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Protesters on the CN rail tracks that cross the Yellowhead Highway west of Portage la Prairie. The CN Rail police were on the scene to alert the conductor, and the westbound train stopped about a kilometre away from the protesters. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
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Idle No More protesters headed up Memorial Boulevard towards the Manitoba Legislative Building Wednesday morning. (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
A rail blockade just west of Portage la Prairie is going ahead despite the frigid temperatures.
Organizer Kylo Prince said participants are gathering this morning at the Red Sun Gas Bar on Highway 6, just off the Perimeter, and will be at the rail crossings by noon, where they will be met by others who are waiting for them.
Prince said this morning?s blockade is part of a national campaign and the last peaceful attempt to pressure the Harper government to withdraw the controversial Bill C-45, adding if this fails violent actions will take place.
Prince, from the Long Plain First Nation, said the Portage blockade has been organized by the American Indian Movement, adding that the street demonstrations organized by the Idle No More group have only angered the rest of society and have had little impact.
"AIM has been around a lot longer than Idle No More," Prince said. "I don?t think the government cares if we?re dancing in the streets."
Prince said the decision to blockade the railroad is an attempt to step up the pressure.
"The government didn?t really care when we were blocking traffic and dancing in the streets but if we block rail lines, that affects corporations and we?ll interrupt their dollars," Prince said.
Bill C-45 is an omnibus budget bill introduced in the Commons in October that amends legislation in 64 other acts and has since passed and received royal assent. Native groups believe the series of changes proposed in the legislation erode indigenous rights, specifically portions of the act that apply to the Indian Act, the Navigation Protection Act, and the Environmental Assessment Act.
There are two rail lines that cross the TransCanada Highway just west of Portage, owned by CN and CP railways.
"We cannot sit by and allow our land to be raped and our water destroyed," Prince said.
Prince said all Canadians will be affected by the legislative changes, not just native people.
Organizers are calling on supporters to turn out for the rail blockade outside Portage la Prairie today as the country gears up for the next round of blockades and rallies from coast to coast.
In The Pas, Facebook supporters are circulating word of another rail blockade to be held by Pukatawagan First Nation supporters today.
In addition to rail blockades, there are also plans for rallies along stretches of the Trans-Canada Highway on Thursday. The biggest planned event circulating on Facebook is planned for the Trans-Canada exit to Banff, just west of Calgary.
In Winnipeg, organizers issued a Facebook call for supporters to meet at the Red Sun Gas Bar on Highway 6 at the Perimeter Highway at 10 a.m. today. From there, a convoy will head to the Trans-Canada and Yellowhead exit.
Last month, there was a similar blockade in the same general area with the RCMP rerouting traffic. This time, the focus is rail traffic.
Both Canadian Pacific and Canadian National have their own police forces, but their corporate offices had yet to issue a statement on how they plan to handle the blockades.
Dozens of demonstrations in support of Idle No More, including flash-mob round dances in malls, have been peaceful, but blockades of rail lines and roads have upset travellers who faced delays.
The Idle No More movement started in December to protest federal omnibus bills and other legislation aboriginal people say erodes treaty rights, threatens fisheries and protection of lakes and rivers in Canada.
aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
Source: http://www.brandonsun.com/breaking-news/portage-area-site-of-latest-native-protest-187079591.html
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