Tahltan man plans to walk from Whitehorse to Kamloops, B.C

Tuesday, 22 June 2021 10:31

By Dylan MacNeil

Jamie Henyu announces his walk on Facebook.

The journey is to spread awareness of residential schools.

Jamie Henyu, a Tahltan man is planning to walk over two thousand kilometres from Whitehorse to Kamloops, B.C to acknowledge the remains of 215 children’s bodies found at the residential school site in the province’s city.

In a facebook video announcing the walk, Henyu said he wants to shine light on residential schools.

“I just want to bring awareness in this walk, to the people out there that don’t know much about residential school and don’t let it get swept under the rug like some people want it to be,” said Henyu.

Henyu is getting help from Northern Nations Alliance. They are accepting donations to support the walk. Jaqueline Shorty is the founder of the alliance. She will walk alongside Henyu on the long and winding road to Kamloops. In a facebook video announcing her support, Shorty said for her, it’s personal. She heard stories of residential school from her mother.

“Our intention is to do it with love, to do it with kindness, to do it with gentleness to ourselves, and to you, to everyone, and to shift the healing, to take that back for ourselves and to empower our own people once again to be resilient and strong as we always have been and continue to be,” said Shorty.

Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation elder Lorraine Netro will also join Henyu on the walk.

Henyu says they still need help. They will need people to drive vehicles alongside them and he will need a motor home or travel trailer. He is also encouraging anyone who might be interested to join him on the journey. He says even though he is in a time crunch to get things organized, he is sure he can do it.

“If you want to sponsor me, I would be grateful, if you want to donate, I’d be really grateful. I’m going to be looking for leadership and guidance and prayers and I’m going to need strength, this is going to be a very long walk. I’ll be looking to my ancestors to give me the strength and courage to keep walking, “said Henyu.

According to google maps, the trek will take almost 18 days.

Henyu plans to depart either on the 25 or 26 of this month.

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