Idle No More protests slow transportation

• Tweet

WINDSOR, Ontario, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Canadian Indians staged numerous Idle No More rallies Wednesday and slowed traffic at North America's busiest international crossing.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported hundreds of people gathered in Windsor, Ontario, slowing traffic across the Ambassador Bridge, which about 10,000 trucks cross daily between Canada and Michigan.

"We don't want to inconvenience people too much, but we want to be in places that are going to get us noticed and allow us to get our information out," rally organizer Lorena Garvey-Shepley told the CBC.

The Toronto Star reported Delaware Nation Chief Greg Peters said the rallies are meant to draw attention to the Indian tribes' claims that the federal government has abused their treaty rights.

"I hope when people see us all come together that they'll get the message we're not divided, that we're not happy with the way the government deals with us," Peters said.

The Star said Idle No More protesters near Marysville, Ontario, forced VIA Rail passenger trains to stop between Toronto and Montreal and Toronto and Ottawa. It's the third time the tracks have been blocked recently.

CN Rail spokesman Jim Feeny said rail traffic was blocked near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.