First Nations housing advocates trek to Ottawa by foot
Members of Saugeen First Nation are more than half way to their destination
A group of activists from northwestern Ontario that built a house for an elder in desperate need have journeyed their way through Sudbury by foot on their way to Ottawa.
These members of the Saugeen First Nation, located about 400 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, are more than halfway along their trek which will take them to the country’s political hub, where they will make their pitch for improved First Nations housing.
The advocates want to make politicians aware that members who live off-reserve live in poverty — and without the same rights as those members who live on reserve.
"We are walking as homeless people, impoverished people," one of the walkers, Darlene Necan, said. "We tent out [and] we camp out while we are doing this walk because we can't afford rooms."
Click on the audio button to hear Monday’s interview with two of the walkers. Click here to read more about this group’s struggle to secure off-reserve housing.