News

Aside from a few morning disruptions in Eastern Ontario and near Montreal, the national day of protest organized by native Canadians was marked by peaceful marches in pockets across the country.

Ontario Provincial Police reopened Highway 401 just west of Kingston, Ont. by lunch hour, after natives had set up a blockade on a highway that police had cordoned off late Thursday night.

“People were concerned that it may be too much of an imposition and erode any support that there might be for First Nations' issues,” native protest leader Shawn Brant said from an overpass on top of the highway.

He added this was not a result of police intervention early Friday morning but merely a “gesture to the public.”

The Ontario Provincial Police have issued an arrest warrant for charges of mischief against Mr. Brant, a Mohawk from the Tyendinaga reserve near Deseronto, Ont.

Via Rail suspended all trains headed from Toronto to Ottawa and Montreal Friday – affecting about 5,000 travellers – after the group of Mohawk protesters blockading Highway 2 west of Kingston announced they would demonstrate on the tracks. The railway company has offered to refund or exchange tickets free, but Via Rail spokesman Malcolm Andrews said it was too early to estimate lost revenue.

Three hundred Canadian Pacific Railway trains across Canada were to grind to a stop Friday afternoon as the company marked the day with a one-minute halt in its operations at 2 p.m. in every time zone, said an internal memo obtained by The Globe and Mail.

Mr. Brant said OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino called him three times in the early hours of Friday and that OPP told him they were prepared to launch an assault if they needed to.

“In fact,” said Mr. Brant, the OPP said “there would be a dawn assault and then ... a 6 a.m. assault. We've been anticipating and we've been preparing for that.”

The assault never happened. “That's part of the game,” Mr. Brant said.

Mr. Brant told reporters Friday morning that he would be willing to turn himself in later in the day but not before he “gets to give his kids a hug.”

Phil Fontaine, national grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations, stressed in Ottawa Friday the importance of building alliances with other Canadians.

Political action, he said, “isn't about power; it's about giving our children hope and a reason to live.”

He referred to the despair felt by his 13-year-old niece, who recently committed suicide, and urged other aboriginal people not to despair, but to galvanize support among other Canadians.

“I truly believe in Canada, I really do. I know Canadians believe in fairness. I truly believe in my heart Canadians want everyone to have a fair chance in life.”

Mr. Fontaine was addressing a rally at the end of a march through Ottawa on Friday during the national day of action.

Slightly more than 1,000 marchers left their rallying point in front of city hall for a march through streets. Earlier Friday, about 50 members of Quebec's Barriere Lake band set up about eight tents, with the permission of the RCMP, on a corner of Parliament Hill.

Police maintained a low profile during the march, headed by Mr. Fontaine and attended by federal Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, Canadian Auto Workers Union leader Buzz Hargrove and a large contingent of union members.

Across the country, the mood of the protests was calm, save for a few minor road blockades.

In Montreal, Mohawk traditionalists blocked off the Mercier Bridge, the link connecting Montreal with the Kahnawake reserve and several suburban communities.

About 100 protesters marched with Mohawk Nations flags to the bridge span – a peaceful demonstration that nonetheless caused massive traffic jams for several kilometres.

Protestors planted several Mohawk flags into the bridge structure and said they refused to heed the appeals of Mr. Fontaine, who has repeatedly called for only peaceful protests today, not antagonistic ones.

“In our experience, with the people of Canada, you've got to hit them on the head with a two-by-four in order to get their attention," said spokesman Joe Deom. “And as you can see, we do have their attention.”

The bridge, a critical link around Montreal, remained closed for about 90 minutes.

Earlier this morning, Kahnawake Mohawks slowed traffic for about 90 minutes along Highway 30, a suburban road. Criticizing the government's choice to expand the highway, they distributed pamphlets to drivers saying there needed to be more consultation.

Near Victoria, a lone First Nations activist tried to occupy a vacant home on the controversial Bear Mountain development site, but was halted by police and the teenage and small children who were in the house.

In Edmonton, about 100 members of Treaty 6, 7 and 8 planned a peaceful march through downtown streets and rallied at the city's federal building.

And in Caledonia, Ont., where a native occupation of a construction site for the past year has often flared up in violence, a group of about a dozen protesters started the day with prayers for peace and calm.

“Our prayers simply go out to all our brothers and sisters that they remain safe and out of harm's way,” said Dawn Smith, a Six Nations protester, adding that no blockades were planned.

The OPP acknowledges that Eastern Ontario looks like a “hot spot,” but adds it is prepared to respond, in a measured way, to any unlawful activity. The force won't discuss operations.

Spokespeople for the Sûreté du Québec and the RCMP in Manitoba and New Brunswick had similar responses and said they expect only peaceful assemblies but are prepared for other events.

Members of the Mi'kmaq Nation and their supporters planned to convene at the border of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Friday morning, slowing traffic only if the RCMP agreed.

In Toronto, members of the Mississauga New Credit First Nations gathered at the foot of Bathurst St. singing songs, eating pizza and relaxing on the grass. Farther north, another group marched from a native centre east of Yonge St. over to Queens Park. Other than a few minor streetcar delays due to the large number of people, the event went off without a hitch.

In Northwestern Ontario, peaceful protests are planned in Kenora as the mayor and councillors will be appearing in the march, which was slated for noon.

Thursday night, Mr. Brant's protesters lit two bonfires in the middle of the highway near Marysville, Ont., and had also parked pickups trucks, a van and school bus there. Mr. Brant said the action was part of a three-phase plan that included blockading the railway tracks and the 401.

“It's our intent to maintain the mandate of Chief Fontaine,” he said, adding that the plans are just for a peaceful protest.

However, he added, “governments aren't going to disrespect us.”

With reports from Caroline Alphonso in Deseronto, Joanna Smith in Toronto, Alex Dobrota in Caledonia, Tu Thanh Ha in Montreal, Matt Hartley in Kenora, Jeff Sallot in Ottawa, Bill Curry in Ottawa, Ian Bailey and Patrick Brethour in Vancouver, Colin Freeze in Toronto and the Canadian Press.