A University of Manitoba graduate student is walking across Canada to call on the federal government to make changes to the Indian Act.

Leo Baskatawang's March 4 Justice, in which he is walking from Vancouver to Ottawa with a copy of the Indian Act chained to him, arrived in Winnipeg on Sunday.

Baskatawang, a master's student in native studies, said he is raising awareness about federal policy and legislation that relates to Canada's aboriginal peoples.

"It's important because, you know, aboriginal peoples have been oppressed. I mean, they're stigmatized in society, there's lots of stereotypes and prejudice," he said.

"I think if we changed the federal policy and legislation, it would help alleviate all that."

The march will leave Winnipeg from The Forks at 9 a.m. CT on Monday.

Baskatawang started his march with a friend in Vancouver in April. He said he plans to finish in Ottawa on Sept. 3.

Baskatawang said he wants to see significant changes made to the act, as well as more aboriginal representation in government.

"If you want to create change, you have to go out there and get that change yourself, you know. You can't sit back and expect the change to come to you," he said.

"It's an active process — you have to go out there and go for it."