Garden River First Nation will host its first Every Child Matters walk in the community on Friday, in a bid to raise awareness of issues still affecting Indigenous peoples and first nation communities.
Leader Andy Rickard says his community has chosen not to celebrate Canada Day and will recognize July 1 in a different way in light of the discovery of potential unmarked graves in and around school neighborhoods across the country. “We see all the celebrations around Canada Day and many communities, including ours, have decided to do something in honor of our children,” Ricard said. The head of the Garden River says the walk is also intended to acknowledge other social injustices, including boiling water advice, missing and murdered natives, and Ontario’s fight to overturn court rulings during the Robinson Treaty revenue case. -Huron.
“These are long-standing historical grievances for which the judge, in this case, has ruled in favor of the signatories of the Robinson-Huron Treaty – but has nevertheless been appealed by the provincial government,” Ricard said. “Well, when you talk about reconciliation, when you talk about the theft of our lands, the theft of our children and everything that happens, it’s a kind of slap in the face to our people in the communities.” Participants are encouraged to wear orange and carry flags and banners for the walk, which will start at the River Garden Recreation Center and end at the community center with lunch following. Rickard says the ride is also open to all non-natives who want to participate.
“It is open to everyone,” he said. “We will not reject anyone and I think it is time for everyone to unite, non-native and indigenous, just to shed light on some of these things that are still happening in this country.” Every Child Matters Walk departs from Garden River Recreation Center (48 Syrette Lake Road) at 11 a.m. abruptly. Participants are invited to gather at the leisure center until 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at the Garden River Community Center (corner of Shingwauk Road and Highway 17B) after the walk. After lunch there will also be a shuttle service from the community center to the leisure center. Highway 17B will be closed from Belleau Lake Road to Ballpark Road during the journey.