Nishiyuu facts for kids

Nishiyuu (pronounced Nee-shee-yoo) is a special word from the Cree language. It means "human beings" or "modern people." This name was given to a long, important journey that a group of Cree young people from Eeyou Istchee in Canada took in 2013. They walked about 1600 kilometers (that's about 1000 miles!) to support a big movement called Idle No More. This journey is also known as The Journey of Nishiyuu, and the young people who walked are called The Nishiyuu Walkers.

The Nishiyuu Journey: A Walk for Change

This journey began on January 16, 2013. Six brave young men from a community called Whapmagoostui in Northern Quebec decided to walk all the way to Ottawa, Canada's capital city. Whapmagoostui is located near the Great Whale River. They had an experienced guide with them.

Why the Journey Started

The idea for this amazing walk came from a 17-year-old named David Kawapit. He was from Whapmagoostui. David wanted to show support for Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation. At that time, Chief Spence was doing a hunger strike on Victoria Island. A hunger strike is a way to protest by refusing to eat, to draw attention to important issues.

David was joined by other young Cree men: Stanley George Jr, Johnny Abraham, Raymond Kawapit, Geordie Rupert, Travis George, and Jordan Masty. Isaac Kawapit, who was 49 and an experienced traveler, guided the group.

The Long Walk South

The original seven young men traveled across the country using snowshoes. They visited many communities along the way. Some of these communities included Chisasibi, Wemindji, Eastmain, Waskaganish, and Kitigan Zibi.

As they walked, more and more people joined them. By February 15, 2013, when they reached Eastmain, there were 42 walkers! The group continued to grow as they passed through different towns and cities.

Arriving in Ottawa

By the time the Nishiyuu Walkers reached Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 25, 2013, their numbers had swelled to about 300 people. They were met by a huge crowd of supporters. There was a big rally and a large round dance to welcome them.

Many important people came to greet the walkers. These included Justin Trudeau, who later became Prime Minister, and other political leaders like Bernard Valcourt, Elizabeth May, Thomas Mulcair, and Charlie Angus.

The Prime Minister at the time, Steven Harper, chose not to meet the walkers. Instead, he went to the Toronto Zoo to see pandas. This decision was criticized by many people.

The Nishiyuu Journey showed the power of young people coming together for a cause. It brought attention to the Idle No More movement and important issues for Indigenous peoples in Canada.

See also

• Trick or Treaty?, a documentary film by Alanis Obomsawin that includes parts about the Nishiyuu journey.