In January 2007, Elder Margaret Lavallee was following media coverage of the 12-year-old child who was impregnated by her grandfather. She was outraged, first, by how could the grandfather impregnate his granddaughter, then horrified that the community rallied behind the grandfather and not the child. The mother and child were exiled from their community.
Elder Margaret Lavallee wanted to take some sort of action and contacted then Children’s Advocate Billie Schibler. In discussions with Billie, it was decided that they would call upon strong Aboriginal women/leaders and Grandmothers to gather to see what could be done to put a stop to the abuse of our children and further to send a message to the children/ youth that they are victims of abuse, that their voices and cries are heard and that they are not alone.
Kookum Kaa Na Da Maa Waad Abinoojiiak Council “Grandmothers Protecting our Children” was formed in February 2007. September 21 was chosen as the date (because of the Fall Equinox – changing of seasons) for the Annual Sacred Walk. The Sacred Walk was chosen to deliver the message to the communities all over that “Children are sacred” and that the Grandmothers are saying “no more” abuse against our children.
September 21, 2007 marked the first year of the Annual Sacred Walk with 500 walking with the Grandmothers.
The Grandmothers Protecting our Children are strong in their walk and message that they are reclaiming their rightful roles as the protectors and speakers for our children.
Since September 21, 2007, the lighting of the sacred fires for our children were lit in the four directions of Manitoba and this has grown in numbers. The Sacred (Medicine) Walk is an annual event that has spread all over the world.
The Kookums now are connected to the Grandmothers Councils in Austrailia, New Zealand and Hawaii. There has been a sacred walk and lighting of fire by the women in Chile as well.
Former AMC Grand Chief Ron Evans has been a huge part of the Kookums Sacred Walk. He has walked with the Kookums since 2007 and has invited (November 5, 2007) the Kookums to sit with the Chiefs when discussions were held about the children.
The Grandmothers Protecting our Children have in the past two years gone to the street where our children and youth are being expolited to give them the message that they are loved and the Kookums are here and will remain here as their voice. The Kookums have decided that they will visit the grandaughters and grandsons at least four times per year.
The Kookums went on various trips as well to encourage other Kookums to walk with them in their communities.
The KooKums message:
“Our Voice is a gift from Creator” “the hurt of one is the hurt of all” “the honor of one is the honor of all”
We the Kookums council hear the cries of our children. It is our responsibility as “WISDOM KEEPERS” to bring our communities together, raising awareness wherever there is violation to the human spirits of our children
“We will not remain silent”
