The Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Walk a Mile in Her Shoes walk event raised around $6,000 on Wednesday. (Submitted photo/Garth Peekeekoot)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Ahtahkakoop Walking a Mile in Her Shoes

May 6, 2021 | 4:59 PM

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women strikes a cord with the people in the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

Ashley Morin still remains missing, as she was last seen on July 10, 2018. And many family members and the rest of the community still remember Jean Lachance, whose missing case became high profile in the 1990s.

But the community came together to show their support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day with their annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event.

“It’s personal for us in Ahtahkakoop. We currently have a young lady missing from our reserve. It really hits close to home,” Garth Peekeekoot, Ahtahkakoop Health Clinic’s facility supervisor, said. “It’s our reality, as First Nations people, that women go missing. It’s an epidemic that doesn’t get mentioned enough, but I think it’s on the upswing in that area. The awareness is getting up there.”

Peekeekoot said he hopes to see around $6,000 raised when all the donations come in and are counted. Funds will go to the Prince Albert Children’s Haven.

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Prince Albert Raiders forward Dallyn Peekeekoot raised over $500 himself for the Walk in Her Shoes event. Submitted photo/Garth Peekeekoot.

His great-nephew, Prince Albert Raiders forward Dallyn Peekeekoot, was a late entry but raised a lot of money himself.

After asking how he could help, Dallyn signed up and started raising money 24 hours before Wednesday’s walk, but was still able to raise a big amount of money in that time.

“In that short span, he raised $500-$600 by himself, so he was a big boost to the cause,” Peekeekoot said. “I can’t thank him enough and I’m proud of him.”

The walk almost didn’t happen due to the pandemic, but Peekeekoot said precautions were taken.

Submitted photo/Garth Peekeekoot

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW