Swinomish step up, host cross-country marchers

Folks from all walks of life taking the walk of their lives had a chance to put their feet up awhile on Swinomish Reservation last week.

About 20 people walking across America to call attention to the ravages of substance abuse and domestic violence made Swinomish an early stop on their nearly 3,000-mile, five-month trek between Lummi and Washington, D.C.

The group was greeted Tuesday night by Swinomish Tribal Senate chair Brian Cladoosby, Tribal Senator Barb James, and members of the Swinomish Canoe Family, among others, who offered lodging, a hot meal, blankets for travel and words of encouragement.

“They support a lot of worthy causes and they come from all over,” said a Swinomish Youth Center staff member who helped prepare and serve dinner to the group. “One guy was from Japan. Another was from California.”

Swinomish made them feel at home.

“I was honored,” said Swinomish Youth Center Kitchen Manager Cathi Edwards, “to help support people who are trying to make a change. Not just for themselves, but for all different types of people dealing with these issues.”

The hospitality was much appreciated.

Bobby Wallace, coordinator of the current edition of The Longest Walk, thanked his hosts, stressing that great things can happen when everyone works together.

Wallace is hopeful the cross-country trek will help reinforce programs and policies – and perhaps even lead to new legislation – designed to reduce the impact of domestic violence and drug and alcohol addiction.

The walk is scheduled to conclude with a major rally July 14 in the nation’s capital.

This year’s route will take walkers across a northern route including Washington state, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin, then going through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. Previous walks have taken middle and southern routes to Washington, D.C.

Along the way, walkers will collect data related to addiction and violence for inclusion in a report that will be submitted to Congress.

The intent is to foster an approach to tackling addiction and violence issues that also combines spiritual, educational, and community-building strategies.

The Longest Walk is steeped in history. It was launched 40 years ago by the late Dennis Banks, a co-founder of the American Indian Movement (AIM). He lost his own granddaughter to domestic violence.

The 1978 walk symbolized the forced marches of Native Americans from their lands and was intended to increase awareness among lawmakers on topics related to human rights and treaty obligations.

As far as the present walk goes, the stop at Swinomish was literally a step in the right direction.