On a cold rainy day Feb. 28, about 100 people came out to join in the suicide prevention walk at Bob Dailey Stadium in Port Alberni.
Emcee Cliff Atleo opened the event with a prayer. Laura Moras, mother of late Daniel, who the walkers were commemorating, and his siblings were in attendance. Cassandra Martin of Tla-o-qui-aht, the organizer of the event, said the day would have been her late brother’s 19th birthday.” She said she was not aware that her brother had been depressed and the walk was meant to make people aware that there is help available to cope with depression.
Ashley Amos, co-organizer, shared her own personal experience about her spouse taking his life in 2010 and leaving behind two children. “It is not easy” she said, and thanked everyone for coming out.
Several people spoke about the event as a great beginning to start to deal with suicide in our communities.
Tony Dick, Daniel’s father, shared it was “really hard for me! I last seen my son 19 years ago,” Daniel had been taken into foster care.
Tony was visibly shaken and very emotional and, while walking the track, his family members were there to walk beside him to hold him up.
Tom Paul of Ahousaht talked about his role in helping his niece organize the event and had taken some youth from his community to learn about suicide.
Ken Watts, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Vice President, thanked Cassandra for organizing the event and said that we need to deal with this in all our communities.
The Mayor of Port Alberni Mike Ruttan was in attendance, and also acknowledged the need to bring this issue to the forefront and begin steps to address suicide.
Doug Kelly of First Nations Health Council also shared his own experience with suicide ideation at the age of 34, and thanked his mother for being there for him and the way she handled it helped change his mind about taking his own life. Kelly encouraged all young men to seek help and not be afraid of asking.
There were several support staff from the tribal council's Quu?usa team on hand to provide information and support, and they encouraged people to contact the staff or drop by their office any time, and that there are staff in all the regions of Nuu-chah-nulth territory.
Kuu-us Crisis Line staff and volunteers wore dark blue jackets and a yellow scarf for people who needed support to recognize them at the event. People can call the crisis line 24/7 no matter how small the crisis may seem.
Adult Crisis Line: 250-723-4050
Youth Crisis Line: 250-723-2040
Vancouver Island and throughout the Province of BC call 1-800-588-8717
People came from Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Huu-ay-aht, Chilliwack, Gold River and Port Alberni.
To begin the walk, Quu?usa invited people to go through the hoop of cedar to ground themselves. Just before people started the walk it stopped raining and the sun appeared.
Cassandra hopes to make this an annual event in memory of Daniel.
