A Cree elder from the Canoe Lake Cree Nation began a 400-kilometre walk Tuesday as part of a plan to pressure the Harper government to call a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
Emil Bell began his trek from the Beauval to Saskatoon shortly after 11 a.m. armed with a petition that calls for a national inquiry.
Bell says he can’t understand why Prime Minister Stephen Harper was willing to apologize to residential school survivors but will not commit to a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women.
“If he was so damn concerned about all the harm that was done, why is he refusing to get a national inquiry going,” he says.
He says he is convinced a national inquiry will eventually happen, one way or another.
“We will see a national inquiry into the missing and murdered Indigenous women happening. It’s going to take us a little while, but we going to start putting a lot of pressure on Stephen Harper.”
Bell went on a hunger strike last year in support of Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence and the Idle No More movement.
His walk will take him through Green Lake, Big River and Prince Albert before he hits Saskatoon on Saturday.
Speeches and a feast are planned at the walk’s conclusion.