The Okanagan Nation Alliance Unity Run, which aims to bring about awareness about suicide and violence issues, entered Castlegar on Thursday. The run began earlier in the day at Christina Lake. The runners were at Selkirk College in the evening for the opening ceremony which included speeches from several dignitaries, dinner, and sleeping in the gym.
The runners were up early this morning (Friday) for smudge and prayer followed by the second leg of the Unity Run, which goes to New Denver.
The run, which circles the Canadian portion of the Okanagan Nation, will finish on Sunday, June 3, in Revelstoke. Suicide and violence among Aboriginal youth has long been a tragic occurrence. Recently, a state of emergency has been declared by the Cowichan Tribe on Vancouver Island after four suicides and 48 suicide attempts since January.