National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Matthew Coon Come welcomed Ophelia Kamenawatamin at the end of her walk to raise funds for dialysis equipment for the new hospital in Sioux Lookout. Her journey started at the Ontario-Manitoba border Aug. 6. Her route took her through Northern Ontario, then Toronto and finally Ottawa. Kamenawatamin ended her ‘Walk for Life’ at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 2. Her efforts and those of other volunteers were to benefit patients requiring dialysis who must relocate to the South for treatment. Their forced relocation imposes great hardships on families and patients alike. They also raised public awareness for adequate housing, especially in small towns like Sioux Lookout.
