Pictured above: Northern First Nation members who participated in the Unity Walk arrived at the Manitoba Legislative Building on September 30.

Walkers from three Manitoba First Nations made a 1,000-kilometre journey by foot to honour residential school survivors and participate in the commemorations of the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The Unity Walk departed from Gillam, MB to Winnipeg on September 18 with community members from Fox Lake Cree Nation, who were later joined by members from York Factory First Nation and Tataskweyak Cree Nation. The journey of more than 1,000 km took 12 days and had the participation of leaders, residential school survivors and youth from the three communities. 

Walkers arrived safely in Winnipeg on September 27, resting for two days before concluding their journey by walking to the Manitoba Legislative Building on September 30, where they joined thousands of people including Elders and residential school survivors in the commemorative activities of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

The North West Company was proud to support the York Factory community walk by providing a $5,000 sponsorship for their journey.

“The journey was awesome and adventurous. Something the walkers will talk about for a while,” said George Beardy, Councillor of York Factory First Nation. “A beautiful ending to the journey when we reached the steps at the Manitoba Legislative Building on September 30th. On behalf of ‘The Walkers’ (Opimotaywak), I would like to say ‘Thank you’ for the generous donation. It is greatly appreciated.”