Cree youth refuel Idle No More, calling for end to intolerable conditions for Aboriginal people.
by Samantha Bayard
OTTAWA , March 25, 2013 (Straight Goods News) — The Aboriginal rights movement got a boost when six aboriginal youth, who left their community on Hudson Bay January 16 to walk 1600 kilometres to Ottawa arrived on Parliament Hill today. The Nishiyuu Walkers, as they have become known, were accompanied by hundreds of others who joined along the way.
The original group from of Whapmagoostui, Quebec included six youth: Stanley George Jr, Johnny Abreaham, David Kawapit, Raymond Kawapit, Geordie Rupert and Travis George, as well as their guide Isaac Kawapit. They called the trek on foot and snowshoe "Journey of Nishiyuu," which means journey of the people in Cree. They were later joined by hundreds of others along the way before reaching their goal, where they were joined by a crowd of thousands.
"Canada has what they regard as a great group of artists they call the group of seven" said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo told the gathering. "Today the indigenous nations have their group of seven that have lifted us all up! Walkers, you have etched your names into Canadian history but you have threaded your name into the hearts of indigenous people from coast to coast to coast."
Atleo urged first nations communities represented to work together with parliamentarians, suggesting if they don’t their struggles will not improve. "The other choice in this country is where we choose not to work together, that is the more difficult path. That’s the path that leads to more conflict, that’s the path where our people don’t have proper housing, where our kids don’t have proper schools, where we don’t have clean drinking water."
Indigenous nations have their own Group of Seven – Shawn Atleo.
NDP MP Romeo Saganash, himself a James Bay Cree, welcomed the walkers and their supporters to the House of Commons, his teepee, as he called it.
Romeo Saganash and Tom Mulcair welcome the Nishiyuu Walkers.
NDP leader Tom Muclair repeated, for the rally, what he had just asked in the House. "How is acceptable that there isnothing in your budget to correct the situation that sees Aboriginal children received 30 percent less for their education than other Canadian children? It's totally unaccepable."
"One of those young walkers said when they came to people's houses, they opened their doors to them as if they were their own children," Mulcair said. Romeo and I want to open the doors here and welcome all Canadian children with equal rights, that’s our goal."
David Kawapit of Whapmagoostui First Nation, one of the original seven, said he endured temperatures a low as -50º on his trek. "This is not the end, we will continue. We started with a walk," said Kawapit.
"You have achieved your goals the Cree way, the Aboriginal way, with determiniation, with focus, and holding true to the values of our culture, which are sharing and respect," Matthew Coon-Come, Cree Grand Council Grand Chief, told the walkers. "Your journey has shown us strength and the aboriginal youth of this country can use their energies for positive goals and in inspiring ways. You have inspired not only Aboriginal youth but so many Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
"We need to have the rights of Aboriginal peoples recognized." – Matthew Coon-Come
"You began your walk as an expression of sympathy to bring attention of Canadians the unacceptable living conditions in far too many our our first nations across this country. With your walk, you've also done something else. You've sent a message. You've sent out a loud and clear call for unity among all Aboriginal people."
About Samantha Bayard
Samantha Bayard is a young journalist living and working out of Ottawa. She has been a contributor to the Straight Goods News family of websites since 2009. She is an avid cyclist and lover of animals.
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