Indigenous snowmobile expedition wraps near Quebec City. Participants call it an exercise of healing – CBC

Feb 12, 2024

First Nations Expedition involved Indigenous and non-Indigenous snowmobilers

Last year Michèle Audette was watching the first edition of the First Nations Expedition online, but this year the senator cheered on about 50 snowmobilers in person as they rolled into Site Meshkenu located in Saint-Tite-des-Caps, just north of Quebec City.

Saturday marked the end of a 15-day 3,230-kilometre expedition focused on reconciliation and healing.

Audette, Innu from Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, says it was a pleasant surprise to hear more non-Indigenous people talking about the expedition this year. She hopes they’ll understand its significance.

“I was proud,” said Audette, standing among dozens of families and friends bundled up and waiting to catch a glimpse of the headlights of the snowmobiles. “I said ‘beautiful things [warrant] beautiful reactions.'”

Nathalie Guay, co-director for MAMUK, a multi-service centre in Quebec City for Indigenous peoples, had spent the week preparing for the expedition’s final stop.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/indigenous-snowmobile-expedition-quebec-city-1.7112047