Leon Sparvier and Richelle Dubois Wednesday in Medicine Hat as they make their way walking 1,400 kilometres from Regina to Kamloops.--NEWS PHOTO ALEX MCCUAIG
amccuaig@medicinehatnews.com
The discovery of unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops has shocked the consciousness of no shortage of Canadians. In the past two days, just as many memorial walks sparked by the discovery have passed through the city on their way from Saskatchewan to Kamloops.
Journeys which aim to educate on the cycle of trauma the residential schools represent to Indigenous peoples while trying to heal the pain of those institutions.
Wednesday saw Richelle Dubois, Leon Sparvier and their son James Dubois make their way through Medicine Hat in their car festooned with well wishes and stocked with traditional medicines such as sweet grass and sage.
For Pasqua First Nation’s Richelle and Leon from Piapot First Nation, having felt the direct effects of residential schools through their family, the 1,400-kilometre walk from Regina to Kamloops is also personal.
“We are also doing it for our healing,” said Richelle.
“To heal the trauma and bring light to all these issues,” added Leon.
“Any generation can break the cycle,” said James.
But for Richelle and Leon, they are putting their faith in their son’s generation to push the issues of reconciliation to the fore.
Richelle says she has brought her son to rallies and educated him on the challenges while “showing him there is another way, not to give up no matter what.”
And educate him and others on not just the perils of residential schools but the Sixties Scoop that saw Indigenous children taken from their culture and the pitfalls of government child and family services which continue to do the same, she said.
It’s an opportunity for education her eldest son had cut short after he was found dead in 2015 in a Regina ravine. A death she believes was a murder not properly investigated by Regina police.
“We need to start changing the system,” said Richelle. “Make it work for us, not against us.”
On Tuesday, Shayna Lee Taypotat from Kahkewistahaw First Nation passed through Medicine Hat on her healing journey from her reserve to Kamloops.
Information on Dubois’ walk can be found on the A Healing Journey Facebook page with Taypotat’s can be found on the social media site can be found on the page A Walk to Healing for All.
