If you’re heading west from Kenora be prepared to this evening you better to spend a bit of time in traffic at the Ontario/Manitoba border.
The Southern Chiefs Organization of Manitoba is planning a protest for around 5:30 p.m. on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Grand Chief Daniels says the blockade is aimed at Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister.
“(It’s) squarely aimed at him…the way he conducts himself and how he treats First Nations. All we have seen is the erosion of our rights and the taking-away and digging into our pockets,” says Daniels.
Daniels says the protest is just one way of getting the politicians attention.
“People want us to just stand on the side of the road,” says Daniels, “…’oh just let us (through) so we can get to our cabins!’ I think people need to deal with this seriously, and if we don’t get in their way, then they don’t care!”
He says the plan is to only hold up traffic for about five to ten minutes at a time.
“We hope people will join us and dance…that’s our hope. We don’t want to cause people problems, we just want to be heard and be treated fairly. I think every person…every human being deserves that.”
A spokesperson for the Manitoba RCMP says they are aware of the planned protest and will both respect and protect the right to a lawful protest.
They add their only role will be to ensure the safety of everyone involved and will notify the public via social media about the expected delays.
Ontario Provincial Police will also be on-site for similar reasons.
