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On Friday Aug. 8, grassroots First Nation youth welcomed the arrival of the Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseego-stamok walkers to Queens Park, the seat of the Ontario government in Toronto.
The walking group completed more than 700 kilometres during their 22-day journey from Timmins, Ont.
A combined rally with groups Youth Rising Together and Okiniwak was organized to demonstrate dissatisfaction with Ontario’s Bill 5 legislation, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, and Canada’s Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which encompasses the Building Canada Act. The new laws are designed to fast track major development projects, including mining and resource extraction, and would impact Indigenous rights and territory.
The walkers were greeted with a traditional pipe ceremony led by Conrad Iahtail (Nahpaysh Miishenish Aisipi) of Attawapiskat First Nation, and traditional drumming.
“It was an emotional arrival for us all as it was a very powerful journey where we made so many connections,” said Tristan Ashishkeesh, youth walker. “We wanted to take part in a grassroots movement that represents First Nation youth and show everyone that we are only answerable to our ancestors, our kookooms (grandmothers) and mooshooms (grandfathers) and to the Creator. We are not tied to any political organization, which is why we created this movement because we only have our voice and the fire within us.”
The 29-year-old Ashishkeesh stepped away from his position with the Ojibway Cree Cultural Centre in Timmins as he felt that he could more freely take a stand against government legislation through a grassroots movement.
He was joined by multiple other youth leaders who spoke at the event, and his grandmother Elder Angela Ashishkeesh, a residential school survivor, also from Attawapiskat First Nation. The Elder gave an emotional speech in English and Cree to show her support of the youth.
The rally was attended by First Nation leadership, including Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin and Mushkegowuk Council leaders Grand Chief Leo Friday and Deputy Grand Chief Amos Wesley.
Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseego-stamok is a James Bay Cree phrase that means ‘uniting the people to stand together’. The group is headed by main organizers Tristan Ashishkeesh, Sage Iahtail, Craig Koostachin and Todd Spence. They were also supported by Konstantinov Wesley, Rick Cheechoo, April Atlookan and many other family, friends and supporters who made their journey possible.
At the start of their journey, Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin of Nishnawbe-Aski Nation showed his support by joining the walkers. Over their 22-day journey, the group was also supported by Apitipi Anicinapek Nation, Matachewan First Nation, Temagami First Nation, grassroots supporters from Nipissing First Nation, as well as organizations and businesses, including Canadore College, the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre and Big Canoe Indigenous Market. The group gave thanks to many other individuals and supporters who helped them on their walk.
Okiniwak is a First Nation youth movement founded by Ramon Kataquapit of Attawapiskat First Nation and Kohen Mattinas of Lac Seul First Nation. Their youth movement has been at the forefront of rallies and events that make the public aware of First Nation displeasure of government legislation that would affect the future of First Nation communities. Their group has held or taken part in multiple rallies in Toronto, Ottawa, North Bay and Timmins.
“We held this rally to welcome the youth walkers from Timmins and to also bring together Indigenous northern youth and urban youth as a show of solidarity. We hold these rallies to give a platform to the youth to speak to the world without having to go through any chief or any organization, so that our message can be directly heard,” said 23-year-old Kataquapit.
Mattinas, who has led and organized multiple rallies and has worked for multiple youth councils and groups throughout the north, was not able to attend this event.
“This is the first joint rally between our three youth groups,” said 25-year-old Mattinas in a phone interview. “We want to show everyone that we are stepping up, we are the noise makers, and that through unity we strengthen our voices. We are not waiting our turn to speak. We are taking a stand now to protect the land and our rights to ensure that not just First Nation youth, but future generations, are represented.”
Youth Rising Together is a movement based mainly in Timmins and led by First Nation youth, including Katherine Jeremiah-Génier, Keira Spence and Shem Mattinas.
Spence, a 19-year-old member of Moose Cree First Nation, spoke at the Queen’s Park rally as a representative of Youth Rising Together, along with her partner John Enosse of Wikwemikong First Nation.
“We wanted to add our voice to this rally and let everyone know how these bills will negatively affect our communities in the Treaty Nine territory,” said Spence.
Her great aunt is former and formidable Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence, who went on a hunger strike in December 2012 to support the Idle No More movement and protest Canada’s Bill C-45, the omnibus budget bill that would have amended the Indian Act and narrowed environmental protection laws to allow resource development projects on the traditional lands of Indigenous peoples.
Keira Spence and Enosse, who live in the Toronto, said they were inspired by youth movements this summer and took an active part in an encampment at Queen’s Park for eight weeks to protest Bill 5. They later joined Youth Rising Together where they have found a connection with other First Nation youth leaders.
“This has been a really inspiring journey to work with other First Nation youth. It is a political movement, and it has also allowed us to connect with people and reconnect with our cultural roots and traditions. We’ve met so many people, and their stories have inspired us in so many ways,” said Keira.
Shem Mattinas was also part of the Queen’s Park rally as a supporter. He is the grandson, from his mother’s family, of the late Grand Chief Stan Louttit, a celebrated leader who led Mushkegowuk Council and the James Bay territory for many years.
“I come from a family of leaders, and their legacy has always inspired me to take a stand for our communities. Our main message is to ask all governments to listen to our communities, especially our youth and our Elders. The proper way to go about making major decisions is to consult with those people that will be most affected by any changes,” said 17-year-old Mattinas, who is part of the Moose Cree and Attawapiskat First Nations.
Mattinas is also the descendent of Attawapiskat leaders from his father’s family, including his grandfather Paul (Poonish) Mattinas, a traditional leader, and his great-grandfather, the late Elder John Mattinas, a much loved and respected traditional Elder and leader.
A remote onsite protest called ‘Here We Stand – Call To Action’, by 20-year-old Jeronimo Kataquapit of Attawapiskat First Nation and his family, as well as the community of Neskantaga First Nation, were praised by Queen’s Park rally participants for their ongoing protection of the land on the remote Attawapiskat River in the Ring of Fire mining exploration area.