Healing Walk inspires global call for Healing Actions – Idle No More in solidarity with Sacred Walk – Idle No More
Healing Walk inspires global call for Healing Actions
Idle No More in solidarity with Keepers of the Athabasca
Friday, June 21, 2013
Fort McMurray- The tar sands are growing out of control, destroying the climate for all Canadians and poisoning the water of everyone living downstream. On July 5th and 6th, 2013 there will be a different kind of event taking place in Fort McMurray, Alberta, organized by Keepers of the Athabasca and their supporters in the heart of the destruction. The 4th annual Healing Walk is an opportunity for people from all walks of life to join First Nations, Metis and local people in a spiritual gathering that will focus on healing the land and the people who are suffering from tar sands expansion.
“We are inviting people from coast to coast to join us in the Healing Walk gathering on July 5th and 6th, to come and see the impacts ofthe tar sands and be a part of the healing” said Jesse Cardinal, Keepers of the Athabasca “First Nations leaders will conduct a traditional healing ceremony on the walk but everyone is encouraged to bring their own spirituality, their own customs, and their own beliefs.”
Keepers of the Athabasca understand that not everyone can make it to the Healing Walk and have recently began collaboration with the foundersof the Indigenous rights and environmental protection movement, Idle No More and their summer campaign known as “Soverignty Summer” They are launching a global call encouraging supporters to organize“Healing Actions” in their own communities and territories.
“The Healing Walk provides us with an opportunity for people from all walks of life to organize healing actions that focus on healing the land and the people who are suffering from environmental destruction and pollution,” said Idle No More founder and organizer, Sylvia McAdam. “The healing actions can take different forms indifferent communities, but could include ceremonies, prayer or meditation circles, community gatherings, walks, or paddles. The tone is meant be positive and spiritual.”
Participants are encouraged to produce social media about the Healing Walk and the healing actions, and utilize the tags: #HealingWalk, #HealingActions, #IdleNoMore, and #SovSummer. Allies and supporters are also encouraged to sign the Keepers of the Water online petition at www.healingwalk.org asking Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver and Alberta Premier Alison to attend the Healing Walk on Saturday, July 6th. Financial contributions for the Healing Walk, to help fund logistics including the travel of impacted community members, foodand shelter can be made at: http://ow.ly/m7fjn.
Video PSA for Healing Walk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iag76GyHk0
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For interviews and additional information, please contact:
JesseCardinal
Keepers of the Athabasca
Phone: 780-404-5315
http://www.healingwalk.org
ClaytonThomas-Muller
Soverignty Summer National Campaigner
IdleNo More/Defenders of the Land
Phone:613-297-7515
http://idlenomore.ca
