|
This will be the message board that shares our experiences, strengths and hopes with all who wish to participate with our cause.
 Well.... it's the 4th year now the walk has occured. Amazingly, i been on all of them. Its such a well worth cause as I see It. Suicide, soo many are afraid to talk about that, its hard to, but, whoever is thinkin that way, should. I kno its tuff, but you will feel better. The pain of loosing someone is just so great, especially if its to suicide. Personally I think suicide is selfish. The person who attempts or commits is only thinkin about themself, and their problems. If they due commit to this, it will create a bigger problem to the loved ones. I can sit here and write this probly for a few days tryin to get all the ways I am affected by suicide. No one should go through the pain of losin someone to this. Death is natural, but u shouldnt take your own life. Everyone has troubles, no matter who you are; celebrity, rich, or average joe. Suicide knows no color, age, or financial state. If you are thinkin bout this, talk to someone, think of the ones closest to you, think of the affect you will have on them. I bet i wouldnt be good. I think its like a chain. One person kills themself, then someone tight with them will, whether its a friend, family member or whatever. I would rather have no reason to do this walk, sad to say, something has to be done. Youth are bringin this up, so it must be a problem. We have to deal wit this somehow, everyone in this world. This world is twisted, but it is also the most beautiful place. Everyone in this world should do something, the president, prime minister, or even people like you and I.
Well, My name is Reno Trimble (Mather). I am 21 years of age, and this is my 4th year doin this walk. I am Tsimshian and Nisga'a Nation. My home town is Prince Rupert B.C. My reserves are Port Simpson, and Kincolith. I currently live in Vancouver B.C. I am doin well for myself, happy to say. On these walks, I've grown to learn that there is alot of people who care and want to do somthing. Thank all of you who support us; in your prayers, walking with us, donations, or whatever you do to help. This wouldnt be possible without you. I dont want to make you sit here and read all night so I am gonna stop now. Thank you for taking the time to read my bio.
 My name is Charlotte Qamaniq-Mason, I am 19 years old and this is my 2nd year on this walk.
I spent my childhood years in Igloolik, Nunavut and when I was about 8 years old my family moved to Iqaluit, Nunavut. I was raised there until 2002 when we moved again to Ottawa, Ontario where I currently reside.
Growing up in Nunavut where the suicide rate is now 11 times higher than the National average, I know of many people who have taken their lives through suicide. I also know of the friends and family members of those who have commited suicide who are painfully affected by this, and I believe that many of the deaths, and much of this pain, could be prevented if people talked about the issue. Thats only one of the reasons why I am on this walk, to send the message out to all people to talk about suicide and how it affects you because it really does help. I am walking for those people who have committed suicide so they are not forgotten, I am walking for all people everywhere who have lost a loved one to suicide, I want to send a message of hope for all those who are considering committing suicide. I want them to know that there are people who care and that there are people who want to help. A group of youth walking across the country to raise the awareness is proof that nobody is alone.
Its really hard to do this walk, and I can honestly say that walking is the easiest part. It is really mentally and emotionally draining to speak about such a sensitive topic, but Im happy to be doing this for our country and for so many Inuit in Nunavut who seem to think that there is no hope at all and resort to suicide. Im hoping that by my participation in this walk Im doing something for Nunavut and for my people, in hopes of helping or even saving someone from suicide.
 My name is Chasity Meuse and I am Mi'kmaw from Indian Brook First Nation in Shubenacadie Nova Scotia. This is my first time on the Youth Suicide Prevention Walk with the walkers. I first met the Youth Suicide Prevention Walkers in Indian Brook on March 18th, 2006. They came to walk with our community to help raise awareness and to remember those who have taken their lives by their own hands. This really touched me and inspired me to want to do more, that is why I joined the walk. I walk for my community, I walk for my family, friends, loved ones and everyone who has been affected by suicide. I know that when my little beautiful 14 year old cousin took her life it really impacted me deeply. I felt that her death could have been anyone in our community, and it could have very well be my little brother or sister, as they were very close in age. Those people who have taken their lives have left behind loved ones, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, friends... I walk for them too. Every single suicide on my reserve has had an impact on my life and has made me feel strongly about helping our people. If there is one thing that I can tell someone who is contemplating suicide is to reach out and get some support because you are worth living on this earth. Life isn't easy and we all need to work on it and we should not feel ashamed to ask for help.
I have met many incredible people so far on this journey and have learned a whole lot. This walk is difficult at times, yet it has shown me so many beautiful and mind boggling things. I thank everyone who has prayed for me and who has kept me in their thoughts. I thank my family for taking care of my son. I thank the walkers on this walk for being such incredible ambassadors and beautiful people, you have all taught me so much! Please visit my personal website I created for the walk coast2coastchas.piczo.com and drop me an email at chasinthecity@hotmail.com. I do not have access to a computer often, but when I do I will drop a line back. Thank you, Welalin!
 Hello! My name is Elyse Sue-Zanne Mather. My nations are Tsimshian and Nisga’a. I was born in Prince Rupert B.C and moved to Vancouver B.C in the summer of 2000. I moved around a lot between the years of 2002-2004 back and forth from Prince Rupert to Vancouver. But now I live back in Vancouver.
This [2005] is my first year on the walk. The walk is going good, so far. I am personally affected by suicide by knowing people that are close to me that have attempted it. Also I have thought about it my self. I grew up on a reserve seeing nothing but drunks most of the time, I never got to see my mom much because drinking has got a hold of her. I started to think that no one cared for me, and I was seeing a lot of drinking so I was thinking in my head “well their drinking, it looks like fun, maybe if I drink I’ll have fun!” then I started to get older, drinking has become a really bad habit for me, and I was always thinking of committing suicide because I thought no one cared. Now I have scars on my wrist that I cant get rid of. I had a lot of problems; I never really talked about it because I was always scared to tell it. But by me telling my stories is helping me.
I am doing this walk because I want to get my message across by saying “if u have a problem…don’t hold it down…because its only going to pile up and blow up in a year or so! I have learned that the hard way. Set some goals. Look around you. You have a lot of family members and friends that care for you, if you think that they don’t, why would they be sitting beside you talking to you.
 Hello my name is Emily Williams, I am 14 years old. I live in Duncan B.C. I am from Cowichan Tribes. In Cowichan Tribes 6 tribes came together to form one tribe, I am from Somena.
This [2005]is my first year on the walk. It’s so exciting, and it’s just great that I get to meet all these awesome people. I think the hardest thing isn’t walking, its trying to live/survive with the walkers, because we all come from different backgrounds and upbringings/habits, we clash sometimes, but it’s just so FUN!! Personally I think the walk is helping me understand the native culture so much more than a textbook could teach me. I think it’s giving me a perspective on how our reserves function across Canada.
I am personally affected by suicide because about a year ago I walked into a bathroom and saw my friend attempting suicide. I realized how much that hurt me and I couldn’t understand the hurt it would affect a community if a person actually did commit suicide. When one person commits suicide, it brings the whole community down and they begin mourning, when they should be happy, because suicide shouldn’t affect our reserves so greatly. I am personally happy that I could join this walk across Canada and change our reserves for the better.
 My name is Candice Clappis and I am 21 years old from Huu-Ay-Aht First Nation on the
west coast of Vancouver Island. First off, I would just like to say that the walk
is the best thing that ever happened to me. Just the experiences and healing I went
through while on the journey of my life. Here are a few journal entries of how I felt
just before the walk.
I was depressed, crying all the time, wanting to sleep all the time, drinking, missing my mom. All I wanted to do was be with my dad. I always want to be with him when I am feeling down, missing my mom. He's always known how to make me smile and feel better. But he wasn't around much or he was too busy to visit or phone. This made me cry more. I felt like he....or anyone else for that matter didn't care or even love me. So I got more and more depressed, I cried more and everything just kept messing up. I started heavily drinking and not caring about anything in my life. I didn't want to live, I didn't want this pain anymore. I felt nobody understood why I was depressed. I guess it would have helped a whole lot more if I knew how to express my feelings March is around the time when I heard what had actually happened to my mom, how she really left us, committed suicide. She passed away in August, that's 7 months of not knowing. It was like losing her all over again. It's no fun having 2 (death) anniversaries a year. It is more hard for me around March. I don't even think about it, it just comes to me, the depression, the hurt, the pain, the crying. My body, mind and heart all know all remember this time of year..And I just break down crying in the middle of a good day. Here is another journal entry: I will have to realize that death is just a part of life. I am scared of SUICIDE though. Why would someone consider suicide? Troubled life? Not feeling loved? There's lots of stuff! I've considered a few times in my short life. This is...I guess..why I still want to be free and help out as much as I can! I don't want to lose another to this DISEASE! I feel it is a disease anyways. It can't be "passed on". Sort of like alcoholism. it's like a cycle...My grandmother was suicidal, my mom and now me? A CYCLE? I want to be the one to "break" that cycle by not attempting or committing suicide. I want to help others so that they too can help stop this "DISEASE".
Does this make sense at all?
I just know I don't want to go through this pain again or anyone else to go through it for that matter...and I for sure don't want to be one responsible for putting someone through that kind of pain.
Well, that's a few of my journal entries, had a hard time writing the first one. I did do sooo much crying before the walk. After going on the walk and talking about how I felt all the time made me feel so much better. Was a hard thing to do. Very hard for me, to talk in front of big groups of people. But it was all well worth it. I guess the message I'd like to get out there is JUST TALK ABOUT IT...EXPRESS!! It really does help. There is so much I would like to say, but not too sure if there is room. If you'd like I have an email address anyone is welcome to email me about anything.
 
|