(The four walkers heading to Ottawa. Facebook photo)
APTN National News
ATTAWAPISKAT–A close aide to Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence is among a group of four men currently walking from Attawapiskat to Ottawa calling for the Canadian government to “honour our treaties.”
Danny Metatawabin and two other men began their journey on Saturday walking south along a snowmobile trail connecting the communities of Attawapiskat, Kashechewan and Fort Albany to Moosonee, Ont. The trail will eventually become an ice road later this winter.
Metatawabin, Brian Okimaw and Paul Mattinas began the walk in Attawapiskat and were later joined by Remi Nakogee. They walk from sunrise to sunset.
“We, the grassroots people, are walking to Ottawa from the traditional territories of the Omushkegowuk (people) to deliver a message to the leaders of both levels of government and to our respective chiefs that the time to honour our treaties is now!” wrote Metatawabin on a Facebook page dedicated to the walk. “The time to address and reconcile Aboriginal issues is now!”
The walk is dubbed, “Reclaiming Our Steps Past, Present and Future.”
Metatawabin was one of Spence’s closest aides during the Attawapiskat chief’s liquids-only fast which lasted from mid-December 2012 to mid-January 2013.
