Dozens of Indigenous activists protested on the steps of the Senate building Wednesday ahead of the speech from the throne, calling on the Canadian government to respond to two ongoing issues affecting Indigenous communities.
With representatives from various Indigenous communities, demonstrators focused on the state of emergency declared by Mi’kmaq chiefs in Nova Scotia and the Algonquin blockades north of Ottawa.
In Nova Scotia, the Sipekne’katik First Nation started a “moderate livelihood fishery” earlier this month, which is legal according to Mi’kmaq treaty rights.
Non-Indigenous commercial fishermen have protested the Sipekne’katik fishery, often resorting to violence, which has reportedly included cutting Mi’kmaq lobster traps and firing flares at fishing boats.
The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs has declared a state of emergency and is calling on the RCMP and the federal government to intervene.
In Quebec, Algonquin protesters have set up blockades near the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve to protect the local moose populations from non-Indigenous trophy hunters.
Thursday’s demonstration took place only a few steps away from the Senate of Canada Building entrance. A handful of informal speeches and traditional singing and drumming took place.
“We will not achieve justice in this country in the absence of honouring and respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples who are on the front lines of this struggle,” Gazan said.
Dani Lanouette, one of the local youth organizers, said she came to address why moose are important to the survival of Algonquin communities.
“If we lose this moose population, which is at such great risk right now, we lose part of our way of life. So, I’m asking for support for the Algonquin Nation right now in our call for a moratorium on sport hunting for the moose.”
Sophia Sidarous, a member of the Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation in New Brunswick, said she came in solidarity and support of the fellow members of her nation.
She said that she is afraid for her family and the frontline people who are surrounded by racist and non-Indigenous fishermen.
“When I see inaction on Canada’s behalf, it makes me sick how they’re not doing anything to protect our people,” she said. “If it was the opposite, and if we were the ones targeting other people, we would have RCMP shooting us dead.”
Eventually, the Prime Minister’s RCMP motorcade and security detail arrived. Trudeau walked out of the vehicle straight to the Canadian Forces honour guard, where he was met by a series of chants, which drowned out the playing of “O Canada.”
“Justin Trudeau, you are on unceded Algonquin land,” Sidarous said, as Trudeau walked the red carpet and entered the building.
Minutes later, Payette arrived. Upon her arrival, she inspected the honour guard, and then a 21 gun salute began from near the East Block of Parliament. The first Howitzer blast’s sound startled everyone. Protesters were frustrated that it disrupted their ceremony.
The demonstration remained peaceful until a group of far-right and anti-mask protesters confronted the Indigenous demonstrators in a verbal altercation. The situation was quickly de-escalated by a group of older Indigenous activists and members of the Parliamentary Protective Service.
The demonstration ended as Payette delivered the speech from the throne inside the Senate chamber.
“We made our presence known, and Justin Trudeau knows that we’re not going to back down from our chants,” Sidarous said.
Featured Image by Jeff Pelletier
