Innu doctor to walk across Quebec aboriginal communities

An Innu doctor from Quebec is about to undertake another leg of a 4,000-kilometre walk.

Dr. Stanley Vollant started walking between First Nations communities in the province two years ago to inspire young people to dream.

He wants to discuss cultural identity and goals with youth, and he plans to meet with elders and learn about traditional medicine.

His walk is called the Innu Meshkenu, or Innu Trail.

Over the course of five years he plans to visit all the aboriginal communities across Quebec, from Labrador to the southern parts of the province.

He begins another leg of his walk on Tuesday, Feb. 21. He and several dozen aboriginal and non-aboriginal people, including elders,will walk 290 kilometresto visitthe province's three Attikamekh communities.

"We're going to know more about the Attikamekh, their history, their territory, and their culture. So maybe at the end of the two weeks I'm going to speak fluently Attikamekh," said Vollant.

"It's going to be the first time, for a long, long timemaybe 50 years, that the Attikamekh are walking again on their territory."

Vollant and the group will also walk through the forest between the Mauricie and Lanaudire regions of Quebec. He will also complete part of his journey by snowshoe and traditional sled. Along the way, they will visit the Attikamekh communities of Manawan, Wemotaci and Obedjiwan.

Since 2010, Vollant has walked a total of 620 kilometres.

Vollant works at the medical clinic in Pessamit, Que., and is the First Nations health coordinator for the University of Montreal.