We told you earlier this week about a canoe pilgrimage coming through the area.

The purpose is to raise awareness of reconciliation with indigenous people.

30 paddlers are travelling along a traditional First Nations route.

On Monday there was a ceremony welcoming the paddlers to North Bay and tonight there will be another ceremony in Mattawa at St Anne’s Parish.

Dr. Mike Degagne is chair of Reconciliation North Bay.

He says events like the one in North Bay are important because they get people involved in the reconciliation issue.

Dr. Degagne says people want to hear how they can help change things and events like this help.

He says the quintessential First Nations and Metis mode of transportation is a canoe and that’s why this event is a perfect way to do something positive on reconciliation.

General Superior Sister Bonnie MacLellan of the Sisters of St Joseph of Sault Ste Marie which hosted the event on Monday in North Bay says the pilgrimage is a journey of the heart.

She says it’s a journey of openness and reconciliation and developing new relationships by moving forward together.

Filed under: Canadian Canoe Pilgrimage, Dr. Mike Degagne, Reconciliation, Sister Bonnie MacLellan