Echoes of the Unmarked

Hello, my name is Sasha Perron. My family are survivors of the Alberni Indian Residential school. The discovery of 67 students deaths and 17 potential Unmarked graves at this institution confirms the abuse and horror the students went through.

For this reason, to support my family, survivors and raise awareness. I am called to action and committing myself to running 67km on May the 4th to raise money for the Alberni Indian Residential School Commemorative Fund. Which is raising money to build a memorial for survivors and their families.

“Echoes of the Unmarked” has a goal of calling our community to action. Acknowledging the 67 children that have been missing for so long, lifting our survivors up and raising $6700 for the memorial. I believe the more we are moved to action, the more survivors feel supported and heard.

Me and Melissa, my sister, are working with the students at Victor-Brodeur. They will be creating orange cut outs. Their cut out shapes will represent something they love, that they wish to share with the 67 children, and survivors, who might not have had the opportunity to cherish the same opportunities. They’ll write messages of love, support, friendship, compassion and of endearment. Acknowledging the presence these 67 children have made in our world, bringing their spirits to life.

We encourage you to also participate in this activity. Take a photo of your art project and post your message of support on social media with the hashtag #echoesoftheunmarked

We are also going to the school to have a movement session with them, to prepare them to run with us come May 4th. Here we will talk about the importance of movement as medicine, movement as expression, as an outlet and as self care. Share with them our experience using movement as a tool to heal, not only personally, but as a community. Share the importance of what they are doing and show them what community action looks like.

My wish is to bring light and love to the 67 children that did not make it home. Show survivors that we care and hear them, and bring us together, in action, to mourn, heal, and take some of that weight off, together, one step at a time.

May the 4th Logistics:

Start: 9am

Finish: 6-7pm

Where: Macauley Point

How: 11km Route x6

Strava route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3083910828446030532

Thank you for your support, I can't wait to see you all.

May the 4th be with you!