At 66 she still feels strong enough to spend three weeks walking in the bitter cold into Labrador’s Mealy Mountains.
She said anyone is invited to come along on the journey. So far, one of her sons has agreed to come along and as always, her husband Francis will transport the tent and set up camp every day.
The annual snowshoe walk is one of her unique displays of activism.
Throughout the years, Tshankuesh has been a strong proponent of the traditional Innu way of life on the land and she has fought steadfast against development that puts the land in harms way.
She was involved in Lower Level flying protests in the 80’s and more recently has protested the proposed development of a Lower Churchill hydroelectric dam.
Her way of protesting is non-violent and she tries her best to highlight the importance of the land. Every year she carries out a canoe trip up the Churchill River (Mista-Shipu), and a walk up the Churchill Road to Gull Island.
The mother of nine, grandmother of 42 and great-grandmother of nine children, heads off on her snowshoes each February with supplies and supporters in tow.
She said she wants to show people that the land is important and that overdeveloping it will only hurt it.
“I’ve never given up and I’m glad for that,” she said.
Tshankuesh was born on the land that was once the home of Labrador and Quebec’s Innu people.
She was one of many Innu who came to live in the community of Sheshatshiu after a government settlement effort.
Throughout the year, for weeks at a time, Tshankuesh goes back to Nutshimit canoeing, snowshoeing, walking or simply setting up camp and living.
She plans to leave for the current trip on Feb. 15 to cross the river from the beach in Sheshatshiu and head into the mountains. Every day she has been informing people of the walk via the local radio. She is inviting members of the community and anyone who is interested to come along. She only asks that enough notice be given that supplies can be prepared.
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it is so nice to see a lady of her caliber supporting such a cause, i hope all her hard work and determination doesn't go unnoticed by the powers that be....Labrador is a beautiful land and with too much development what will happen to all the wildlife? be safe in your journeys....