A 26-year-old woman is planning to walk from Winnipeg to Ottawa to raise awareness about problems with the child welfare system.

Tamara Malcolm kicked off her walk Saturday at Arlington Street and Selkirk Avenue, stopping at the Manitoba Legislature before starting the journey east.

Malcolm grew up in Winnipeg and has family connections at Ebb and Flow and Sandy Bay First Nations.

At age five, Malcolm was taken away from her family. Her mother eventually won back custody but Malcolm says she will never forget the time she spent away from her roots.

"I was treated like an outsider, I was an outcast. We are like a black sheep," she said.

Malcolm will be joined on the walk by Melba Sanoffsky and Beverly Jones of the Keeseekoowenin First Nation.

Along the way, the group will collect stories and information about the child welfare system.