June 8, 2012

Jon Thompson at Kenora Daily Miner News

https://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3581881

 

 

The symbolism of the rain that fell alongside most of his footsteps on the walk to Toronto wasn’t lost on Edmond Jack.

The 17-year-old left Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (Grassy Narrows) in mid-May and rain dominated the weather over the weeks he visited Ontario communities to learn and teach about water.

In every First Nation he and the other walkers visited, they asked the women to speak for the lake and he took samples of their water, which he held as the sun finally emerged and he marched into Toronto.

“Every body of water has its own name so we had to ask a woman who is more familiar with that area to talk for that water and to do a ceremony. She would make an offering and take a bit of that water with us. Every lake we collected water from had its own story. It was kind of just like meeting the land.”

Jack spoke at some events and listened at others but when it came to engaging water-borne pollution, he heard the same thing across the province.

“We talked a lot about water and what they think should be done with all the chemical dumping in the water,” he said. “They all said the same thing: They think it has to stop. The way I picture that is pressuring the government to find a different way of getting rid of the chemicals and alternatives.”

Since their arrival, the walkers have been a revered centre of the attention, taking the spotlight alongside political leaders and scientists. His feelings on the walk’s conclusion are still mixed, however. The day he reached Toronto, Jack received a call that his friend Kiefer Meeseewaypetung had been murdered back home.

“A lot of stuff was in my head, how to take that message. Before I started, people told me I would be rewarded. They said something good will come from it but I don’t understand how that was really a reward to me.”

The week-long River Run will end Friday with a political demonstration.

Jon.Thompson@sunmedia.ca