‘March with Arch’ concludes in Quensel with award presentation

QUESNEL — A 700 kilometre journey hailed healing for Archie Chantyman concluded yesterday in Quesnel. 

Chantyman, a member of the Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation is a second-generation residential school survivor from Quesnel who help the ‘March with Arch’ walk from his home community to the St. Joseph’s Mission in Williams Lake and back. 

Upon completing the march on Saturday, Chantyman was awarded with the B.C. Medal of Good Citizenship. 

“This walk is an act of personal and communal healing, symbolizing resilience, remembrance and renewal. The journey honours those affected by the residential school system while affirming the strength of First Nations people in B.C. Through this powerful initiative and his presentations at community events, Archie fosters dialogue, education and intergenerational understanding among Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences. His work encourages reflection on shared history and supports meaningful reconciliation grounded in respect and action,” reads the award description from the B.C. Government.