Inspired by Idle No More movement, aboriginal youth speaking up

A new generation of aboriginal youth looks to bring change for better in their communities with a cloud and loud message through action.

The Hill Times / April. 1, 2103 by Daniel Leon Rodriguez

The federal government says it is working with aboriginal peoples on youth

issues, but opposition MPs say if that were true, 300 young people would

not have walked more than 1,600 kilometres in 68 days to make a point and

to have their voices heard on Parliament Hill last week.

“If the Conservatives had done enough for aboriginal youth, then they would not have needed to snowshoe and walk 1,600 kilometres,” NDP MP Romeo Saganash (Abitibi-Baie James-Nunavik-Eeyou, Que.), former deputy Grand Chief of the Grand Council of Crees, said last week.

Mr. Saganash welcomed, first in Cree and after in English, the Journey of Nishiyuu walkers and supporters to Parliament Hill when they arrived on March 25. “Welcome to my teepee,” he said. “Your message is a strong one, one that will resonate for a long time.”

The “Journey of Nishiyuu,” which means the “Journey of the People” in Cree, brought together over 300 people from 13 different aboriginal communities who walked in -50 degree Celsius weather from Whapmagoostui in Northern Quebec to the nation’s capital to speak up for aboriginal rights, issues affecting youth, and unity between aboriginal peoples and the Canadian federal government.

“In the House today I asked them one question—how it is acceptable that there is nothing in your budget to correct the situation that sees First Nations youth receive 30 per cent less for their education than other Canadian children?” said Mr. Mulcair.

The journey started with six Cree youths who were inspired by the Idle No More movement to protect First Nations’ environmental rights, and a hunger strike by Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence who was calling on the federal government to respect First Nations treaty rights and consult First Nations on legislation that affects them.

David Kawapit, 18, Travis George, 18, Stanley George, 17, Raymond Kawapit, 18, Johnny Kawapit, 18, and Geordie Rupert, 21, started the journey on Jan. 16, and as momentum grew, people in the communities they walked through joined them.

The group passed by various First Nations reserves in Quebec such as Chisasibi, Wemindji, Eastmain, Matagami, Washaw Sibi Eeyou, Lac Simon, Kitcisakik, Lac Tapide, and Kitigan Zibi, before arriving in Ottawa. They went through the frozen air, glacial mountains, and boreal forest of

northern Quebec walking with their mukluks and parkas up to 40 kilometres each day and sleeping in canvas-covered lodges.

More than 35,000 people across North America have been following their journey through its Facebook page where members of the communities they have visited have updated information of the journey and shared pictures of them.

Michael Polson Kawawachikmach, one of the walkers, addressed about 400 supporters on the Hill on March 25. “I saw the pain of the youth suffering. I saw Chief Theresa Spence suffering. How much does it have to take? How much more pain?” he said, asking Parliamentarians to work for Canada’s aboriginal peoples. “They say they speak for the people, but they speak for themselves.”

Matthew Coon Come, grand chief of the Grand Council of the Cree Nation, said at the Hill gathering more than 300 walkers sent a “loud and clear call for unity” that Canadians, and the federal government can no longer ignore. “There is a choice to be made in this country. We can continue to follow a path of exclusion which will only lead to further conflict and social turmoil, or we can on the other hand embark in a path of inclusion where aboriginal rights and aboriginal culture are embraced as a unique part of the fabric of this country,” he said. “It is through that genuine inclusion that we can find the means by which we can finally together inhabit this land in peace, in friendship, and prosperity.”

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair (Outremont, Que.) spoke at the event last Monday, criticizing the Conservative government on the lack of education funding in the most recent budget.

“In the House today I asked them one question—how it is acceptable that there is nothing in your budget to correct the situation that sees First Nations youth receive 30 per cent less for their education than other Canadian children?” said Mr. Mulcair. “Of course they had no answer because it is totally unacceptable that First Nation youth receive 30 per cent less for their education than other Canadian children.”

Supporters of the walk, aboriginal leaders, and opposition MPs were disappointed that Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Calgary Southwest, Alta.) was in Toronto receiving two pandas that arrived that day instead of meeting with walkers at Parliament Hill. However, at the end of the day Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt (Madawaska-Restigouche, N.B.) met with various walkers to discuss First Nations youth issues.

Meanwhile, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C.) used her only question of the week to ask other MPs to stand up and praise the walkers. “I want to sacrifice my once-a-week question, and rather than be partisan I want to give these young people who have walked all this way, these beautiful Cree and First Nations youth, something unique. Let us just give them a huge round of applause so they know that when they go back home to their families, all of us honoured them, saluted them and found them to be an inspiration,” she said.

Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul’s, Ont.), her party’s aboriginal affairs critic, went to Victoria Island to meet the walkers on their way to Parliament Hill and said last week that she was disappointed Mr. Harper did not meet them. “These young people have inspired us all with their message of hope and their plea that the government change its unilateral and paternalistic approach to aboriginal peoples in Canada,” she said.

Mr. Valcourt and other Conservative MPs praised the youth initiative and said the government is doing its part to help aboriginal peoples. “In this year’s budget, we are once again investing hundreds of millions of dollars to improve conditions in aboriginal communities across the country. We are investing in education, investment in infrastructure, and funding for the education and training of aboriginal youth,” Mr. Valcourt said in the House.

In the end, Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo told The Hill Times last week that he thought the Nishiyuu walkers journey to Ottawa was important, significant, and that it sent a message that aboriginal youth want to see changes.