Nishiyuu

Nishiyuu, (ᓂᔑᔨᔨᐤ, Nishiyiyiu) which means "human beings", or "modern people" in Cree Language, refers to an 1600 km journey undertaken by a group of Cree youth of Eeyou Istchee between January and March 2013, in support of the Idle No More movement.^[1]

On 16 January 2013, seven young men from the community of Whapmagoostui, situated at the mouth of the Great Whale River in Northern Quebec, set out on an epic walk to Ottawa. Led by an experienced guide, they walked 1600 km and arrived in Ottawa on March 25, 2013, to be met by an large crowd of supporters.^[2]

Seventeen year old David Kawapit, of Whapmagoostui, initiated the walk in support of Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation, who was at the time staging a hunger strike at Victoria Island. Kawapit was joined by fellow Cree youth Stanley George Jr, Johnny Abraham, Raymond Kawapit, Geordie Rupert, Travis George and Jordan Masty. Isaac Kawapit, 49 and an experienced trekker, acted as guide.^[3]

The Original Seven, traveling cross-country on snowshoes, visited the communities of Chisasibi, Wemindji, Eastmain and Waskaganish. On February 15, 2013 they reached Eastmain, and numbered 42 Walkers. Passing through communities on the journey south, the number swelled to 300 by the time they reached Parliament Hill, Ottawa, on March 25. Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper made last-minute decision to travel to Toronto Zoo to welcome two pandas, earning criticism.^[4] The Nishiyuu Walkers were met by Romeo Saganash, Thomas Mulcair and Bernard Valcourt.

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