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	First Nations Man Walks to Raise Awareness of Residential Schools By Mark Prior Cochrane Times-Post August 18, 2011 http://www.cochranetimespost.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3263459 Residential school survivor Patrick Etherington seeks to spread not only awareness about residential schools, but also to bring healing to those affected by them. Mr. Etherington said residential schools are a scar on Canada's history. Aboriginal, Metis and Inuit children were forced to go to these schools as part of an aggressive assimilation strategy enacted by the Canadian government in the nineteenth century. He added that the government at the time was relentless in their efforts at having over a 1,000 students attend these boarding schools against their will, forcing them to learn and adopt English and strict Catholic-Christian values they thought at the time would be ideal for society. Mr. Etherington, who is from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) James Bay Treaty Nine Territory, had survived the experience he had at the Albany Mission Indian Residential School in Fort Albany. He reminisced on the horrible acts of cruelty he witnessed in the school, and said he has seen the affects residential schools have on First Nations families. Annual national awareness walks have been organized in the past. Mr. Etherington is preparing for this year's walk from Cochrane's Ininew Friendship Centre to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The walk began July 29 and the expected arrival date is a couple of days before Oct. 25, when a large gathering is expected to be held in support of the cause. He stated that the walking route will be aimed to stay as close to the main highways as possible, starting with Hwy. 11 south. The walk is expected to arrive in North Bay some time this week, and continue on south before heading east. He stated that once more education and awareness is spread, the truth and reconciliation process can take place. "When I was working in the human resources field for NAN, I learned more about what was being done about this where I was from, and realized there was lack of information in regards to the legal process and truth and reconciliation process," he said. "Truth and reconciliation is about survivors getting involved and telling their stories about what they experienced, and on the other hand is to educate the general population on what happened in the residential schools," His experience as a survivor and a human resource worker sparked his passion to bring more awareness to his people and to the non-Aboriginal citizens. Mr. Etherington is aware of the troubles he may face when venturing into more populated cities like Toronto. He expressed his willingness to abide by the laws of the road and is prepared to change routes along the way until ultimately arriving in Halifax. "I have seen elders share their experience, grandmothers, parents who have lost children who never had an opportunity to hear each other, grandchildren and young children perishing before their stories were told among their families, among their people," he said. Contact: editorial@cochranetimespost.com
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