Highway of Tears cleansing walk inspires song

Prince George Citizen
Jun 21, 2016

Under the branches of a Cottonwood Kym Gouchie spoke of the surroundings that inspired her latest song - a chant that reflects a local woman's efforts to cleanse the Highway of Tears.

"It felt like it came from the trees, it felt like it came from the ground and it came from the sky and it just filled the drum and the voice filled the space I was walking it," said Gouchie as the National Aboriginal Day entertainment thrummed in the background.

Gouchie joined Brenda Wilson-John on the last leg of her long journey from Prince Rupert to Prince George along Highway 16. During one five-kilometre stretch, the Lheidli T'enneh singer brought her drum.

"All of my songs come from a place that is beyond my conscious level," she said. Through the minute-long song, Gouchie chants on repeat: "We are cleansing the Highway of Tears, as we walk, as we walk."