FORT PECK RESERVATION — Community members from across the Fort Peck Reservation came together for the Carlisle Boarding School Repatriation Awareness Walk, a day-long journey honoring the lives of three Fort Peck children who will soon return home from the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.

The walk began Friday morning at Porcupine Creek near Nashua, with participants setting out on foot to raise awareness about the upcoming repatriation of Christine Redstone, Peter Howe, and Richard Morgan. Throughout the day, supporters joined the walkers at various points along the route while others followed in a caravan, offering encouragement, water, and supplies.

As the miles passed, the walk became more than a physical journey. It served as a visible reminder of the lasting impact of the federal Indian boarding school era and the importance of bringing the children home with dignity and respect.

Despite the long distance and summer heat, participants continued well into the evening. Community members gathered along the route to show their support as the group made its way across the reservation.

The Awareness Walk finally concluded at approximately 2 a.m. by the Big Muddy Creek Bridge on the east end of the reservation, marking the end of a remarkable day of perseverance, remembrance, and unity.

The event was organized by the Fort Peck Tribes Cultural Preservation Department and the Tribal Historic Preservation Office as part of ongoing efforts leading up to the September repatriation of the three children. Their remains are expected to return to Fort Peck after more than a century away from home.

For many participants, the walk represented an opportunity to honor children who never had the chance to return to their families during their lifetimes. Each step symbolized the community’s commitment to remembering those lost to the boarding school system and ensuring they are welcomed home with the respect they deserve.

The upcoming repatriation will mark a historic moment for the Fort Peck Tribes as Christine Redstone, Peter Howe, and Richard Morgan are laid to rest on their homeland, surrounded by the people and culture from which they were taken generations ago.