The chief of the Acadia First Nation in southern Nova Scotia says a dispute over jobs at a band-owned convenience store and gas station in Gold River has expanded to include a wider list of grievances.
Chief Deborah Robinson says she succeeded Thursday in settling a dispute with laid-off employees, but the agreement fell apart when a second group of protesters decided to continue a blockade at the gas station.
She says the protesters have said they, too, are upset about jobs on the Mi'kmaq reserve north of Lunenburg, but it was unclear Friday whether the blockade was still in place.
Deputy chief Darlene Coulton says the protesters also had other concerns about the reserve, but she did not elaborate.
Harvey Joudrey, one of 10 laid-off employees at the Gold Nugget gas station, says another 10 supporters from the community had helped with the original blockade.
Ms. Robinson says when she met with Mr. Joudrey and the other laid-off employees, she explained that the jobs had to be cut because the convenience store had lost money in five of the past six years.