Suicide Awareness Walk/Ride Planned For Saturday, June 5
The third annual Suicide Awareness Walk/Ride spanning the Fort Peck Reservation is set for Saturday, June 5. Participants plan to walk through the communities of Nashua, Frazer, Oswego, Wolf Point, Poplar, Brockton, Fort Kipp and Culbertson. Walkers are invited to gather at 8 a.m, in Nashua. The event is expected to wrap up in Culbertson around 6 p.m.
Organizer Clover Anaquod told the Northern Plains Independent that the event is designed to put those in need in close contact with supporters.
“The idea is to drive in a caravan through residential areas to help spread awareness,” said Anaquod. “For various reasons, people don’t usually ask for help; fear of jail, stigma, etc., so we’re hoping if we bring awareness to communities, it’ll help end the negative stigma about mental health. It’s good to ask for help.”
Anaquod said that participants may drive between locations, stopping to join the caravan as they walk through each community.
“Each community has a meeting/starting point,” said Anaquod. “As we travel from one community to the next, we can meet up at the staring points and our caravan/walkers can walk in each community if they choose.”
According to Anaquod, different organizations, businesses, schools and individuals are going to be setting up along predetermined routes in each community to hand out water and other supplies to people who choose to walk.
“We will begin with prayer and end in prayer,” said Anaquod. “We have elders and veterans and youth who will be helping with the prayers at the start and finish and before we begin each community’s route.” Organizers in each community are offering themselves up as contacts for people interested in joining the event: In Frazer, Sasha Fourstar can be reached at 406-650-5358; Wolf Point, Stacey Summers, 406-653-2324 or 406-4801189; Poplar, Freda Christian, 406-786-3316; Brockton, Olivia Johnson, 406-786-7427; Culbertson, Mary Machart, 406-787-7834.
