Cheers erupted at an Oakville Idle No More protest as news came of the prime minister’s meeting with native leaders next week, but organizers stressed the need for continued action.
“Promises have been broken — so stay here so we as First Nations, aboriginal people, Indians, status, non-status are here to stand up for our constitutional right to have a say in the use of our lands and territories,” said Earl Lambert, a Cree motivational speaker and one of the key figures at Friday’s protest.
About 100 people temporarily blocked the road near the intersection of Ford Dr. and South Service Rd. E. in Oakville, one of two entrances to the Ford assembly plant grounds where Prime Minister Stephen Harper was scheduled to speak.
Sporadic protests ranging from flash mobs to blockades have been erupting across the country over the course of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s 25-day hunger strike. Spence said in a statement that she will remain on hunger strike until the Jan. 11 meeting.
“A meeting is just a meeting,” said Ron Plain, spokesperson for the 13-day Aamjiwnaang blockade of a Sarnia spur rail line. “I would recommend that people continue the actions up until the point that promises made in that meeting are fulfilled.”
More actions are planned for the weekend — Saturday, members of Aamjiwnaang First Nation are rallying at the Blue Water Bridge near Sarnia. Another group is preparing to rally at the busy Peace Bridge crossing in Fort Erie, Ont., Saturday morning as part of a nationwide call for border blockades.
The movement has been described by organizers as “grassroots” with no clearly identifiable leaders, making it difficult to gauge how much momentum remains. But key figures within are characterizing it as different from what has come before.
“I think this is really different because of the broad-based support for it, both internationally but also amongst non-aboriginal people standing together at most of these rallies. I think Canadians are coming on board for a number of reasons,” said Wendy Nanibush who helped organize the Oakville protest.
“People are talking about things that I’ve been trying to talk about for quite awhile. So it’s inspiring to have my friends who used to laugh at me say ‘Do you know this is going on? This is really important,’” said Taylor Flook, a longtime activist present at the Oakville rally. “There’s something very different from our usual protest movements going on here.”
To Tyendinaga organizers of last Sunday’s Via Rail blockade near Belleville, the news of a meeting provides little comfort.
“It all depends on what’s said — Chief Spence is not really the vocal person for all of us all over Canada. She is just the spark that’s causing it to happen,” said Tom Maracle, one of the organizers of the VIA Rail blockade.
When asked if he would continue protest actions, Maracle was clear that he would — though he did not reveal details of what’s to come. “I’ll stand up for my people until the day I die. So will everybody else,” he said.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Tim Alamenciak
“Promises have been broken — so stay here so we as First Nations, aboriginal people, Indians, status, non-status are here to stand up for our constitutional right to have a say in the use of our lands and territories,” said Earl Lambert, a Cree motivational speaker and one of the key figures at Friday’s protest.
About 100 people temporarily blocked the road near the intersection of Ford Dr. and South Service Rd. E. in Oakville, one of two entrances to the Ford assembly plant grounds where Prime Minister Stephen Harper was scheduled to speak.
Sporadic protests ranging from flash mobs to blockades have been erupting across the country over the course of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s 25-day hunger strike. Spence said in a statement that she will remain on hunger strike until the Jan. 11 meeting.
“A meeting is just a meeting,” said Ron Plain, spokesperson for the 13-day Aamjiwnaang blockade of a Sarnia spur rail line. “I would recommend that people continue the actions up until the point that promises made in that meeting are fulfilled.”
More actions are planned for the weekend — Saturday, members of Aamjiwnaang First Nation are rallying at the Blue Water Bridge near Sarnia. Another group is preparing to rally at the busy Peace Bridge crossing in Fort Erie, Ont., Saturday morning as part of a nationwide call for border blockades.
The movement has been described by organizers as “grassroots” with no clearly identifiable leaders, making it difficult to gauge how much momentum remains. But key figures within are characterizing it as different from what has come before.
“I think this is really different because of the broad-based support for it, both internationally but also amongst non-aboriginal people standing together at most of these rallies. I think Canadians are coming on board for a number of reasons,” said Wendy Nanibush who helped organize the Oakville protest.
“People are talking about things that I’ve been trying to talk about for quite awhile. So it’s inspiring to have my friends who used to laugh at me say ‘Do you know this is going on? This is really important,’” said Taylor Flook, a longtime activist present at the Oakville rally. “There’s something very different from our usual protest movements going on here.”
To Tyendinaga organizers of last Sunday’s Via Rail blockade near Belleville, the news of a meeting provides little comfort.
“It all depends on what’s said — Chief Spence is not really the vocal person for all of us all over Canada. She is just the spark that’s causing it to happen,” said Tom Maracle, one of the organizers of the VIA Rail blockade.
When asked if he would continue protest actions, Maracle was clear that he would — though he did not reveal details of what’s to come. “I’ll stand up for my people until the day I die. So will everybody else,” he said.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Tim Alamenciak
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