(Mi’kmaq IdleNoMore blockade of Highway 11 by Rexton, NB, via @itsClairbear)
By Tim Fontaine
APTN National News
HALIFAX — The Idle No More movement made its presence known today in Atlantic Canada with protests and events held across the region.
At 7 a.m., people from the Millbrook First Nation near Truro blocked one lane of Highway 102, at times backing up traffic for miles.
It was a similar situation at the Canso Causeway, which connects mainland Nova Scotia to Cape Breton Island. Mi’kmaq there lined the side of the highway with pickets, slowing traffic to a crawl and causing long delays.
Listuguj First Nation members in Quebec slowed traffic on a bridge connecting that province to New Brunswick and completely blocked access to Highway 132.
Community members from the Woodstock First Nation in New Brunswick picketed near the highway there.
Police were on hand at each event but there are no reports of incidents.
In downtown Halifax, people gathered at the World Trade Convention Centre where they listened to speakers that included NDP MP Megan Leslie and president of the Nova Scotia Women’s Association Cheryl Maloney.
Maloney says the Idle No More movement has evolved beyond a protest against Bill C-45, the so-called omnibus bill that many here say tramples Mi’kmaq and Maliseet rights.
“The Idle No More movement is about all of our people. Young and old, Canadian and Aboriginal and I don’t think I’d want to be anywhere else.”
