DELMAS — The Little Pine Residential School Survivors Group is hosting its third annual walk to honour the ancestors, students and survivors of the Delmas (Thunderchild/St. Henri) Residential School on July 28. The grassroots group of engaged volunteers, community leaders, and survivors are working to both honour their ancestors and inspire healing from the inter-generational impacts of the residential school system.
"We are working to honour our ancestors and take up leadership for healing from the inter-generational impacts of the Indian residential school system. Since the earth-shaking discovery of the 215 children buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in 2021, we have hosted our annual Walk to Honour Indian Residential School Survivors for our healing and for the children that didn’t make it home," the group said in a release.
On July 28, the event starts at 7 a.m. at Little Pine Hall with breakfast before starting the 37.2-kilometre walk at 8:30 a.m. At roughly 4:30 p.m., the walk will be completed with a drum reception and a commemoration event at about 5 p.m. at the former site of the Delmas Indian Residential School.
Their team will provide wellness support for walkers, standard first aid and mental health and a mobile hydration station. Supper and evening events will be at the hall in Delmas.
"We have grown to a hearty 100 people in attendance on average over the past two walks, and we expect to host even more supporters this July as our memorial builds momentum."
