March with Arch honoured at the College in Quesnel

The March with Arch has a new short documentary honouring its healing journey.

The new documentary was shown during a presentation about Archie Chantyman’s annual 700-kilometre walk from Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation to St. Joseph’s Mission at the North Cariboo Community Campus at the College of New Caledonia.

The five-minute film detailed Archie’s start of this year’s March, on his birthday, on September 5, which finished on October 5.

Lhoosk’uz Dene elders, and Archie’s sister were in attendance, and after the film, Archie spoke on why he started his healing journey as a residential school survivor.

Archie detailed his struggles with addiction and substance abuse, his struggle to appreciate and accept his Indigenous heritage at first, and the traumas he still carries as a survivor.

Now, what started as one man’s healing journey has grown into a powerful act of remembrance, resilience, and community healing.

“With this walk, I want to show the world we’re still alive and thrive,” Archie said in his speech. “I still carry it all with me, the pain, the struggle. But I also carry our language and our lessons with me.”

The March with Arch travels through five Indigenous nations Nazko First Nation, the Lhtako Dene Nation, ?Esdilagh First Nation, Xatśūll First Nation, and the Williams Lake First Nation

“Each of the nations could have imposed war on us, in our initial trespassing,” Archie said, reflecting on his first walk. “But they didn’t. Instead, they opened their hearts to us and allowed me to heal. Since then, we’re healing together.”

The hope coming out of the presentation is that the lessons and compassion Archie shared can be carried forward by the youth. Elders say they are happy that their youth do not have to go to residential schools, and they hope the lessons will be carried by the youth to further understanding and reconciliation into the future.