APTN National News
SARNIA, Ont.--A rail blockade launched by Aamjiwnaang First Nation members on a CN line in Sarnia, Ont., is expected to end Thursday at midnight.
Ron Plain, the spokesman for the blockade, said the blockade was ended in a negotiated settlement with Sarnia police after an Ontario judge ordered it shut down.
Plain called it “a huge community victory” and the first victory of the Idle No More movement.
He said the blockade, which began Dec. 21, 2012, had proven its point and didn’t need to continue. Plain said they were already negotiating to have the blockade end on Saturday.
The blockade was originally launched in support of hunger-striking Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s demand for a treaty meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Gov. Gen. David Johnston and First Nations leaders.
Plain was found in contempt Wednesday of a court injunction ordering an end to the blockade. He was ordered by the court not to go near the site of the blockade unless it involved negotiating its end.
The ending to the Aamjiwnaang blockade leaves only the Mi’kmaq from Listuguj First Nation still holding a rail blockade. The Mi’kmaq there have been blocking the railway at Pointe-a-la-Croix in Quebec since Dec. 28, 2012.
More rail and highway blockades, however, are expected in the coming days and weeks.
First Nations chiefs are planning to hold a national day of action on Jan. 16 which could see the beginning of indefinite blockades across the country.
Trestles are wooden aren’t they?
What did the people of that particular community vote for? The Indian Act can not be considered legal according to human rights standards in Canada and Internationally. What treaty applied prior to the Act, and in relation to the blockade, jurisdiction is a matter of question, as the Judge must respect the will of the people in the community, as that community has every right to make its own laws, enforce them, and to ensure they are upheld specifically in relation to resources and other modes which cross their territory.
I wish us First Nations have self Government, there are lots of minerals on First Nation Land thats what the Federal Government is afraid of……they are afraid for first nations to be rich on resources ( gold, oil and other minerals )….
OK. Who’s turn is it? 613 FNs to go not including the Metis and Inuit Nation