This month, dozens will be undertaking the challenge of walking, biking, or running 17 km from the former Mohawk Institute in Brantford to Chiefswood Park.
The run, ride and walk is a fundraiser to help build the Mohawk Village Memorial Park in honour of all who attended Mohawk Institute Residential School.
There will be aid stations every four kilometres for those running and walking, and vehicle support for those who wish to just walk a few hundred meters from the school to the Mohawk Chapel and drive the rest of the way to Chiefswood Park.
People are being encouraged to build teams and raise funds for the park, a project being spearheaded by Mohawk Institute survivors.
The walk, run and ride will start at 9 a.m. on Sept. 14th at the former Mohawk Institute, where the memorial park is slated to be located, and end at Chiefswood Park with a gathering and meal for all the participants.
“It’s been a long journey trying to get this park built,” said Roberta Hill, a Mohawk Institute survivor. “We’re going to start at the Mushhole (the nickname given to the institute in reference to the endless bowls of sticky, cold porridge the kids ate every morning).”
“John Elliott is the chief runaway,” said Hill.
Elliott, now a senior citizen, attended the Mushhole as a small child and ran away numerous times trying to escape the abuse and starvation many kids faced there.
The walk, run and ride will be symbolic of the kids who desperately tried to run away from the church-run school where accounts of rampant physical, emotional, sexual, spiritual and verbal abuse took place.
“We don’t expect people to (walk or run) the whole way unless you’re a real runner,” said Hill. “It’s more of a symbolic gesture.”
She said people are welcome to walk to the Mohawk Chapel and then get in a car and head on down to Chiefswood Park.
Chauffeurs will be available to pick people up along the way.
Afterwards, participants will gather at Chiefswood Park for a bite to eat.
The memorial park will span about five acres, to be built beside the former Mohawk Institute.
It is intended to be a place of remembrance where the dignity of survivors will be recognized and honoured.
It will be open to all individuals, families, communities and those wishing to visit the park. Included in the park will be memorials, walking paths and decorative landscaping, as well as a variety of accessible park features, including:
-a pavilion
-a fire pit/stage area
-memorial circle
-children’s play area
-orchard
-and water feature/pond.
“The park isn’t just about Six Nations kids,” said Hill. “It’s about the 60 communities of kids who were taken and sent to the Mushhole. We want to build a memorial wall that represents all of those 60 (communities).”
Anyone who wants to get involved or participate can visit www.mohawkvillagepark.com/parkwalk2024 or email Marilyn@mohawkvillagepark.com.
