APTN National News
The Seton Lake Indian Band ended their blockade of a CN Rail mainline Sunday evening between North Vancouver and Prince George.
The blockade, led by Chief Garry John, began Friday at approximately 3 p.m. and continued for three days in the T’salalh, St’at’imc territory.
It was CN’s mainline for freight trains.
The blockade ended at about 6 p.m. Sunday
It was held in solidarity of Chief Theresa Spence who is entering her fourth week of a hunger strike in Ottawa that began Dec. 11. It was also done to support the Idle No More movement and the on-going rail blockade in Sarnia where protesters have stopped a CN spur line for about two weeks.
Both Spence and the Sarnia blockaders are demanding a meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the Governor General and First Nation leaders to address treaty rights, which they say are being eroded by Harper.
The Seton Lake blockade ended with a Pipe Ceremony and prayers for Spence.
John told APTN National News Sunday night he felt they made their point and showed they can start up again at any time. It’s believed John is the first chief to lead a blockade as part of the Idle No More movement. He’s calling on other chiefs to get involved.
He said they will consider other methods of action.
“The different levels of government and CN Rail now know that we the T’salalhmec are very capable of mobilizing quite quickly and resuming the rail stoppage again if necessary,” said John in a statement.
Both Harper and Gov-Gen David Johnston have refused to meet Spence’s demands.
