Tristen Durocher and Christopher Merasty. (submitted photo/Kandis Riese)

By Derek Cornet

Suicide prevention

Duo expected to reach Prince Albert by Friday

Jul 6, 2020 | 5:16 PM

Five days into a long walk to Regina, Tristen Durocher and Christopher Merasty are thankful for cash and food donations from northerners as they head south.

“Our bodies are starting to adjust to the distance we are doing everyday,” Durocher said. “The hardest day for us was when we walked into Weyakwin. We were basically limping. It was like we had arthritis from the waist down, just aching with every step.”

The duo reached Weyakwin July 4 and were offered the community hall to spend the night. Durocher explained they slept until 10 a.m. the following morning and spent a couple hours visiting with residents of the community. They were also fed lunch and a group of residents walked 17 kms with them afterwards.

There have also been some visits from others along the way so far. Durocher mentioned former Metis Nation of Saskatchewan treasurer Mary Ann Morin stopped for a visit with a friend, who is currently recording an album with a song inspired by the string of suicides in La Ronge a few years back. Jewel Charles, who is working on art for the walk, also visited her mother Colleen Chares.

“Montreal Lake is our end goal for the night,” Durocher said at about 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon. “It’s about 21 kilometres from where we are now.”

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Durocher and Merasty are also asking for submissions from people whose loved ones have passed away from suicide. The photos will be used as a portrait gallery and displayed on the lawn of the Legislative Assembly in Regina. Those who want to make a submission can do so by messaging the Walking With Our Angels Facebook page.

“Some of those photos are of children and it breaks my heart to go through those submissions and thank their families,” Durocher said. “It pushes me to go through my blister-footed pain, because I know whatever little bodily pain I’m going through, it is incomparable.”

Durocher and Merasty expect to make it to Prince Albert within the next three days, followed by Saskatoon in eight days. If the duo receive enough donations by that time, they hope to rent a camper so they won’t have to set up a tent in open areas.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno