Christine Shayla Mack (left) and Josie August have been walking this month to raise awareness of the effects of residential schools on Indigenous people.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Josie August

Two Indigenous women are taking action to raise awareness of the trauma imparted on First Nation peoples in residential schools, in a lead up Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The women are both busy single mothers and healthcare workers in Kamloops, but made the commitment to do ten, 21.5 kilometer walks with the end goal of logging 215 kilometers in honour of the children whose unmarked remains were detected earlier this year.

Josie August from Chase and Christine Shayla Mack from Kamloops said they are walking to bring awareness of the traumas imparted on their nations and to help forge a brighter, better future for their children.

“I want to teach my sons we can heal and we don’t have to carry on the dysfunction,” August said. “We were silenced and told not to show affection. I want my sons to be strong, healthy Indigenous men, empowered to move forward and not stay stuck in anger, hurt and addictions.”

READ MORE: How some First Nations are recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Sept. 30

Mack said she also wants to see healing for Indigenous youth.

“I want them to grow up and not have to deal with everything we’ve had to deal with,” she said. “I was disconnected from my culture and language for many years until I got sober. My daughter knows the traditional songs and we are learning together.”

August and Mack were in Vancouver earlier this month, where they logged some kilometers on the downtown eastside. They said it was the most emotional part of their walking journey.

“A lot of the people living on the street there are residential school survivors,” Mack said. “We gave them tobacco and took in all of the negative effects we were seeing of residential schools. There needs to be more awareness and supports to the issue. It was very difficult to see.”

The women said they want others to understand the history of Canada and how Indigenous people have been treated in order to lend understanding of the intergenerational effects that are present today.

“Learning the real history of Canada shows why we are the way we are after being displaced from our families and traditional lands,” Mack said. “It will allow our non-native allies to make a step forward. We are still living with this pain. My own parents quit drinking when I was age ten, and when I became sober I could understand the true magnitude of the effects of residential schools.”

READ MORE: Indigenous Tim Hortons owners drive campaign for residential school survivors

The women have been walking between the Neskonlith-Adams Lake border to the Tk’emlups residential school grounds in all kinds of weather and have both worn through a pair of shoes. The walks take between four to five hours and often their children join them.

Today is their last walk.

“I am a lot spiritually and mentally stronger now,” Mack said. I’ve been taking these hours without distractions and being able to feel all the emotions I never took the time to feel before. It has been really healing for me.”

August’s father and grandfather attended residential schools.

“We have had days that were difficult due to weather,” she said. “My feet and my knees hurt but we are able to suffer these small pains knowing what our ancestors suffered through."

On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation the women will be at the arbour on the Tk’emlups pow wow grounds to commemorate the day, one August said is a step in the right direction for Canada and Indigenous people.

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