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rabble.ca will be covering the 4th annual Tar Sands Healing Walk, taking place next month, July 5-6. The following statement was released Friday, highlighting the unprecedented solidarity and support the Healing Walk has received this year. For our coverage of previous years’ actions, see the related items below.
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 5 and 6, 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 of the 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 founders of 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 in different 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, food and shelter can be made here.
Photo: www.healingwalk.org
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