Colin has made the official announcement that 2012 Healing Journey Prayer Walk will take place on February 11, 2012. The starting point of the Walk will start again at the New Life Pentecostal Church here in Weagamow Lake. The meeting place will take place at 8:30 a.m. at the church. There will be a group prayer done.

This year the Walk will be done to Sandy Lake.

The main purpose of this prayer walk is to pray for ppl who are bond by prescription drugs and alcohol, among other social issues.  There are many things that can bind us.  It is for them to find the inner healing for themselves and other ppl, so that they can be whole again.  If you find it in  your heart that you want to join in for this walk, please do so.  Anybody is welcome regardless what situation you are in.  If you know and have loved ones who are in this state, you are welcome to join us.   As for ourselves, we are doing this for our loved ones who are in this situation. 

***Will be back later to finish posting up***

2011 Healing Journey Prayer Walk Report

Our prayer walk to Keewaywin was completed and successful. We completed 140 kms in 27.5 hours. We, can all honestly say that, the walk itself was hard and challenging; but we managed to finish it. The last 40 kms was very hard, as all the walkers were tired, cold, hungry and needed some hot fluids. There was lots of laughter, crying, praying, singing and pure exhaustion; but we completed the walk with the help of prayers that were sent our way and with the help of our Lord and Saviour.

 We started off the walk at 8:45 a.m. from New Life Church in Weagamow on February 25th. It got cold and the wind started picking up. When we were walking on Weagamow Lake, it was already very cold; and the wind was blowing from the side. When we got to the CrossRoad Junction, heading north; we had to face the North Wind; and the wind was biting cold. We kept on checking the walkers to see if they were all doing fine. We started rotating the walkers. One group would walk; then the other group rested and warmed up. I walked and finished about 2 kms of Weagamow Lake with my husband. We walked and prayed together. It wasn't an easy walk for me, as it was slippery and cold; but I kept on. We prayed for our community and loved ones.

Somewhere in the bush area, our lunch arrived. Emily Anishnawbe and Danny Kanakakeesic brought hot soup. Our sandwiches were already depleting fast; as we had many walkers and we needed strength. We stopped for a few minutes to eat; then the walkers started again. Shortly after that, we met the 3 Muskrat Dam people, Norah and Louie Beardy; along with Gary Beardy, Deputy Chief from Muskrat Dam. They, too, started walking.

When we got to Opahkopah Lake, I started walking again, to give others a break. Walked with Norah Beardy. I used my crutches to walk. Richard Kanate was driving right beside me. He kept encouraging me to keep on. It was getting harder for me to walk; but he kept on talking and encouraging. Finally, I told him that I couldn't do it anymore; so he stopped. By that time, the Band Council already had sent the Band Van for us to use.

When we got to Magiss Lake around 5ish, our other walker from Bearskin was already waiting for us in my sister's vehicle. My dad came with my sister and brought coffee with them. We had some hot fluids there. The other walkers from Weagamow were resting, so our fresh walker, Emily MaKoop started walking on Magiss Lake. Shortly after that, Geordie Kakekayash and his group pulled up; then Geordie started walking on the lake. That gave us a break.

We got to Nikip Lake at 7:10 p.m. Colin said that he was going to walk the whole 10 km stretch of ice, facing the cold wind. We had come about 60 kms already from home. He got dressed and started walking with Ronald Jeremiah. I drove right behind him to shine my car lights on their path, so they can see where they were going. The wind had been picking up already and Isiah Kanate told me to keep on eye on them. About almost half ways out on the lake, he turned around and looked at me. His facemask was all white, covered with ice and snow. You could barely see the holes where he can see from. The fur on his winter parka around his face was covered with ice. It was so cold, so very cold. I started crying when I saw him. I wanted to go out so much to relieve him; but I couldn't. I couldn't walk on ice, as at times, it was pure black ice and some areas were very slippery. At times, he almost went down as he would slip. I cried for him; but I couldn't do nothing. Some walkers were behind us, walking and the main walker, Richard Kanate, was already across the lake resting in the van. A couple times, I saw Jayda Welshman, our youngest walker, walking. One time I saw her, she was out on the ice. She was walking and crying at the same time; as she was so cold and tired; but she kept on.

We were getting so cold in the car, so I had to crank up the heat as it was -27 and with the wind chill, it was probably colder. Told the walkers in my car, to start resting; as it was gonna be a cold night. We were watching Colin and Ronald walk. At one time, Ronald was walking with bare hands. We started getting concerned with frost bites.

Then, Charles and Marjorie Benson, drove up with coffee. They told us to stay in one stop and to enjoy our coffee; while they drove behind Colin and Ronald. Apparently, Ronald switched with Charles because when I got behind Colin, Charles was walking with Colin.