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A walk to stop violence

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, June 8, 2007

KAKISA - A group of women from Kakisa will be lacing up their running shoes to walk for a good cause.

By walking to Fort Providence from their community, they plan to raise awareness and help stop violence against all women.

On June 13 at least three women, Ruby Landry, Anita Chicot and Diane Simba will set off from the band office in Kakisa at 8 a.m. Their goal is to reach Fort Providence, approximately 69 kilometres away. The women are inviting people from all communities to come and join them.

"We're hoping lots of people will come out and participate," said Anita Chicot, one of the organizers.

The idea for the walk started last year when the three women from Kakisa, together with Margaret Lacorne, travelled to Yellowknife to participate in a walk between the city and Behchoko from June 7-8, said Chicot. The walk was organized by the Native Women's Association and the NWT Status of Women Council.

"We just wanted to participate in the walk to help them raise awareness about violence against all women," said Chicot.

This year the Native Women's Association suggested that Kakisa hold its own walk.

This will be the first time that an event of this kind has been organized in Kakisa, said Chicot. Women including herself and Ruby Landry decided to organize the walk because it supports an important issue that more awareness is needed about, said Chicot

In Kakisa many women have chosen to live healthy lives and not to be affected by violence and alcohol, said Chicot, adding, however, that she saw both problems while growing up and wants to make sure it doesn't happen to other women and families.

"It's always been in the back of our minds that we don't want to live like that and see other people live like that," said Chicot.

There is a lot of violence against women in many Northern communities and awareness needs to be raised, she said.

"That's what we have to do to help our people," said Chicot.

The walk will be hosted by the Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation and the Zhatie Koe Friendship Centre. Water and snacks will be provided to participants during the walk. Diane Simba, who took part in last year's walk, said she hopes that many people, including some students, will turn out for the walk.

Sixty-nine kilometers is a lot of ground to cover in one day, said Chicot, but participants won't have to walk the whole distance.

People can walk or bike. There will also be escort vehicles with the group so participants will be able to rest in a vehicle if they are too tired as long as someone is always walking, she said.

"We're pretty optimistic we can walk the sixty-nine kilometers in one day," said Chicot.