Christine Shayla Mack continues to walk toward a brighter future for herself and Indigenous youth.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Christine Shayla Mack

The traumatic history of First Nations peoples in Canada appears to be unfolding as the Truth and Reconciliation movement continues, boosted by the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Sept. 30.

Kamloops Indigenous woman, Christine Shayla Mack, recently logged 215 kilometres of walking as part of her personal healing journey and to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

READ MORE: Busy Kamloops moms walk for a month to raise awareness of the effects of residential schools

Mack, who is currently attending university to earn a nursing degree, said she continues to progress on her healing journey as she embraces her roots and learns more about self-care. She said she listened to a guest speaker in one of her classes recently.

“He was talking about the importance of self-care and how front line workers need to prioritize it,” Mack said. “We often get faced with situations that can trigger us. When triggers happen we need to walk towards them and not run away. We need to learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

Mack said she has always run away from her emotions, a trauma-related behaviour, and has only recently begun to practice sitting with her feelings. She said ever since completing her honour walk she is feeling stronger every day.

“I am allowing myself to feel it all,” she said. “This is very challenging for me. Since the walk I have not wanted to drink or smoke and I am grateful for that. Sobriety is something I work on and choose every day.”

READ MORE: Mandatory vaccines for nurses making hospitals even more unsafe: union

Mack said as she gets stronger emotionally, dreams for her future are becoming more real. She wants to get her degree and travel around the world working in remote communities.

“I love my life right now,” she said. “I want to sit under the Northern Lights and go an African safari. I want to create beautiful memories with my children. I have been doing so much work on healing my past traumas, loving myself and becoming the best version of me.”

The young mother said she is inspired by her children to work hard in all aspects of her life and provide a better future for them and all Indigenous youth.

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