Kickoff of the 500 kilometer AMUN March denouncing injustices of the Indian
Act towards Aboriginal Families

WENDAKE, QC, May 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Wendake will be the kickoff point of the AMUN March (500 km from Wendake to the Parliament Hill in Ottawa) to pursue the fight that was undertaken by Sharon McIvor, and to request that the Canadian Government resolve the injustices created by the Indian Act. The Government of Canada introduced Bill C-3 to bolster gender equity in the registration provisions of the Act. This Bill partially corrects discriminatory aspects of the Indian Act registration rules.

Many walkers, notably the instigators Ms. Michèle Audette and Ms. Viviane Michel, began the journey which will end with a rally in front of the Canadian Parliament on June 1st. The message will be delivered to Prime Minister Harper and to the Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Stralh to end, once and for all, the unacceptable injustices which affect thousands of Aboriginal families.

The Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation, Mr. Konrad Sioui is proud to see the positive mobilization surrounding the initiative. "133 years after the Act, it is shocking to discover that in 2010, we must fight so that the Canadian Government realizes that it discriminates against our mothers, our sisters and our families. Discrimination, in all its forms, must remain in the past."

The March is supported by several non-profit organizations, including Quebec Native Women, the Fédération des Femmes du Québec, Amnesty International (section canadienne-francophone), Native Women Association of Canada, and Missinak, a shelter for Native women in need. "From the beginning, it was clear that Missanak would support such a project, because we are already raising awareness among the non-Native population on the dreadful consequences of the Indian Act. The Amun March will give a voice to all those that History has ignored until now and we are proud to support the efforts for justice", indicates Caroline Tremblay, the March's liaison officer.

Aboriginal women continue to suffer from discrimination in areas such as the division of matrimonial property, the obligation to disclose the father's name at the birth of a child, band membership, as well as the right to Indians status for women and their children. Ms. Michèle Audette states "Nothing is stopping the Canadian Parliament from completely correcting the discriminatory aspects of the Indian Act registration rules. We will march so as to raise awareness and to educate the Quebec population and the rest of Canada on the injustices that have been stigmatizing us for almost a century and a half."

Several cities and groups will host the passage of the walkers. There will be stopping points in Donnaconna, Trois-Rivières and Montreal, as well at the Department of Indian Affairs in Gatineau. Information regarding the schedule, itinerary and registration procedures can be found on the AMUN Walk's Facebook page.

For further information: Melanie Vincent, [phone]