Omushkegowuk Walkers reach Ottawa, call for treaty awareness

After almost two months of walking, a group of Cree people from Northern Ontario will hold a rally on Parliament Hill today to continue raising awareness about First Nations treaty rights.

The Omushkegowuk Walkers left Attawapiskat on Jan. 4 to walk more than 1,700 kilometres. They arrived in Ottawa on Sunday.

• Attawapiskat First Nation walkers trek to Ottawa with message
• The walkers' Facebook page
• Cree walkers meet minister at end of Idle No More trek
• Visit CBC Aboriginal

The group, organized in part by Danny Metatawabin, grew to 18 people during the walk.

The elders are the ones who have delegated us, directed us to send a strong message to Canada and all provinces that we need to have a dialogue, we need to engage all First Nations communities, he said on Sunday.

We need to engage the grassroots of people to talk about treaties, because they're not being honoured, and that's why there's a sense of frustration.

'Lifted my spirit'

Walkers said issues such as poverty, poor housing and high suicide rates in many First Nationshave led to their push for federal and provincial governments to uphold treaties and increase investments.

Gordon Hookimaw said theyve been overwhelmed by the support theyve received.

I didn't realize how important it was for other people across Canada, and the words I got really lifted my spirit more, he said.

I'm sad about it. I'm happy about it. I'm happy I get to go home. But at the same, now knowing it's close, I feel like I want to go further.

It's coming towards closure now, said walker Jean Sutherland.

We're going our own ways, and it's kind of difficult in a way because you've grown closer to people.

Asimilar walk from Whapmagoostui, Que., to Ottawastarted with seven people in January 2013 and ended with almost 400 walkers when it reached Parliament Hill at the end of March.