A walk in solidarity with the First Nations of the Fraser Valley
To mark the closing of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2015, thousands of Canadians participated in the Walk for Reconciliation in cities across the country. A group of churches had connected during the walk that took place in Vancouver in 2015 and decided to put together a walk on an annual basis here in the Fraser Valley. The fifth annual Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation is happening this year on May 29, 30, and 31 throughout various locations in the Fraser Valley.
“The walk is a way of looking at reconciliation and recognizing the First Nations families who were affected by the residential schools for so many generations,” said Bridget Findlay, MCC’s Indigenous Neighbours program coordinator and the organizer of this event.
This year’s event will take place as a safe, self-guided walk, due to the restrictions put in place because of COVID-19. Participants will choose one of seven routes that span from Fort Langley to Abbotsford to Mission and vary in length from 1.5 km to 8 km. Participants can walk their chosen route on any of the three days of the event, being sure to maintain social distancing protocol with other walkers they may encounter.
As participants complete their routes, they are encouraged to share photos of their walk to the Facebook event page, and the event organizers will update the map of the different routes to show other participants that the entire area has been covered. If you don’t live in the Fraser Valley, you can still participate in a solidarity walk by walking any location of your choice during the three days of the event.
In the past, the event has featured interactive, cultural activities for participants to take part in, such as a meal in the Kwantlen First Nations’ longhouse, a tour of the former site of St. Mary’s residential school in Mission by a Stó:l? representative, and a Kairos blanket exercise. The purpose of the event is not just to lament and remember the tragic legacy of the residential schools, but also to recognize the richness of the different First Nation cultures here in the Fraser Valley. Since these group activities cannot take place this year, there will be Indigenous resources posted on the Facebook event page, starting on May 24 for participants to understand the cultural aspect of this walk and why reconciliation is so important.
Participants are encouraged to register online through Eventbrite before May 29 to receive a map of their route and a free T-shirt. Feel free to walk any portion of any route. It doesn’t matter whether you walk 1 km or 20; what matters is that you participate and understand the spirit behind the event. If you have any questions regarding the event, contact Bridget Findlay at 604-850-6639.
Image: Reconciling Church
Andrea Sadowski is working towards her BA in Global Development Studies, with a minor in anthropology and Mennonite studies. When she's not sitting in front of her computer, Andrea enjoys climbing mountains, sleeping outside, cooking delicious plant-based food, talking to animals, and dismantling the patriarchy.