Mushkegowuk FN: May 12, 2016 – Walk of Hope
The young people in the Mushkegowuk First Nation Communities are facing many challenges which seem insurmountable to them. Coping with these challenges brings hopelessness, uncertainty and the belief that they are unloved. These feeling are very strong and because of the strength of these negative thoughts, comes thoughts such as:
“I would be better off dead. No one cares. There is no future. I have nothing to give. Nobody loves me. Nobody will miss me. Suicide is the only option.”
Some young people are working hard to fight this pattern and make positive change for themselves, their peers and their communities. Out of this desire for positive change came the dream of undertaking a cross-Ontario walk to show their determination and raise awareness. This idea has become the Youth Walk of Hope (#WalkofHope), to bring hope and be a voice of the future.
As a Grand Chief, I care for my young people. I want them to be the source of inspiration for their communities and for all Canadians. I want them to know that they are the voice of their future. They are the future leaders and most important of all, they are “LOVED”. Therefore, I am supporting the youth from Mushkegowuk First Nations in planning and organizing a #WalkofHope from Cochrane to Niagara Falls Ontario, a distance of 865 kilometers!
ILR5
