Grassroots First Nation youth welcomed the arrival of the Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseego-stamok walkers at Queens Park in Toronto on Friday August 8, 2025. The walking group completed their 22 day and over 700 km walking journey from downtown Timmins to Queens Park at a combined rally held together with First Nation youth groups Youth Rising Together and Okiniwak. The awareness walk and rally at Queen’s Park was organized by these grassroots youth movements to show their dissatisfaction of Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C5.

The youth walkers ceremoniously walked onto Queen’s Park at 1pm on Friday together with other youth leadership representatives. They were greeted with a traditional pipe ceremony led by Conrad Iahtail (Nahpaysh Miishenish Aisipi), of Attawapiskat FN and traditional drum performances.

“It was an emotional arrival for us all as it was a very powerful journey where we made so many connections. 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,” said Tristan Ashishkeesh, youth walker.

The 29 year old member of Attawapiskat FN, 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 from Attawapiskat FN. Elder Angela Ashishkeesh 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’ and it 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 (NAN) showed his support by joining the walkers. Over their 22 day journey, the group were also supported by Apitipi Anicinapek
Nation, Matachewan FN, Temagami FN, grassroots supporters from Nipissing FN, 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, Attawapiskat FN and Kohen Mattinas, 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 and it was great to see. 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,” said 25 year old Mattinas in a phone interview.

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 FN, spoke as a representative together with her partner John Enosse, Wikwemikong FN, for Youth Rising Together at the Queen’s Park rally.

“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 Attawapiskat FN Chief Theresa Spence. Keira Spence and her partner, who both live in the Toronto, were inspired by youth movements this summer and took an active part in an encampment at Queen’s Park for eight weeks to protest against Ontario’s 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 Spence.

Shem Mattinas was also part 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 Moose Cree FN and Attawapiskat FN.

Mattinas is also the descendent of Attawapiskat FN leaders from his father’s family including his grandfather Paul (Poonish) Mattinas, a traditional leader from Attawapiskat FN and his great-grandfather the late Elder John Mattinas, a much loved and respected traditional Elder and leader.

These grassroots First Nation youth movements were started as a response to major government legislation including Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C5. Ontario’s Bill 5, called the Unleashing Our Economy Act, is prioritizing resource development over environmental assessments and consultation requirements. The federal government’s Bill C5, called the One Canada Economy Act is being designed to fast track development projects, including mining and resource extraction, in special economic zones, many of which fall on First Nation territories.

A remote onsite protest, called ‘Here We Stand – Call To Action’ by 20 year old Jeronimo Kataquapit, Attawapiskat FN and his family as well as the community of Neskantaga FN were praised by rally participants for their ongoing protection of the land on the remote Attawapiskat River in the Ring of Fire mining exploration area.