Protesters march on Queen Street in Toronto Thursday.
Hundreds of aboriginal rights activists marched through the streets of downtown Toronto on Thursday to bring attention to Canada's treatment of native people while the city is flooded with media covering the G20.
A line of police walking with their bikes as barricades closed the protesters in on both sides as they were weaving their way from Queen's Park to Allan Gardens chanting, "No G20, on stolen native land," and "Justice, Freedom, Self Determination. Canada is an illegal Nation."
The march was peaceful. A flyer passed out to protesters outlined guidelines that discouraged fighting, destruction, carrying weapons and wearing masks so that their concerns about land disputes and other aboriginal issues would go out to the world, "in a pure spirit of community safety."
Marylynn Pouchache, a spokesperson for the Barriere Lake solidarity group, said they were marching to protest the federal government's imposition of Section 74 of the Indian Act, which sets out a one-member, one-vote system for band elections. Barriere Lake uses a traditional selection system.
"You have to be connected to the land to be able to have a say in a traditional governing system," she said, noting the Indian Act system allows band members to vote regardless of where they live or what language they speak.
Norman Matchewan, 27, has lived on the Barriere Lake reserve throughout his life. He said Minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl, signed the order to impose Sect. 74 on April 1 and an election has been set for Aug. 19. "We've been trying to get out of it," Mr. Matchewan said. "They're not listening."
A few dozen protesters carried a giant yellow banner that read "Native Land Rights Now." As they walked down Yonge Street they stopped and, as a group, rolled it up to say just "Native Land."
Walking beside the yellow banner was Kat, who had arrived from Kitchener Thursday morning with 19 members of AW@L, an anti-capitalist group that advocates for indigenous solidarity. "The G20 is an illegitimate decision-making body that leaves out the people that the decisions affect," said Kat, who wouldn't give her last name.
Adam Balsam said he came to Toronto from Ottawa a few days ago to be part of the march because he feels strongly about indigenous sovereignty and rights. "Canada continues to try to get away with whatever they can," he said. "The nation-to-nation relationship is disrespectful."
The march ended peacefully in Allan Gardens, where protesters pulled out sandwiches and rested on the grass to listen to a series of speakers.
A few protesters reported that police had confiscated their belongings, mainly sticks and a sleeping bag string. One officer tried to confiscate a traditional native drummer's drum stick but eventually backed off, said Macdonald Scott, an immigration consultant. He is working with the Summit Legal Support Project set up by the Movement Defence Committee to look out for police misconduct and make sure protesters who are arrested have access to legal council. He called the incident "extremely culturally inappropriate."
Police said there were no reports of arrests or injuries. A volunteer medic was detained for over two hours and questioned before the march. During the protest more activists were detained at Church Street and Carleton Street and questioned by police. In total approximately a half dozen detainments took place during the march, said Mr. Scott. Protesters were asked to identify themselves and answer other personal questions. "They put a chill on people," Mr. Scott said.
Protesters said a blockade of Highway 403 between Toronto and Hamilton planned for Thursday has been cancelled until further notice.
Provincial police say a planned blockade of the Trans-Canada Highway near Thunder Bay, Ont., was also cancelled.
With a report from the Canadian Press