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| Native Canadian groups in protest 'day of action' | Native Canadian groups in protest 'day of action' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of First Nations Canadians have launched protests over treaty disputes and budget bills they say weaken environmental oversight. | Thousands of First Nations Canadians have launched protests over treaty disputes and budget bills they say weaken environmental oversight. |
| In a "day of action" organised by grassroots group Idle No More, hundreds of people slowed traffic on a bridge linking Ontario with the US. | In a "day of action" organised by grassroots group Idle No More, hundreds of people slowed traffic on a bridge linking Ontario with the US. |
| Demonstrations were being held in at least six provinces on Wednesday. | Demonstrations were being held in at least six provinces on Wednesday. |
| But Canadian PM Stephen Harper's office said the government had no plans to change the legislation in question. | But Canadian PM Stephen Harper's office said the government had no plans to change the legislation in question. |
| "We don't want to inconvenience people too much," protest organiser Lorena Garvey-Shepley told CBC News at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and the US state of Michigan. | "We don't want to inconvenience people too much," protest organiser Lorena Garvey-Shepley told CBC News at the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and the US state of Michigan. |
| "But we want to be in places that are going to get us noticed and allow us to get our information out." | "But we want to be in places that are going to get us noticed and allow us to get our information out." |
| 'Towards direct action' | 'Towards direct action' |
| Elsewhere in Canada, authorities and residents braced for major disruptions in traffic. | Elsewhere in Canada, authorities and residents braced for major disruptions in traffic. |
| Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he was concerned the protests would hurt the national economy. | Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he was concerned the protests would hurt the national economy. |
| In Manitoba, protesters shut down a rail line, while the St Mary's First Nation in New Brunswick demonstrated outside the residence of the province's lieutenant governor. | In Manitoba, protesters shut down a rail line, while the St Mary's First Nation in New Brunswick demonstrated outside the residence of the province's lieutenant governor. |
| Demonstrators marched on the British consulate in Toronto, and in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, a crowd performed a dance near Parliament Hill. | Demonstrators marched on the British consulate in Toronto, and in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, a crowd performed a dance near Parliament Hill. |
| "They are taking away our treaty rights, our schooling, all of the things that they signed for," protester Rosalie Chum, told the Globe and Mail newspaper. | "They are taking away our treaty rights, our schooling, all of the things that they signed for," protester Rosalie Chum, told the Globe and Mail newspaper. |
| "We share our land with everyone and they are taking away our rights." | "We share our land with everyone and they are taking away our rights." |
| The protests follow weeks of tension among First Nations chiefs and leaders of the Canadian government. | The protests follow weeks of tension among First Nations chiefs and leaders of the Canadian government. |
| A meeting last week between First Nations chiefs and Prime Minister Stephen Harper ended with pledges by the government to continue "high level" talks on native concerns. | A meeting last week between First Nations chiefs and Prime Minister Stephen Harper ended with pledges by the government to continue "high level" talks on native concerns. |
| But some First Nations leaders boycotted that meeting because it did not include the Queen's representative in Canada, the governor general - they argue the nations signed treaties with the Crown, not the Canadian government. | |
| Also, some chiefs were disappointed that the meeting was not open to more native leaders. | Also, some chiefs were disappointed that the meeting was not open to more native leaders. |
| Chief Allan Adam of the Alberta-based Athabaska Chipewyan First Nation told the CBC News the protests were escalating towards more direct action. | Chief Allan Adam of the Alberta-based Athabaska Chipewyan First Nation told the CBC News the protests were escalating towards more direct action. |
| But some native leaders have warned the demonstrators that the disruption could cost them support from non-native Canadians. | But some native leaders have warned the demonstrators that the disruption could cost them support from non-native Canadians. |