12-year-old Theland Kicknosway, of Walpole Island First Nation, completed a 134 kilometer run Saturday to raise funds for the families of Canada's missing and murdered indigenous women.
Theland started his ambitious journey at the Kitigan Zibi Alongquin Community near Maniwaki, QC on Wednesday and finished four days later at the spot in Gatineau Park where a pregnant 27-year-old Kelly Morrisseau was found clinging to life in 2006. Morrisseau died hours later at the hospital leaving behind three children.
"Having to be here and showing our support for women like Kelli is something that will be with me for this entire journey," said Kicknosway after a prayer for Kelly and the other murdered women.
Kicknosway first floated the idea of a run when he was just nine year's old. He said he wanted to help the children of Canada's roughly 1,200 missing and murdered indigenous women. In two years Kicknosway has raised about $4,000 for Sisters in Spirit.
'I asked my mom where the children go of the missing and murdered indigenous women and she said 'I don't know'," he said.
"Running for them is something that has really helped me grow up and grow into the man, that, from what I used to be."
Kicknosway has planned for each of the next two years and by then he hopes the newly launched inquiry will be complete. He said he hopes his runs will raise awareness and ultimately help bring an end to the violence once and for all.
"Every year and every day and every minute, thinking of them is something that will be with me for the rest of my life," he said.
