Residents of Weagamow and several remote communities came together Feb. 28 to walk 140 kilometres over the winter road network in a pilgrimage of prayer for addiction-related issues in their communities. Photo courtesy Seven Youth Media/James Benson

A powerful spiritual pilgrimage took place in Ontario’s far north recently, a prayer for remote northern communities and their residents struggling with addictions and related issues.

On Feb. 28, a group of 40 residents from Weagamow First Nation and other surrounding communities set out on a difficult winter journey — walking 140 kilometres over the winter road network to Keewaywin on Sandy Lake. The journey took nearly 28 hours to complete.

The idea came from Weagamow pastor Colin Kanate who had planned the walk since the previous summer.

“It’s been so heavy on our hearts seeing our community members addicted to drugs and seeing their children starving because most of the money is going to drugs,” said Colin’s wife Nora Kanate. “We felt we have to stand up and start fighting, in our way — by praying.”

Colin Kanate walked over 40 kilometres himself, while cousin Richard Kanate logged as many as 80 kilometres in temperatures as cold as -27 degrees Celsius, and colder yet with the windchill on long stretches of open lake ice.

“It was cold and lonely,” said Colin. “But the next day it was a tremendous feeling. We had good support drivers, who brought out coffee a couple of times.”

Nora Kanate says a few children from the community also walked through the entire night

“The last 40 kilometres before reaching Keewaywin was the hardest,” said Nora. “We ran out of food and hot drinks and everybody was so exhausted. But we did it.”

By Chris Marchand