(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Brighter future

Pelican Narrows going the distance to support family and friends struggling with depression

Jul 15, 2019 | 5:00 PM

A group of youth from Pelican Narrows have embarked on a long trip to raise awareness about mental health and suicides.

The group is travelling by bike to Lac Ste. Anne and hope to arrive by Sunday. Jason Linklater, capital manager of health services for Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, is with the group and told paNOW despite some stormy weather, they’ve been making good progress.

“Our goal is to reach 100 km a day,” he said.

The group has six bikes and roughly 12 to 15 riders so the youth have an opportunity to take breaks.

This flag bears the names of all the people lost to suicide in the community. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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Linklater, who originally planned to do the ride himself, said the goal of the trip is to raise awareness about the ongoing issues in the community. He explained youth in the community struggle with anxiety, depression and addictions.

“So far this year we have had three suicides and that’s just in our community,” he said.

At a community walk July 9, youth in the community told Linklater they wanted to go on the ride with him. Linklater said he was very proud to see the youth in the community take ownership of the idea.

“They want to make a difference because it is their family and friends who are affected,” he said. “This is just one small event and we are hoping to get more people involved in other activities.”

One of the older youth on the trip is 21-year-old Dakota Custer. He said he wanted to support his family and friends, and help motivate them.

“On the gravel roads it’s pretty rough and you lose your energy pretty fast because of the big rocks and all the flies around you,” he said.

The traler dons messages of hope. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Samara Linklater, 15, said she suffered with depression for four years. After multiple attempts to commit suicide, Linklater would turn down a better path, after losing a close friend.

“It made me think a lot about how I need to appreciate life more,” she said. “We need to show people that are in depression that people like us care.”

Linklater, whose personal goals now include finishing high school, and earning her driver’s license, said one day she would like to get into politics and be a leader in her community.

“If you wanted your future to be bright, then you have got to make better choices right now and know you are never alone in this world,” she said.

nigelmaxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell