Kevin Redsky is from the community of Shoal Lake No. 40, a reserve near Kenora. A sergeant with the Anishnabek Police Service, he's posted out of Curve Lake First Nation.
With 15 years in, Redsky's work as an officer has put him in contact with at-risk youth, missing persons cases and, sadly, youth suicide. Every day in Canada, 10 people die by suicide. First Nations communities, particularly remote and northern ones, have known the scourge of teen suicide more than most. And first responders, frontline community workers and police see this reality in ways few could imagine.
The services they provide gives special insight into gaps in the system. Redsky (pronounced "Red Sky") felt compelled to act, to do something to help young people feel like they weren't carrying the burden alone. What the kids need to know, he feels, is that people care and that someone is there, ready to listen, to help carry the load.
Redsky has called for a united message of concern for youth across the country. So, he's walking across Canada to bring attention to that message.
"This was a call for action for police officers to stand up and show youth that we genuinely care for their well-being," Redsky said.
Thus was born, the Hope in the Darkness National Walk for Youth Mental Health.
On April 1, the East Coast team began its walk in Cape Spear, Nfld. On May 15, the West Coast team left Haida G'waii, the western most point in Canada. The teams are to meet up in Winnipeg, Man., on Aug. 3, for a ceremony and celebration of Canada's young people.
When Sudbury.com caught up with Redsky and those who joined him on the walk, Redsky described the legs of the journey as the lighting of four matches. The matches also appear on the t-shirts that walkers have been wearing. The first match was lit on the East Coast and signifies beginning the conversation.
The second recognizes missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. It was lit in British Columbia where the Hope in the Darkness West Coast team spent four days walking on the Highway of Tears, the tragic stretch of the TransCanada Highway between Prince George and Prince Rupert, B.C. where between 19 and 40 or so women, mostly Indigenous, have gone missing or have been found murdered.
Hope in the Darkness' third match will be lit in Thunder Bay where the issue of racism will be discussed, an issue the city has struggled with in recent years. The fourth and final match will be lit in Winnipeg, where the topics of mental health and child welfare will addressed.
"It's all about creating awareness for mental health, youth mental health," Redsky said. "Our message is that we want to be out here listening to youth to find out what's working what's not working and to interact with frontline mental health workers. We think that they (the youth and frontline staff) do have the answers."
On June 20, health workers from the Parry Sound Native Friendship Centre, staff and officers from Greater Sudbury Police Service, Still River OPP Const. Mark Philips and Sudbury OPP Const. Francis Endanawas participated in the Sudbury leg of the walk.
Redsky said he was really honoured by their presence.
"If you look behind me now all these are police officers out of Sudbury police services," he said. "We're really thankful for them coming out and that's the whole point: to unite to do this for the youth. We're really happy they came in today."
Young people are encouraged to come out to the walks where they can engage in dialogues with officers in a culturally-safe, supportive and empowering space. Active and retired officers have been taking part as walkers and as safety escorts. Most detachments are donating to youth mental health initiatives throughout the walk.
If you'd like to join the walk as it moves toward Thunder Bay, check out the Hope in the Darkness website for information about the routes.
Today (June 21), Hope in the Darkness moves from Whitefish to Mckerrow; on Friday, June 22, from Mckerrow to Walford; Saturday, June 23, from Walford to North Shore-Serpent River; and Sunday, June 24 from North Shore to Huron Shores.
The walk will arrive in Thunder Bay on July 13. Anyone interested in supporting Hope in Darkness can support the GoFundMe campaign. You can also purchase t-shirts from the teams of walkers by safely pulling over if you happen to see the escort passing through your community.
