Dozens of delegates at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Youth Summit braved Saskatoon's freezing temperature to march against bullying this morning. 

For 16-year-old Faith Ketchemonia, it was personally important to be there, as she says this past school year was hard on her.

"I was put down because I was going to a non-Native school. People would exclude me from their groups and being friends with them, so I just continued to be by myself. I ended up getting out of 10th grade with really, really high marks" considering everyone was calling me down, she says.

B.C.'s male rep on the AFN Youth Council says the walk was a way to take a public stand against bullying.

"Come out in numbers and show the support to stop bullying in our communities and stop bullying at all levels. And I feel the walk is a way of showing our support," he explains. "We all know we're against bullying, but we don't get enough time to get out and do it and gather."

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Vice-Chief Simon Bird says bullying takes all shapes and forms.

He's excited that CFL player J. R. LaRose from One Arrow First Nation will be speaking to the youth about bullying Aboriginal women.

"He himself is very, very passionate about challenging young men to be able to step up their responsibility in having that role as protector and supporter, not as an abuser or an exploiter."

The anti-bullying march coincides with Bullying Awareness Week.

Read a related article that offers tips to bystanders, parents, and targets of bullying.