(Honouring Our Ancestors Little Pine Delmas Walk 2022/Facebook)

By Angela Brown

Honouring Our Ancestors

Delmas Walk aims to honour residential school children and survivors

Jul 29, 2022 | 1:00 PM

The second annual walk of Little Pine First Nation members to Delmas, called “Honouring Our Ancestors,” was underway Friday.

The event started at Little Pine and will end at the former site of the Thunderchild (St. Henri) Indian Residential School in the Delmas area. The school was in operation from 1901 to 1948, when it was burnt down and never rebuilt, according to the release.

Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs led a project for a radar ground search for graves at the former residential school site last year.

Families and community members of former students from Thunderchild Residential School will be taking part in the walk.

Organizers plan to have four annual walks in accordance with Indigenous tradition.

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The 40-km journey is being organized by the Little Pine Residential School Survivors group.

Committee co-chair, Janelle Pewapsconias, said the group sees the walk as a step towards healing.

“In contrast to the Pope’s apology, we’re doing this event to continue our own healing and not waiting for the church,” she said. “Although we met a lot of significant challenges just trying to get our walk going, everything seems to be working now. From what I’m hearing from old people who can’t be here, [the walk] really means a lot to them.”

Pewapsconias said as a young person she is glad the group is able to “put our energies and efforts into something that helps healing our communities.”

At the end of the walk when they reach Delmas, participants will be received by a drumming group.

“We will have Elders and mental health support available for those who are in the moment, or needing someone to talk to. Caring for our community is important,” Pewapsconias said.

Then, after a brief rest, walkers will join in opening ceremonies that will include supper, speeches from knowledge keepers and cultural dances by young children.

“[We hope] to demonstrate and include youth because every child matters,” Pewapsconias said.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW