Dear Editor,
I started the walk to Gull Island on Oct. 19 and I finished on Oct. 25.
I was very, very, happy and proud because we made it again. We started on Monday and walked every day.
More young people walked this year, one class from the School came with their teacher and some other younger children. Four children walked the whole way with me. The school class finished on Friday.
When we first started to walk it was like summer, warm no snow - but as we walked further in we came upon winter and when we woke up on Sunday it was snowing hard. We talked about what to do that day and decided to walk anyway. It was the last day and we could finish then be brought back to the tent. We started at noon and finished at 4pm. On this day, my daughter and daughter-in-law and four children walked. We were so happy when we finished.
Every time when I walk with my people and the children, we sometimes get very tired, but we don't ever give up. We just take a break then go on. I explained to the children why we walk. I tell them it is for them and for their future. And I think they understand.
A lot of people understand why we walk. We don't want the dam like they did before to Churchill Falls many years ago. We lost so many things back then, we lost hunting areas, and so did the white people, not only the Innu lost, other people lost too. They lost the same. The biggest thing we lost, were the burial grounds. This was the most important thing that we lost. If they make another dam what else will we loose? The river will die, and all the stuff around the river, trees, and the animals and fish. And the peoples hunting areas will be ruined.
We walk, women and children together to send a strong message that we will not give up. We are strong and we want to be respected and listened to. It is for the future of our children that we are doing this for!
I want to thank the people who helped me on this walk. I also want to thank the people who stopped and encouraged me- especially the two women who were going to their cabin - they said to me, Elizabeth, you are doing a good job! They made me very happy and strong. It helped me go on.
Tshakuesh (Elizabeth Penashue)
Sheshatshiu, NL
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