Yellowknife (Jun 02/06) - Women are banding together for a 30 hour walk to raise awareness about violence against women in the Northwest Territories.

Heidi Wild, left, and Marie Speakman practice their walking moves for the upcoming walk against violence from Yellowknife to Rae, June 7-8. - Emily Watkins/NNSL photo

The Native Women's Association and the NWT Status of Women Council are planning a walk from Yellowknife to Rae, called "The Journey for Change," June 7-8.

"The purpose is to bring light to the epidemic of violence that we see in the program," Heidi Wild at the Native Women's Association says. "There is a broad range of violence against women: sexual assault, spousal assault, common assault and missing and murdered women."

The walk begins in front of the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife at 9:30 am, June 7 and ends in front of the Cultural Centre in Rae on June 8, at approximately 4-5 p.m.

The walk is estimated to be about 30 hours long, and will be a little like a relay, says Wild.

"There are many people scheduled in to walk certain parts of the road," she says.

"Once the walkers reach a certain point, someone else takes over for them."

The walk is also designed to raise money for the Native Centre for Women as they are receiving less government funding this year.

The fundraiser was inspired by Marie Speakman, at the Native Women's Association.

"This is my passion," Speakman says.

"I have always thought about doing a walk to bring attention to it (the issue of violence against women).