Rail lines blockaded in Kent County, NB, CAN


Aboriginal protesters close off lines as part of Idle No More movement

BY GAIL HARDING

TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF (2013.01.06)

ADAMSVILLE - Native flags, colourful signs and the sounds of drums were on dis­play yesterday along Route 126 in Adamsville.

Members of the Elsipogtog First Nation set up a blockade yesterday in this Kent County community of the Canadian National rail line that links Moncton to Miramichi and northern New Brunswick. The blockade was part of the Idle No More protests being held across Canada. The actions are against the federal government's recently passed Bill C-45.

The blockade ended last night at 7 p.m. A number of attempts were made to contact protest organizers to determine if they would be returning to the site this morning to continue the protest.

The protest was organized by the Sikniktuk Mi'kmaq Rights Coalition based in Elsipogtog. This was the second protest they have held as part of the Idle No More movement. The first protest was a traffic slowdown on Highway 11 near Kouchibouguac days before Christmas.

John Levi was one of about 15 protesters standing in the light snowfall and cold yesterday afternoon.

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Protesters blockade CN Rail line between Moncton and northern N.B.

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Levi said the protest was being held in support of Theresa Spence, chief of Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario, who has been on a hunger strike since mid-December. Spence has been asking to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss First Nations treaty rights. It was announced yesterday the two are scheduled to meet in a week, on Jan. 11.

'We are waiting for Harper to meet with Theresa Spence,' Levi said. 'And we are tired of sitting … doing nothing.' As others cut branches and wood for a small fire to keep war m, Levi spoke about his community's involvement in the protests.

'We are staying here for four days, 24 hours,' he said yesterday afternoon. 'There will be someone here at all times.' Despite saying they would remain at the site for four days, the protesters left early yesterday evening.

CN spokesman Jim Feeny said last night that CN Rail engineers inspected the track where the blockade occurred. Once it was confir med safe, 'we began the process of moving normal passenger and freight traffic.' The westbound Via Rail passenger train headed to northern New Brunswick passed through the area shortly after 8 p.m.

Feeny said it is not known if the protesters will return to the site to continue the blockade today.

The protesters said earlier yesterday they would allow the Via Rail passenger train to go through. It was expected to travel on the Newcastle Junction line early yesterday evening on its way to Miramichi.

Instead of allowing the train to go through, Via Rail had planned to put passengers from the fully booked train on charter buses and send them to Miramichi.

When the protestors heard what Via Rail was doing, they pointed out they were still causing an inconven ience to the rail line.

'The only train we are stopping is the CN cargo train,' said Levi.

When asked how they would prevent the train from going through, Levi said he would put his truck across the tracks if he had to.

'If they try to force their way through then we will block the Via one also.' But the likelihood the protesters would see any trains this weekend is slim. Feeny did confir m the company had shut down that section of the line yesterday afternoon, advising Via Rail of the closure.

Feeny said CN will monitor the situation if the blockade continued over the weekend.

'We are presently evaluating the situation.' District 5 RCMP and CN Rail police are monitoring the situation.

The native protesters say they picked the spot because it is traditional native land and Adamsville was the site of a trading post.

'My great-grandfather was here in 1901,' said Levi.

As protesters of all ages came and went from the blockade, some motorists honked in support of those waving signs. As they walked back and forth to stay warm, Noel Augustine and Cathy Levi spoke about their community's support for the Idle No More protests and the support for Spence. Six of their community members are in Ottawa on Victoria Island with Spence. One man, Joseph Jean Sock, joined Spence on her hunger strike on Dec. 18. Cathy Levi described the man as a warrior, a sun dancer who was becoming weaker daily.

The community has raised funds to help with travel costs for those staying in Ottawa.

'We needed to help them (with) food and clothing and to get them back and forth.' Both said they are very committed to the Idle No More movement and the fight against Bill C-45.

'At the end of the day you can't drink your dollar. We still need our water,' said Augustine.

RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

It was not known last night if the blockade will resume today.