community. Many enthusiastic residents drove six kilometres outside of the community to an old camp near Fort George Island just so that they could greet the walkers on their triumphant arrival.

“It has been amazing,” said Iserhoff. “None of them have said that they are going to stop at one point or another or that they want to quit and go home. They are continuing on and I think that they know why they are walking on that journey which is pretty important.”

The walkers are expected to complete their journey on March 28 in Waskaganish where a large celebration will be held in honour of the journey. A music festival has been planned as well as a much-earned feast for the participants. Festivities are expected to go on throughout the weekend.

Though their arrival date may be approximate due to possible extenuating circumstances such as bad weather, both Bear and Iserhoff have been delighted so far with this year’s turn-out. According to Bear, last year’s journey through the inland Cree communities did not see nearly as many brave souls willing to embrace life and take this journey.

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