26 October, 2009
KENORA, ON: Kenorans, internationals join in prayer walk for Indigenous solidarity
 by David Ball
 
Murals and churches as well as the Kenora court house and mall were among the prayer stops on a public walk Saturday, 17 October 2009 to celebrate diversity and encourage awareness of colonialism’s impacts on Indigenous peoples here and across Canada.
 
Attracting thirty participants from Kenora and surrounding communities, the two-hour 'Prayer Walk to Honour the Treaties' was the culmination of an international fact-finding delegation to this area by Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), which has worked in the Kenora area and Grassy Narrows First Nation since 1999.
 
“The fact that CPT goes to Iraq and Palestine, and comes here to Kenora, shows that there's a conflict here and it needs to become visible to white people,” said Paula Broeders, a local resident and director of the Kenora Sexual Assault Centre.  “We cannot deny that we have a catastrophic problem here.
 
“We have a cultural divide – it's a subtle apartheid,” Broeders added.  “White people have the opportunity to stand up and be accountable, to be honest with ourselves, and to show kindness.”
 
The walk stopped at various locations in downtown Kenora to pray, share history and reflect on the message that Native and non-Native people have rights and responsibilities under the Treaties.  At one stop, Anishinaabe resident Cathy Lindsay offered tobacco by the lakeshore and said a prayer for healing.
 
“This prayer walk is an act of solidarity with my brothers and sisters on Turtle Island, what we call Canada,” said Marcus Armstrong, a CPT delegation member from Willen, United Kingdom. “It's a fundamental right of people to have land on which to live, grow things, hunt, and fish to meet their basic needs.  Where this isn't respected, in my experience, has led to very great pain and suffering.”
 
“These are worldwide issues. Hopefully people will realize they are not alone in this struggle, that there are people all over the Earth thinking of them, praying for them, working for them.”
 
Charles Wagamese, a member of Dalles First Nation and supporter of Grassy Narrows, joined the prayer walk and described its songs and prayers as “solidarity of the human spirit.”
 
“We need love, compassion and wisdom between the Anishinaabe and non-Anishinaabe people,” he said. “That's what I want to see. I don't want to see any more fear.”
 
The CPT delegation, made up of volunteers from Canada, UK, USA and the Philippines, has met with stakeholders in the legal system, police, social services, and First Nations to get a clearer picture of the struggles and initiatives facing the community, including issues of discrimination, residential schools, clear-cut logging, as well as healing initiatives.
 
For photos of the prayer walk see http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidpball/sets/72157622611412220/