A group of protesters from the Aamjiwnaang First Nation took to the railroad as part of a nationwide protest known as Idle No More on Dec. 21, calling for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston to meet with hunger striking Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence.
About 10 people sat around the tracks Monday, stacks of firewood at the ready to stave off the cold. A few tents were set up for protesters to sleep in as they keep round-the-clock watch on the tracks, located off a country road in the industrial zone of Sarnia.
The blockade affects a Pembina Pipeline propane facility, which predominantly supplies fuel for heating houses, particularly in rural areas. They have rerouted supplies to a nonblockaded facility.
“We have been able to make adjustments so that we can accommodate those customers’ needs in the short-term. If this carries on in the long-term, we are concerned about our ability to service rural customers’ needs,” said Shawn Davis, manager of communications and public affairs.
CN, who owns the tracks, filed a court injunction last week. They had the injunction extended indefinitely.
“We remain in discussions with the First Nations and with the blockaders to seek a resolution to this issue,” said Jim Feeny, a representative for the company. Feeny said the tracks being blocked normally carry upwards of 400 cars per day.
Meanwhile, officials in Sarnia say they’re shouldering a burden that should be handled by CN.
“Has no one learned the lessons of Oka and Ipperwash?” said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley. “What you need to do in this situation is work day and night to find a peaceful solution. If you’re asking the police and courts to settle the matter, you’re not trying for a peaceful resolution.”
According to Ron Plain, a spokesman for the group blocking the tracks, the action will continue until Spence’s demands are met. “Our position has been crystal clear up until now. We want to have … a meeting between Chief Spence and Prime Minister Harper,” he said.
A blockade Sunday evening near Belleville, Ont. left some 300 VIA Rail customers stranded on the tracks for four hours. The move was characterized as a “soft run” by one organizer, who promised there was more to come.
“You know what a tsunami is? Well from what the talk is, boy I’m telling you — it’s coming,” said Tom Maracle, a Tyendinaga Mohawk and one of the organizers of Sunday’s blockade. He said Harper’s reluctance to meet with Spence is driving a groundswell of concentrated action within the native community in Canada.
“As she’s growing weaker, the people are growing stronger,” said Maracle.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Tim Alamenciak
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