Walking for those who couldn’t
Residents gather to remember the children who did not survive
Kwé, nitaptuk!
Every now and again, I find myself stuck without a topic to write about. Often, I will receive a tip from community members, suggesting an event to cover or someone to spotlight. This month it was the latter.
Several weeks ago, my mother suggested writing about my friend Claire Meuse and the annual Walk to Remember. Meuse has been organizing the event for over half a decade.
A supportive group of around 50 walkers met earlier this month on a sunny, crisp afternoon at the Membertou 55+ Club (a.k.a. Wallace Bernard Seniors Centre) in preparation for the yearly tribute. Many came wearing T-shirts that read “Today We Walk the steps They never got to take.”
The Walk to Remember is usually held on a Sunday afternoon to coincide with the Oct. 15 Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. This year was my first or maybe my second time to participate and I’m glad that I did. I just love being part of something that involves bringing the community together.
I asked Meuse to share some thoughts on the Walk to Remember and why she organizes it every year.
In June 2012, Claire and husband Bill received the terrible news that they had lost their twins at 17 weeks. While at the IWK Hospital in Halifax, a nurse informed them of the Walk to Remember, and they attended their first walk that same year.
Claire’s mom, Joan, suggested she host a walk in Membertou and Sydney, as not everyone was able to travel to Halifax. It was a great idea and the first Walk to Remember in Unama’ki/Cape Breton took place in October 2013.
“Our first walk took a lot of planning and a lot of work with a few community members, from cooking the meal to making the candle bags,” said Meuse. “We made so much the first two years that I’m still using materials from then.”
Membertou’s first walk inspired other Mi’kmaw communities to do the same.
“Now Eskasoni and We’koqmaq host walks in their communities,” Meuse added.
Together, we all walked a lap around the track at Membertou’s football and powwow grounds. Drummers Bill Meuse and Karina Matthews-Denny led the walk with hand-drums and singing the Mi’kmaq Honour Song.
Family members joined in the walk, along with friends from around Cape Breton Island — grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, siblings, youth and friends offering support. Some walkers who joined us were also with child, who we hope to see join in the walk in future years.
We then returned to the Membertou 55+ Club where everyone was treated to dinner that was prepared by famous cooks Nicole Francis and Laurie Doucette. I’m still dreaming about that macaroni and hamburger, the greatest meal on any planet.
Thank you to everyone who joined in the sixth annual Walk to Remember last Sunday. A special thank you goes out to the kitchen staff who prepared dinner and also those who brought goodies.
An extra special thank you and congratulations goes to the organizers and community members who made everything possible — Claire and Billy Meuse and family. You did an amazing job. Wela’lio’q!
See you next month, Nitaptuk. N’multes.