Community Worship

Members of the Chipewyan Prairie Déne First Nation are walking from Janvier to Fort McMurray to honour the victims of residential schools.

The walk started on Canada Day with the group, led by Chief Vern Janvier, reaching Anzac on Sunday.

They are expected to make it to the Snye around 11 a.m. on Wednesday.

“We hope that the public will come out and support this walk and our collective healing,” said Chief Allan Adam, President of the Athabasca Tribal Council.

According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, they’ve been able to confirm the deaths of over 4,100 Indigenous children at schools across the country.

This includes 89 at Holy Angels which was located in Fort Chipewyan.

Over 1,300 unmarked graves have also been discussed in the past several weeks.

The ATC is encouraging the public to take part in the walk to recognize all those who never made it home.

“When the people march with us, that will give us the strength we need to carry on and to fight for a better life for our younger people, for the next generations,” added Adam.

They will start walking on Wednesday from Highway 69 along Highway 63 around 8 a.m. They’ll end the journey by traveling along Prairie Loop Boulevard before hitting Snye Point Park.

Those who cannot walk the distance are encouraged to follow along in a vehicle.

Meanwhile, a Memorial Gathering in Solidarity will take place once everyone arrives at Snye Point Park. This is expected to happen around 11 a.m.

Residential school survivors will be on hand to share their experience, while Indigenous community members will be sharing knowledge and traditional practices with attendees.