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Hello all.  This is Edmond Etherington. I am participating in a spiritual and cultural walk that is planning to leave from Cochrane Ontario on  May 14, 2006 and walk to Robb Alberta. 

So far things are going good for us. There are youth participating in the meaning behind this walk.  Youth from Moosonee, Peawanuck, Moose Factory, Kashechewan, and some youth from Sunchild Alberta are helping. 

Other youth are welcomed to participate in this life experience and meet new people across this country. We will be ask to speak to other youths in different communities on the way. And if your not camera shy, we will be on the news probaly every city we pass by. Don't be shy to join. Guaranteed this is something you will never forget and it will help you as a youth in this society today. 

If you need any more info and have any questions feel free to call me on my cell at (705) 262-4628. If anyone is interested in donations like tents, camping gear or are interested meeting the youth, we won't be hard to find on the highway.  We are going to be the only ones on the highway to Thunder Bay. 

All youth are welcome because there are young women and young men participating in this walk.

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from Timmins Daily Press, April 2006

Cross-country walker hitting spiritual stride By EDMOND ETHERINGTON

I am a Cree from the James Bay area. I am the son of Pat Etherington and the late Marlene Etherington. I am 28 years old. My father is from Fort Albany and my late mother was from Moose Factory.

I am writing this to the communities around the James Bay coast. A great opportunity is knocking on the doors for the youth in the area. I did participate in a walk last year that started in Cochrane and ended at Robb, Alta., just south of Edson, Alta.

My father put together this walk to respect the old ways. Today, I am going forward with another walk in May for the new generation, “our youth.” This walk would be a good opportunity for the youth to see this country and meet new friends along the way. It is a cultural walk and spiritual walk.

For me, there is a good meaning behind it. So we can show the youth of today how strong the native culture is. I have been living in Alberta for the last two years. I have been learning as much as I can about the spiritual ways we Crees have. I do know we have our cultural beliefs about trapping, hunting, etc., but we don’t realize that there are spiritual beliefs, too. I try to get this across to our youth so we can try to break the cycle of negativity that is in our communities so down the road they can do the same for their kids.

For myself, it’s really strong for me to do this. I have been through it all growing up. I wasn’t brought up on the reserve. I was brought up in the city life. I had the positive life my parents tried to give me but took advantage of it. I had been selling drugs since I was 14 years old. That’s all I know to do. I am sure some of the people reading this today have bought drugs off me during the time I was selling around James Bay. But now that’s all behind me. The negative I had before is in the past.

We were not meant to look behind us because if we did we would have eyes on the other side ofour heads. We don’t. That’s why I want to show people that a person like myself who has been in the gutter that there is hope for all of us. We just have to make up our minds.

That’s what an Elder taught me. Now he is gone into the spiritual life, his teachings are in my heart. I have the great-grandchildren of this Elder participating in the walk, too.

The youth are realizing that they can do this for their communities so others can look up to them as leaders. I know it’s going to be hard, but if we put our energy together as young individuals we can accomplish this goal.

There are more meanings and teachings I could get out but I can’t write it down on paper because it’s not meant to be written. So I am going to leave it at that for now. I do speak to youth in the justice system and schools around Alberta but now I am here back in my neck of the woods. If anyone is interested, feelfree to leave a message with the Ininew Friendship Centre in Cochrane and I will get back to anybody.

I am looking forward to working together on this good cause for youth so we can be strong as one. So nobody can break us up as “nishawbe.” Keep your head up.