Residential school warriors journey across the Manitoulin Swing Bridge

Traffic stopped for a short time on the iconic Manitoulin Island swing bridge Thursday morning for an event honouring residential school warriors.

The 'Blanket of Stars: A Tribute to Resilience' event saw participants receive a handmade blanket, which they wore on their journey across the bridge.

A total of 50 participants made the symbolic trek, including Elaine Nahwegahbow.

"Today was very special," Nahwegahbow said.

"I got emotional as I came across the bridge because so many people that should have been here aren’t here that didn't make it … I was in residential school for 10 years, and during that time, I lost my family."

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The poignant procession represented their long journey and their return home, with the bridge used as a metaphor bridging past and present.

They were greeted on the other side by Indigenous youth.

The event was well-documented and will hopefully be featured in a documentary at next year’s Weengushk International Film Festival.

"They're not just walking for themselves," said Lisa Wesley, Weengushk International Film Festival volunteer.

The ‘Blanket of Stars: A Tribute to Resilience’ event Thursday saw residential school warriors receive a handmade blanket, which they wore on their journey across the iconic Manitoulin Island bridge. (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV News)

"We're one big family and (we had) all these warriors from different areas. We had some from the Sault Nation. We had some from Sesame, Que. We had some from Alberta, near James Bay. So we had a lot of warriors who came together from all different areas to this one place to walk across that bridge.:

Thursday’s event kicked off the eighth annual festival, which officially gets underway tomorrow.

"The theme of the weekend was … to really focus on residential school warriors, and then using the term warriors instead of the traditional survivors," Wesley said.

"The term was used for warriors because they've endured so much during their lifetime. They've overcome so much in their lifetime."

More than 20 films will be shown at two venues over the weekend, including 'Bones of Crow' and a student film showcase.

Tickets are still available and can be found here.

Resources for sexual assault survivors in Canada

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911.

A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found at ReeseCommunity.com. Resources in your community can be found by entering your postal code. 

Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here.

National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419

24-hour crisis line: 1-416-597-8808 

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: [phone] 

Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366

Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: 1-844-750-1648

Read about your rights as a victim here.