“The sacred walk is a distinctly Canadian and Indigenously flavoured act of political, spiritual and social witness.”
~Bishop Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Bishop, Anglican Church of Canada
This year’s Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation is planned to coincide with the 3rd anniversary of the publication of the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the 94 Calls to Action.
The intent of the Walk is to witness the history of relationships between Canada’s indigenous peoples and those of us who came after, by retracing the steps of so many indigenous children from the Fraser River near the Kwantlen Nation in Fort Langley to the St. Mary’s residential school site in Mission. The walk is 35 km in length and will take place over three days – May 25-27, 2018.
We hope you will join for any/all of the days as we walk in lament and solidarity with your First Nations brothers and sisters whose families have been affected by the residential schools for many generations. As anyone of our human family have been affected, we are all affected.
Feel free to join the Walk at anytime throughout the three days. This event is open to everyone to join us for the whole walk, part of the walk, or come at the beginning or end to show support! Walk for as long as you can. Vehicles will be available to ferry people back to the start point each day, if they run out of steam.
Please Register on Eventbrite at “Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation”. Each day has a separate registration so we can prepare for your participation!
Langley Churches of Reconciliation are hosting this Walk:
Anglican Church of Canada - Diocese of New Westminister, Christian Reformed Church, Mennonite Church - British Columbia, United Churches of Langley, Willoughby Willoughby Church.
Route and Schedule:
Friday, May 25, 2018, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Fort Langley to 88th & Nathan Creek Trans Canada Trail Entrance
Parking at Fort Langley Historic Site
We gather at 5:30pm in Fort Langley on the Fraser River’s edge
(exact location tbd – watch FB and web for details)
We shall share in an opening ceremony for all ages to reflect on the journey of the children from Kwantlen and other Nations to the Residential schools to which they were taken.
After personal reflection and ritual, we will walk from the Fraser River in Fort Langley along River Road to 88th & Nathan Creek Dyk Entrance
There will be a closing ritual for the day at the End. A Bus will transport all walkers back to the Fort Langley Historic Site Parking Lot by around 8:30pm.
Saturday, May 26, 2018, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
88th & Nathan Creek TCT Trail Entrance to Matsqui Trail / Mission Bridge Picnic Area
Parking at Fort Langley Historic Site
At 8:45am, bus will depart from Fort Langley Historic Site Parking Lot to bring walkers to start point gather for an opening circle at 9:00 am at 88th & Nathan Creek TCT Trail Entrance
Some walkers may choose to walk approximately 2km along the dyk and 80th and be picked up at 172 Street / 80th Avenue to be transported to Mt. Lehman Community Hall, 6418 Mount Lehman Rd, Abbotsford, for an engagement activity about reconciliation.
Walkers will continue along the Trans Canada Trail through the streets of Aldergrove and Abbotsford, and arrive for lunch and a mid-day reconciliation circle at Mt. Lehman Community Hall.
At 1:30-45 pm, Walkers will depart and follow the Trans Canada / Matsqui Trail to end at the Matsqui Trail / Mission Bridge Picnic Area for a closing circle. Non-walkers can stay and engage for another reconciliation activity / discussion.
Buses will transport non-walkers from Mt. Lehman Community Hall to bring them to the closing circle, and then will transport all participants back to Fort Langley Historic Site parking Lot around 4:30pm.
Sunday, May 27, 2018, 2:30 - 8:00 pm
Matsqui Trail / Mission Bridge Picnic Area to Fraser Heritage Park, Mission
site of St. Mary's Residential School boys’ dormitory
Followed by Closing Ceremony and Feast
Parking at Mission Bridge Picnic Area.
At 2:30pm we will gather for an opening circle at Mission Bridge Picnic Area.
Walkers will depart at 3:00pm to journey across the Mission Bridge to the Fraser Heritage Park.
Non-walkers will be transported by bus to the St. Mary’s school for a tour and conversation.
All participants will gather at the site of St. Mary’s Residential School boys’ dormitory in Fraser Heritage Park for a closing ceremony with ritual and release, and a feast.
Bus will transport all participants to Parking at Mission Bridge Picnic Area after closing ceremony and feast.
We hope you can join us this year!