For Immediate Release

Final Walk to Prevent Youth Suicide and Create Unity

VANCOUVER, BC (June 15, 2006)

The Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Walkers began their last walk across Canada on March 14,  2006 to raise awareness of youth suicide and bring peoples attention to the prevention of this tragic epidemic in Aboriginal communities.  Starting in Sydney, Nova Scotia, five youth – Reno Trimble, 22, Tyler Joseph, 21, Ed Melerum, 25 and Tom Watts, 21 are relay walking until they reach the parliament buildings in Victoria, BC on June 21, 2006, National Aboriginal Day. 

The Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Walk is a group of youth walkers and support staff and volunteers who have walked from Nanaimo, BC to Ottawa, Ontario in 2003, 2004 and 2005.  This is the final walk to complete the circle; this walk is for the White race.  In 2003 they walked for the Red race, in 2004, they walked for the Yellow race and in 2005, they walked for the Black race.  The theme for the walk is to create Unity, no matter who you are and where you come from.

On the walk, they carry their important message of hope to Aboriginal youth living on reserves across Canada, as well as speaking at junior high schools, high schools, juvenile detention centres and Friendship centres.  They have taken their message directly to the previous Prime Minister Paul Martin and Grand Chief Phil Fontaine on their 2005 walk.

“By bringing suicide to the forefront and by working with our Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal partners, we can begin to make a difference and strengthen our people and communities,” said Vincent Watts who has been instrumental in the Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Walks each year. 

Our Elders say, “That silence is deadly when we pretend the problem is not there, communication is a healer to break that silence.”

For more information, contact:  Vince Watts
250-619-5021