Words and Images by Spencer Colby.

In the afternoon of Family Day members of the Ottawa Community, concerned citizens, activists and campaigners gathered at Confederation Park, in support of the Wet’suwet’en peoples who are currently protesting against the Royal Canadian Mountain Police (RCMP) occupation of Indigenous land.

Over the course of the afternoon hundreds of peoples from the community gathered at Confederation Park to commence the walking protest, with songs and chants. Protestors walked throughout the downtown core of Ottawa, pausing to do hand-dances, chants and song and drum performances. Protestors finished their demonstration outside of the Prime Minister’s Office which is located outside of Parliament Hill.

Throughout the past 2 weeks protests have swept throughout the country as the RCMP has occupied Wet’suwet’en territory in B.C. This banner was at the front of the protest.
For almost the entirety of the protest drummers performed various Indigenous songs in solidarity of Indigenous and Wet’suwet’en peoples.
Charlie Angus is the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament (MP) of Timmins, James Bay who gave a short speech in honour of the Wet’suwet’en peoples and the protest occurring both in Ottawa and throughout the country.
Hundreds of people throughout the city turned out for the protest including children and elderly peoples.
Indigenous performer Makhena Guerin performed a dance as the protest stopped by the By Ward Market.
Protestors walked from Confederation Park down to the Canal and up to the Byward Market via Colonel by Drive. Protests blocked all ways of traffic while chanting, singing and stopping in various spots to perform dances and have short talks.
An organizer of the event hands out an information brochure to passer by along the Rideau Canal skate way. Protesters walked along a small section of the Rideau Canal before crossing over to Colonel By Drive and continuing their protest towards the By Ward Market.
Throughout the Indigenous practice of smudging took place. Smudging is a cultural practice utilized by Indigenous peoples in Canada and throughout other parts of the world and is used for medicinal and practical purposes and during ceremonies.
The Ottawa Police Service was unaware of this protest however, the OPS established numerous roadblocks in anticipation of protestors demonstration throughout the downtown core.

Feature image by Spencer Colby.

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