After 430 kms, eight runners reached Halalt First Nation on Sept. 22 to rest.

They were on the road for the annual Heliset Hále (Awaken Life Within You) relay, an event  started in 2013 by Kelly Paul of Tsartlip First Nation.

Kelly Paul

“Our people have been asleep for way too long and it’s time to wake up,” Paul said. “That is what we are encouraging. We are here to celebrate life, to strengthen one another, and let our
spirits live.”

The mission of the Heliset Hále organization started by Paul is to promote suicide prevention across Vancouver Island by gathering First Nation communities together to openly speak about suicide and to bring healing to those who have lost family members and friends to suicide.

The runners started the 535 km relay in Port Hardy and ended the run at Pauquachin First Nation in West Saanich on Sept. 25.

“It is something that was uplifting and healing,” Paul said of the first relay in 2013. “So, we decided to do a relay run every, September which is suicide prevention month.”

Halalt members shared a meal with the runners and shared their stories as a way to inspire positive change.