Excitement mounts as members from Walk inch closer to Ottawa

The courageous souls on the Walk4Justice mission have walked through many rain drenched days on their trek from British Columbia to Ontario. Aug. 23 was no different. Scattered showers blessed their arrival at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 6. A delegation from Manitoulin Island was on hand to provide refreshments, encouragement and monetary support.
The Walk4Justice began in Vancouver June 21 with the goal of reaching Ottawa by September 15. The contingent will present a petition on Parliament Hill calling for a full investigation into the thousands of women and children deemed missing or murdered during the past ten years along the Highway of Tears.
The United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin contributed $1,000 to the cause during the Northshore stop. In addition, M'Chigeeng artist Stan Panamick donated a painting entitled Highway of Tears to raise funds for the walkers. Also a hand drum painted by Panamick was presented to the group by Patricia Migwans and the M'Chigeeng ladies hand drum group.
Algoma-Manitoulin MP Brent St. Denis joined the gathering to listen to concerns and prepare for their arrival in Ottawa.
For Gladys Radek, one of the initiators of the trek, each milestone on the journey brings renewed hope.
"It's getting very exciting the closer we get to Ottawa," she said. "We have walked through three provinces of thunder storms and rain but it didn't slow us down. We are getting lots of support. The politicians are starting to understand the issues and are starting to acknowledge the issues. Some of us have worked for twenty years to bring these issues to the forefront."
Rhoda Michel of the Shuswap Nation also expressed excitement about the progress of the group.
"It feels awesome that we made it this far," she said. "It's an honour to be here. Every step closer to Ottawa is a step closer to justice."
As a resident of the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, she is intimately familiar with the realities that inspired the Walk4Justice. "Some of my friends are still going missing," she reported. "And nothing is being done about it by the police or the justice system. If a First Nations girl goes missing it does not make the papers. We want closure and help for the families of the missing. We see grandmothers crying and our hearts go out to these people."
These observations were echoed by Willie (aka Free Willie) a Queen Charlotte Islands Elder accompanying the walkers.
"We hear a lot of talking but I'd like to see more action," he said. "They should look further into what is happening to these people who are missing and murdered. If it's a First Nations person, they don't take much interest. In B.C. when a non-Native goes missing it gets on TV and radio, but when it's a First Nations person that goes missing, they don't get all that attention."
The Walk4Justice has attracted men and women from many diverse nations united by a sense of responsibility. For example, Sook Stepetin, from the Nisqually Makah nation in Washington State, joined the group to demonstrate that the fight for human rights has no borders or boundaries. He pointed out that six more women have disappeared since the walk began.
"It's an issue that affects all nations," he suggested. "In fact, it is the most important issue in Canada today. We have to demand action from the Canadian government; we need to address the ongoing violence. It affects all the people on Turtle Island. It doesn't just affect women. In order to stop the violence, men and all people have to pull together to ensure that it doesn't continue. It's a matter of standing up for our people. It is an international crisis and it is simply unacceptable."
Diana Lariviere of Aundeck Omni Kaning identifies with the heartache experienced by the B.C. walkers. She too has waited twenty years for answers. Her foster daughter Gloria Jean (Martha) Abottosaway went missing in Toronto.
"She would be 46 now," Lariviere said. "We think of her all the time. We are under the assumption that she has been murdered and that's why we can't find her. I feel that there was violence done to her."
Martha is also remembered by her cousin Mary Dantouze. She and other members of the M'Chigeeng ladies drum group travelled to add their voices to the lament for the lost.
"I think it is totally necessary to bring attention to these women; they have disappeared and no one has noticed," she said. "It takes generations for the hurt to be eased. We need to make the hurting stop and to send a message of hope."