Mamowpiimoosaywiin, Walking Forward Together

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Webequie First Nation to host Mamowpiimoosaywiin, Walking Forward Together

Webequie First Nation Residential School Survivor Team (WRRST) is proud to announce we will be hosting Mamowpiimoosaywiin, Walking Forward Together. Funded in partnership with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada/Government of Canada, Mamowpiimoosaywiin is our first annual commemorative celebration of remembrance and recovery, organized in honour of Indian Residential School survivors and their families.

We are requesting your assistance to help defray the costs of food, gas/oil, and travel in support of our August 13th to 25th community development event. We are accepting of financial or in-kind support. Monetary, material, and other in-kind supports of $1,000 or more will be formally acknowledged at the event and, where appropriate, in project announcements, publications, reports, and evaluations.

Receipts will be issued for monetary contributions over $20.

Our event is organized in partnership with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission to lead a process of healing, recovery, reconciliation, and improved relationships. First Nation and non-Aboriginal participants will learn together about what happened, the enduring impacts, and steps to recovery.

Mamowpiimoosaywiin, Walking Forward Together, will take place at Peewannakang, situated 10.5 km SW of Webequie First Nation. Travel to the commemorative site is by boat from Webequie First Nation. A temporary walking bridge is installed to traverse a river between the camping and ceremonial sites at Peewannakang.

In addition to the blessing, unveiling, and installation of a commemorative cairn, plaque, and saplings on
August 17th (2:00-5:00), Mamowpiimoosaywiin will feature cultural activities, educational displays, memorial demonstrations, vigils, and religious and spiritual assemblies, a pow wow (August 17-19), and other activities in recognition of the strength, courage, resilience, achievements, pride, and identities of our former students of Indian Residential Schools and their families.

Webequie First Nation is an isolated reserve community located on Eastwood Island in Winisk Lake, the
headwaters of Winisk River, 540 km north of Thunder Bay. Webequie First Nation is planning to upgrade the commemorative site, Peewannakang, in respect of its proposed long-term use as a commemorative location while at the same time serving as a site for general community restoration, healing, and social-economic development.

Should you choose to provide your support, please send a cheque payable to WEBEQUIE FIRST NATION and mailed to the attention of Levi Sofea at Box 266, Webiquie First Nation, P0T 3A0. Payment should be identified as support for the 2012 Mamowpiimoosaywiin, Walking Forward Together (Webequie).

For additional information regarding commemorative activities, event location, and other ways to support
our event; or to R.S.V.P. your attendance at our commemorative event, please contact Levi Sofea at 807-353-1263 or by e-mail to levis@webequie.ca. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Cornelius Wabasse,
Chief, Webequie First Nation