Nishiyuu, (ᓂᔑᔨᔨᐤ, ''Nishiyiyiu'') which means "human beings", or "modern people" in the

Cree language Cree ( ; also known as Cree–Montagnais language, Montagnais–Naskapi language, Naskapi) is a dialect continuum of Algonquian languages spoken by approximately 86,475 people across Canada in 2021, from the Northwest Territories to Alberta to ...

, refers to the journey undertaken by a group of

Cree The Cree, or nehinaw (, ), are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people, numbering more than 350,000 in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada, First Nations. They live prim ...

youth of

Eeyou Istchee Eeyou Istchee is a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) of Quebec that is represented by the Grand Council of the Crees. On July 24, 2012, the Quebec government signed an accord with the Cree Nation that resulted in the a ...

between January and March 2013, in support of the

Idle No More Idle No More is an ongoing protest movement, founded in December 2012 by four women: three First Nations women and one non-Native ally. It is a grassroots movement among the Indigenous peoples in Canada comprising the First Nations, Métis a ...

movement. It is also known as The Journey of Nishiyuu, and the group who participated as The Nishiyuu Walkers. On 16 January 2013, six young men from the community of

Whapmagoostui Whapmagoostui (, "place of the beluga") is the northernmost Cree village in Quebec, Canada, located at the mouth of the Great Whale River () on the coast of Hudson Bay in Nunavik. About 906 Cree with about 650 Inuit, living in the neighbourin ...

, situated at the mouth of the

Great Whale River The Great Whale River () is a river in Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. It flows from Lac Saint-Luson through Lac Bienville west to Hudson Bay. While the lower section of the river (after Lac Bienville) has a very powerful current, with many waterfalls ...

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 a large crowd of supporters, a rally and a huge round dance.CTVNews.ca Staff
"'Nishiyuu Walkers' complete 1,600 km trek to Ottawa"
''CTV News'', March 25, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-26. Seventeen-year-old David Kawapit, of Whapmagoostui, initiated the walk in support of Chief

Theresa Spence Theresa Spence (born 1963) is a former chief of the Attawapiskat First Nation in Canada. archived from original She was a prominent figure in the Attawapiskat housing and infrastructure crisis, Idle No More, and other First Nations issues. Prior ...

of the

Attawapiskat First Nation The Attawapiskat First Nation ( Cree: , "People of the parting of the rocks"; unpointed: ) is an isolated First Nations in Canada, First Nation located in Kenora District in northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River on J ...

, who was at the time staging a hunger strike at

Victoria Island Victoria Island () is a large island in the Arctic Archipelago that straddles the boundary between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is the eighth-largest island in the world, and at in area, it is Canada's second-largest i ...

. 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.Gloria Galloway
"Nishiyuu: A movement of Cree youth who voted with their feet"
''The Globe and Mail'', March 25, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-26. The original seven, traveling cross-country on

snowshoes Snowshoes are specialized outdoor gear for walking over snow. Their large footprint spreads the user's weight out and allows them to travel largely on top of rather than through snow. Adjustable bindings attach them to appropriate winter footw ...

, visited the communities of

Chisasibi Chisasibi (; meaning Great River) is a village and Classification of municipalities in Quebec#Aboriginal local municipal units, Cree reserved land (TC) on the eastern shore of James Bay, in Eeyou Istchee, an equivalent territory (ET) in Nord-d ...

Wemindji Wemindji () is a small Cree community on the east coast of James Bay at the mouth of the Maquatua River in Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Cree Nation of Wemindji. The community is located within the federal riding of Abitibi—Baie-Ja ...

Eastmain Eastmain (; ) is a Cree community located on the east coast of James Bay at the mouth of the Eastmain River, Quebec, Canada. It is a small coastal Cree village with a population of 924 people in the 2021 Canadian Census up from 866 people at ...

Waskaganish Waskaganish (/, Little House; ) is a Cree community of over 2,500 people at the mouth of the Rupert River on the south-east shore of James Bay in Nord-du-Québec, Canada. Waskaganish is part of the territory referred to as " Eeyou Istchee" ( ...

and

Kitigan Zibi Kitigan Zibi (also known as River Desert, and designated as Maniwaki 18 until 1994) is a First Nations reserve of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, an Algonquin band. It is situated near the confluence of the Désert and Gatineau Ri ...

, among others. 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 Parliament Hill (), colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern bank of the Ottawa River that houses the Parliament of Canada in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. It accommodates a suite of Gothic revival buildings whose ...

, on March 25. Instead of remaining at Parliament to greet the walkers, Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper made a last-minute decision to travel to the Toronto Zoo to be photographed with two pandas, earning criticism.Yahoo! News Canada
"Did Stephen Harper slight the Nishiyuu Walkers?"
''Yahoo! Canada News'', March 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-26. The Nishiyuu Walkers were met by then Liberal leadership contender

Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of Canada from 2015 to 2025. He led the Liberal Party from 2013 until his resignation in 2025 and was the member of Parliament ...

, Aboriginal affairs minister

Bernard Valcourt Bernard Valcourt (born February 18, 1952) is a Canadian politician and lawyer, who served as Member of Parliament for the electoral district of Madawaska—Restigouche, New Brunswick until he was defeated in the 2015 federal election. Early ...

, Green leader

Elizabeth May Elizabeth Evans May (born June 9, 1954) is a Canadian politician, environmentalist, lawyer, activist, and author. She has served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Saanich—Gulf Islands since 2011. May is the leader of the Green Party ...

, NDP leader

Thomas Mulcair Thomas Joseph Mulcair (born October 24, 1954) is a Canadian lawyer and retired politician who served as the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2012 to 2017 and leader of the Official Opposition from 2012 to 2015. He was elected to ...

and NDP MP

Charlie Angus Charles Joseph Angus (born November 14, 1962) is a Canadian author, journalist, broadcaster, musician and politician. A member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Angus served as the federal Member of Parliament for the riding of Timmins—Jame ...

, among others.

References

{{reflist 2013 in Canadian politics Protests in Canada Walking Algonquian languages Snowshoeing Idle No More

See also

References