Reconciliation Walk
Walk in the Spirit of Reconciliation
“The sacred walk is a distinctly Canadian and Indigenously flavoured act of political, spiritual and social witness.”
~ Bishop Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Bishop, Anglican Church of Canada
Feel free to join the Walk at anytime throughout the three days. This event is open to everyone to join us for the whole walk, part of the walk, or come at the beginning or end to show support! Walk for as long as you can. Vehicles will be available to bring people to the end point for the closing circles and then back to parking.
Route and Schedule:
Friday, May 25, 2018, 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Fort Langley to 88th & Nathan Creek Trans Canada Trail Entrance
Parking at Fort Langley Historic Site
We gather at 5:30pm on the front lawn of the Fort Langley Historic Site in the Salmon Walk area to the right of the front doors. (see our banner for exact gathering spot).
At 6:00pm we shall share in an opening ceremony for all ages to reflect on the journey of the children from Kwantlen and other Nations to the Residential schools to which they were taken.
After personal reflection and ritual, we will walk from the Fraser River in Fort Langley along River Road to 88th & Nathan Creek Dyke Entrance.
There will be a closing circle for the day at the End. A Bus will transport all walkers back to the Fort Langley Historic Site Parking Lot by around 8:30pm.
Saturday, May 26, 2018, 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
88th & Nathan Creek TCT Trail Entrance to Matsqui Trail / Mission Bridge Picnic Area
Parking at Fort Langley Historic Site
At 8:45am, the bus will depart from Fort Langley Historic Site Parking Lot to bring walkers to start point gather for an opening circle at 9:00 am at 88th & Nathan Creek TCT Trail Entrance
Some walkers may choose to walk approximately 2km along the dyke and 80th and be picked up at 172 Street / 80th Avenue to be transported to Mt. Lehman Community Hall, 6418 Mount Lehman Rd, Abbotsford, for an engagement activity about reconciliation.
Walkers will continue along the Trans Canada Trail through the streets of Aldergrove and Abbotsford, and arrive for lunch and a mid-day reconciliation circle at Mt. Lehman Community Hall.
The Matsqui Trail is flooded out again, so we may only walk a short distance to Douglas Park and back, and return to Mt. Lehman Community Hall to engage in continued practices and conversation about reconciliation. IF, by chance, we get word that there is support that is needed by the Kwantlen, Katzie or Matsqui people, we will bus those who are willing and able to lend a hand as an act of reconciliation.
After a closing circle, the bus will transport all participants back to Fort Langley Historic Site Parking Lot late afternoon.
Sunday, May 27, 2018, 2:00 - 8:00 pm
Matsqui Trail / Mission Bridge Picnic Area to Fraser Heritage Park, Mission
at the Long House, near the previous site of St. Mary's Residential School.
Followed by Closing Ceremony and Feast
Parking at Mission Bridge Picnic Area, parking lot or along Riverside & Tall Rd, Abbotsford.
We will park and begin to gather between 2-2:30pm under the Mission bridge in the picnic area. At 2:30pm we will begin our work with an opening circle.
Walkers will depart by 3:00pm to journey across the Mission Bridge to the Fraser Heritage Park.
Non-walkers will be transported by bus to Fraser Heritage Park and the original site of St. Mary's Residential School. We will journey around the park and engage in activities about the residential schools and reconciliation.
All participants will gather at the Long House in Fraser Heritage Park for a closing ceremony with ritual and release, and a feast.
Bus will transport all participants to Parking at Mission Bridge Picnic Area after closing ceremony and feast.
Maps and details of each day will be provided to all walkers We look forward to seeing you this year!
Langley Churches of Reconciliation are hosting this Walk:
Anglican Church of Canada - Diocese of New Westminister, Christian Reformed Church, Mennonite Church - British Columbia, United Churches of Langley, Willoughby Church.
We hope you will join for any/all of the days as we walk in lament and solidarity with your First Nations brothers and sisters whose families have been affected by the residential schools for many generations. As anyone of our human family have been affected, we are all affected.