Survivors on epic trek

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"There are still a lot of us hiding in the dark, that haven't yet found the courage to come forward. It's hard, after all we've gone through and what we became after-alcoholics, unable to show our own children that we love them ..."

William Matthews, his voice cracking and fighting back tears, has to stop to compose himself. Even decades later, it is difficult for him to discuss his experiences in residential school.

And so he has joined forces with several others like him to make a journey, not only of miles, but of healing. On April 1, about 25 people began the Gitxsan Spirit and Survivors Walk that will take them from Prince Rupert to Port Alberni. The walk is to raise awareness on the subject of residential schools and their legacy, and, hopefully, embolden more survivors to come forward with their stories.

Port Alberni is the destination for the group, because it was there that the majority of the organizers of the walk were sent to attend residential school as children.

Most of the group will travel on foot, while others will follow and provide food, clothing and support in three vehicles. But more help would be welcomed, said Matthews, a walk organizer.

"We are in need of more vehicles, vans preferably, so people can take turns resting," said Matthews. "Any other donations, such as food or money for gas, would be appreciated."

The group drove to Rupert to begin the journey and was treated to breakfast at the Friendship House that Friday morning. Survivors and supporters, welcomed by local Elders and counsellors, made brief speeches and sang a song before heading up Third Avenue and onto Highway 16 with an RCMP escort leading the way.

Matthews and survivors from the Hazelton area began meeting regularly last summer and the walk came out of those meetings.

"We meet a lot and talk about it, all the abuse that took place. Every time we talk about it, it lets a little more of the pain out."

The Aboriginal Healing Foundation was created in 1998, with $350 million in program funding.

Funding has run out for many projects, said Matthews, who believes dollars are needed on an ongoing basis because many survivors and their families are still dealing with the affects the residential schools had on their lives.

It is estimated that there are about 86,000 former residential school students alive today.

The Alberni school was one of the most notorious, with numerous charges of murder and sexual abuse leveled against its administrators. In 1997, former dormitory supervisor Arthur Plint was convicted of sexually assaulting dozens of Aboriginal boys.

"The government has to remember how many people residential schools affected," said 65-year-old survivor Lorna Brown, who now works as an alcohol and drug counsellor in Hazelton. "We still need support and to be recognized; people need to stay aware."

The group estimates it will take about 67 days to reach Alberni.

Anyone interested in supporting the Gitxsan Spirit and Survivors Walk is encouraged to visit the Web site at www.gitxsanspirit.com.