(Samson Cree Nation blocks Alberta highway Wednesday. Photo credit: @KorenLE)
APTN National News
EDMONTON–Dozens of Samson Cree Nation members have blocked an Alberta highway as part of a blockade in support of Idle No More and Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike.
APTN National News reporter Noemi LoPinto reports from the scene that people have occupied the road, shutting it down.
The Samson Cree Nation issued a statement Tuesday saying the blockade of provincial Hwy 2A would begin at 11:15 a.m. local time and run until 12:15 p.m. The blockade will shut down a portion of the highway between Hwy 611 West and the Pe Sakastew Correctional Centre, the statement said.
The statement said the blockade will be peaceful.
“Pipes will be lifted in support of Idle No More,” said the statement. “The presence of the pipe signifies the pipe laws of gentleness, compassion and mutual respect.”
On Monday, thousands of people across the country took the streets in support of Indigenous rights under the banner of IdleNoMore. The next day, on Tuesday, Spence began her hunger strike which she says will continue until Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Queen Elizabeth II agree to a treaty meeting with First Nations leaders.
“We are taking this opportunity, coinciding with the 12th hour of the 12th day of the December 2012, to bring awareness to First Nation’s opposition to legislation proposed by the Harper government,” said the statement, posted on the band’s website. “We also want people to bring attention to the hunger strike started…by Chief Theresa Spence.”
The statement said the Harper government is pushing a number of pieces of legislation that “directly undermines First Nations’ right of self-determination.”
Harper thumbs down for you ….I think your the next Nazi Hitler !!!!! somebody should burn the canadian flag !!! I know I will
You have my support 100 percent thumbs up !!!!! Harper thumbs down !!!!
well we have aptn for media while rest of media bow to harper
Time has come to unite the rights of all our clans and nations and choose a person who will deliver the message to Harpers mofia and mob run Government that their run of power has overstayed its time and the old boy english run power house should give up the right to address our people in any form or matter we have the right to Govern our own people and lands and resource’s Prime minister like prime beef after awhile it get’s rotten this Government has been corrupt and spoiled the House has to change time to put up our own Tee-Pee’s again wherever in our land we wish or want we are the caregivers of these lands the Creator has bestowed upon us and we may make our own house of representation for our people for our children and for a better Canada remember we are a peacekeeping Nation and Harper and the rest have taken our country to war when we should be promoting peace in the world and helping the less fortunate ones from a wise leader who stays away from it all until now.
my hand go up to ur nation and with u in spirit. stand strong and be proud.