The original seven, traveling cross-country on snowshoes, visited the communities of Chisasibi, Wemindji, Eastmain, Waskaganish and Kitigan Zibi, among others. On February 15, 2013 they reached Eastmain, and numbered 42 Walkers. Passing through communities on the journey south, the number swelled to 300 by the time they reached Parliament Hill, Ottawa, on March 25. Instead of remaining at Parliament to greet the walkers, Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper made a last-minute decision to travel to the Toronto Zoo to be photographed with two pandas, earning criticism.Yahoo! News Canada, "Did Stephen Harper slight the Nishiyuu Walkers?", Yahoo! Canada News, March 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-26. The Nishiyuu Walkers were met by then Liberal leadership contender Justin Trudeau, Aboriginal affairs minister Bernard Valcourt, Green leader Elizabeth May, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and NDP MP Charlie Angus, among others.
