Blockades set to hit three provinces Wednesday

Mass blockades are expected to hit at least three provinces this coming Wednesday.

(Dec. 21, 2012, Mi’kmaq Idle No More blockade of Highway 11 by Rexton, NB. )

APTN National News
Mass blockades are expected to hit at least three provinces this coming Wednesday.

Sources in two provinces told APTN National News Saturday evening that the economic disruptions promised by several chiefs in Ottawa this past week would hit Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

It remained unclear, however, how long the majority of the planned blockades would last or where they would hit. There is talk that some of these blockades could last for days.

APTN National News has learned that there are plans to block the Ambassador Bridge which links Windsor, Ont., to Detroit, Mich., for about an hour and-a-half.

Grand Chief Gordon Peters of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians told reporters Friday that economic disruptions were in the works for Wednesday.

“We can’t live in poverty anymore while Canadians live this great life,” said Peters, whose organization is based in Ontario. “We’ll stop it the only way we can stop it…Stop the roads, stop the rails, stop the transportation of goods.”

Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox said during a chiefs’ meeting Thursday night that economic disruptions loomed.

“No longer will the prime minister dictate to us. If we have to shut down this economy, then we will,” said Fox, whose community is part of Treaty 6 in Saskatchewan.

Fox was urging National Chief Shawn Atleo at the time to reject Friday’s meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Several First Nations chiefs have been discussing plans to launch blockades on Wednesday since at least Dec. 28, 2012.

“January 16 is being touted as a national day of action directed at industry, the economy and the government,” according to minutes obtained by APTN National News from a Dec. 28 teleconference meeting between dozens of chiefs.

According to the minutes, blockades were being planned for “major roadways, rail lines.”

Railway blockades have already hit in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.

The last national day of action was set for June 29, 2007. Only the Mohawks from Tyendinaga followed through with plans, shutting down Hwy 401 and the main Toronto-Montreal CN rail line near Belleville, Ont., for several hours.

Contribute Button  

16 thoughts on “Blockades set to hit three provinces Wednesday

  1. roberta says:

    I wonder if Thief Theresa Spence included in her will to give back all the money she stole from her community

  2. if anyone prevents me from going where i need to go by means of blockade will be paying for damages if they dont move out of the way of my truck, as it is illegal to block roadways and bridges and ill be too afraid to stop cuz of the indians past i have every right to ram into anyone in my way. at least after that the police will start removing the native blockades after indians start getting hurt!

  3. I am proud of our people. Now is the time to stand together and that we have and that we will do again.

  4. I’ll gladly support a blockade if it gets us even one step closer to ending this egregious racist colonialism. Settler Canada needs a wake-up call.

    1. egregious racist colonialism? your living in a dream world, the very computer you sit at, the house you live in, the clean water you drink, the roads you drive on and the cars you drive in, electricity, healthcare, constant food supply, is all a product of the “settlers” would you trade it all for a teepee in the forest? to go back to a life of warring tribes? we give you people so much and you just bite the hand that feeds you. pathetic

  5. A protest without a pinch has no
    effect. In Canada
    non whites live in poverty because we are marginalized and discriminated.

    Canada need some disruption
    because the government goes around the world acting like Canada is a peaceable
    kingdom and a stand up for human rights; the fact of the matter is the Canadian
    judicial system don’t give a shit for our Charter of Rights.

    I will man a blockade.

    1. I am of white skin but of red heart I have adopted the aboriginal beliefs …….Government has taken upon itself not to follow process of what is law so why should all colours suffer …….I live in poverty along with my Indian man…….We both work full time in legitimate businesses………..It isn’t going to get any better. I would man the road block as well.

    2. Wait a minute, many whites live in poverty too. Many children are growing up below the poverty line. Mine did. Let’s be united in this, not divisional.

    1. THEN GET A JOB!!
      Oh, wait…if you live in poverty now then how will you move to a city and find work there?
      I see the catch 22 you’re in.
      Don’t worry, Harper will save you with his economic plan!

Comments are closed.