The Walk to Remember, an awareness campaign undertaken by former Orillia and Huntsville resident Matthew Jefferson continues in Muskoka.
We caught up with Matthew during his stop in Huntsville today in advance of the public talk he’ll be giving at Trinity United Church there on Monday.
The Walk is Jefferson’s way of raising awareness about the many indigenous women who have disappeared along Canada’s notorious Highway of Tears – one of whom was his aunt, Frances Brown.
Matthew was born in Orillia and grew up in Huntsville. Already he’s spoken about his inspiring journey at Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and Bracebridge Public School.
Frances Brown went missing October 14, 2017 just outside Smithers BC on the 16 Highway like others within his band, he says. Matthew currently lives in Victoria and is a member of the Caribou Clan of Northwestern BC.
The activist says the overall issue is a systemic one that’s been happening over the last 500 years in Canada, which includes colonial expansion and residential schools.
On June 1st 2018 he started the walk in Victoria on Vancouver Island. His destination is Cape Spear in Newfoundland which he foresees himself reaching by early March.
He says there have been many memories along his journey that are keeping him humble and motivated.
One, he says, was the look on his grandmother’s face when she first saw him outside of Prince George and it spoke to him personally, given his message about the importance of breaking down barriers and differences.
His family and grandmother had come to meet him, to walk with him on the last five km into Prince George and upon their arrival, the Chief there had drummers, singers and a feast prepared for them as a welcome.
“I’m 32 years old and I’ve lived in many places across Canada,” he says. “I present white, but I am indigenous and because of that, I didn’t have the greatest relationship with my grandmother or my family and I didn’t grow up on a reservation with my culture and my language. So, this connection of hearts, energy and spirit that my grandmother and I had in Prince George – it definitely stands out in my mind as one of the most incredible moments of my life.” (Audio above)
Jefferson leaves Huntsville on December 17th, heading out the Hwy 60 exit to Algonquin Park at 8 am towards the Ottawa area.
Before that though, he gives his talk on Monday between 7:30 and 8:30 pm at Trinity United.
His message is simple – he says people of all walks of life must learn to be able to help one another regardless of differences or perceived barriers and that this spirit can help effect change on a wide number of fronts, including the tragedy of the Highway of Tears.
“Communities want to help, but they don’t know how,” he says. “They don’t know how to break through these barriers without guidance and intermediaries, a bridge, if you will. They don’t feel it’s appropriate for them to do it themselves, because they’re not indigenous, but you don’t need permission to do something fantastic for a community that needs your help.”
On June 1st 2019 he’ll be cycling back to the West Coast.
Jefferson says he began his journey at 217 pounds and is 170 pounds now.
When he isn’t put up for the night via organizations across Canada, he sleeps in his tent and says he’s seen the very best and very worst Canada has to offer.
You can help Jefferson’s Walk to Remember in many ways.
Money raised through his GoFundMe account goes towards his food and gear, for instance.
He has some sponsors already for the journey but is currently looking for a bike sponsor.
His Instagram and Facebook accounts are below:
