A major highway and rail corridor in Canada have been closed because of protests by aboriginals highlighting their poverty and land claims.
Aboriginal groups across Canada are holding a day of marches and protests to highlight poverty and social issues facing their communities.
The blockades are part of a nationwide day of action by Canada's indigenous people, or First Nations.
More than 1,000 people marched in the capital, Ottawa, and 50 events were planned nationwide, an official said.
Police closed a section of the main highway in Ontario province between Toronto and Montreal, and trains between the two cities were cancelled.
Organisers had called for a peaceful demonstrations, but a major highway was closed for several hours after protesters blocked a nearby road.
Canada is to mark its national day on 1 July with a three-day weekend.
A rail line was also blocked, and train service suspended on two key routes.
Police closed a section of Highway 401 - Canada's busiest road - early on Friday after native protesters blockaded a nearby secondary highway and a stretch of railway track on Thursday night.
In Ottawa, Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, an umbrella group representing Canada's indigenous groups, led marchers who chanted and beat drums. Some protesters set up tents on Parliament Hill.
Ontario provincial police said they had taken the measure "for safety reasons".
"We want our people to be treated with dignity and respect," Mr Fontaine said.
"We are looking for the basic necessities of life that come with being Canadian."
Blockades
The BBC's Ian Gunn, in Vancouver, says that the First Nations leaders have had a difficult line to walk.
They wanted to stir their communities into action in order to raise the profile of issues such as suicide, alcoholism, poverty and poor living conditions on First Nations reserves.
We want the government to know, and the rest of this country, that we're prepared to make commitments and sacrifices to ensure a safe, healthy environment in which our children can live Shawn BrantMohawk Nation
We want the government to know, and the rest of this country, that we're prepared to make commitments and sacrifices to ensure a safe, healthy environment in which our children can live Shawn BrantMohawk Nation
But they are well aware of the anger and frustration in many of their communities, our correspondent adds.
Some demonstrators disrupted parts of Canada's transport network.
Police closed a section of Highway 401 - Canada's busiest road - early on Friday after a small group of native Mohawk protesters blockaded a nearby secondary highway and a stretch of railway track on Thursday night.
Ontario provincial police said they had taken the measure "for safety reasons", and the road was later reopened.
Canada's national passenger rail service, Via Rail, suspended all services between Toronto and Montreal and the national capital, Ottawa, because of the blockade.
Canada's national passenger rail service, Via Rail, suspended all services between Toronto and Montreal and the national capital, Ottawa, because of the blockade.
The company said 5,000 travellers had been affected but it expected normal service to resume on Saturday.
The company said 5,000 travellers had been affected but it expected normal service to resume on Saturday.
First Nations groups across the country are holding marches and rallies to raise awareness of what some describe as developing world living conditions.
Shawn Brant, a member of the Mohawk Nation leading transport blockades in eastern Ontario, promised to use force if the police acted aggressively against his group, saying it was "no secret" there were guns in the camp.
The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, an umbrella group representing Canada's indigenous groups, has called for peaceful and non-disruptive protests.
"We want the government to know, and the rest of this country, that we're prepared to make commitments and sacrifices to ensure a safe, healthy environment in which our children can live," he told the Canadian Press news agency.
"We want Canadians to join us, to walk with us, to accept First Nations people as an integral part of the country," said Phil Fontaine.
"We don't want to impede the Canadian economy but we want Canadians to pay attention to our issues."
'We have guns'
But Shawn Brant, a member of the Mohawk Nation leading transport blockades in eastern Ontario, promised to use force if the police acted aggressively against his group, saying it was "no secret" there were guns in the camp.
The First Nations chief wants more awareness of aboriginal issues"We want the government to know, and the rest of this country, that we're prepared to make commitments and sacrifices to ensure a safe, healthy environment in which our children can live," he told the Canadian Press news agency.
Ontario police issued a warrant for Mr Brant on a charge of mischief, but Julian Fantino, a provincial police commissioner, said he wanted to avoid conflict.
Ontario police issued a warrant for Mr Brant on a charge of mischief, but Julian Fantino, a provincial police commissioner, said he wanted to avoid conflict.
"We're certainly in a position where we want to demonstrate goodwill," the Ottawa Citizen newspaper quoted him saying.
"We're certainly in a position where we want to demonstrate goodwill," the Ottawa Citizen newspaper quoted him saying.
Unresolved land claims
Unresolved land claims
There have been violent confrontations with police in the past.
There have been violent confrontations with police in the past.
Canada's native people face much higher than average poverty
In 1995 a native protester was killed in Ontario and in 1990 a Quebec police officer was killed in a stand-off with police outside Montreal.
In 1995 a native protester was killed in Ontario and in 1990 a Quebec police officer was killed in a stand-off with police outside Montreal.
There are about 1.3 million people in Canada with aboriginal ancestry out of a total population of 33 million, according to a 2001 census.
There are about 1.3 million people in Canada with aboriginal ancestry out of a total population of 33 million, according to a 2001 census.
Many live on impoverished reserves where unemployment, suicide and drug and alcohol abuse levels are much higher than the national average.
Many live on impoverished reserves where unemployment, suicide and drug and alcohol abuse levels are much higher than the national average.
An additional source of frustration are the 800 unresolved land claims by First Nations across the country.
An additional source of frustration are the 800 unresolved land claims by First Nations across the country.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he will introduce legislation later this year aimed at cutting the average time taken to resolve claims from 13 years to three years.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said he will introduce legislation later this year aimed at cutting the average time taken to resolve claims from 13 years to three years.
Are you affected by the highway protests? Is it a good way to draw attention to the issues of native Canadians? What should be done about the higher levels of unemployment and the problems with suicide, drugs and alcohol on impoverished reserves? Send us your views.
This forum is now closed.
The Canadian society has a very high debt towards the indigenous peoples. We whites have such a high standard of living in part because they have been robbed of everything in the past: their land, their children, their cultural identity. It is about time we all start to share. I'm prepared to abandon parts of my convenience, and if the only problem is that I have to be a bit more patient when going from spot A to spot B in my oversized van, then I must say that is indeed only a tiny sacrifice. Reinhard, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
The sad part of this issue reflects on the inability of some of the fist nations members to take responsibility for their own lack of ambition. We understand the historical issues of land being 'taken' however, there seems to be little worthwhile use or endeavour being gained by first nations groups of all the currently owned lands.There are some excellent examples of industrious and successful first nations endeavours in British Columbia, notably the ones not protesting irresponsibly!If you educate, work and use the resources available now then poverty and substance abuse will reduce accordingly.As it is now first nations are provided a tax free existence at the cost of productive Canadians, have full availability of healthcare and pensions with no contributions and still the 'few' radicals can do nothing constructive. I respect the pride of genuine first nation members who have borne arms for Canada and England for that matter; there are two sides to every story, show me the other objective side please.David Radford, Kingston, Ontario
Although Canadians have a long history of not interfering with protest as part of democratic tradition, it needs to be noted this is an illegal protest. Blocking a busy stretch of highway, and shutting down the busiest rail corridor, doesn't bring honest Native Canadians support. Instead, it frustrates and upsets everyone that armed thugs can hijack our society, that the provincial police are making deals with a known criminal element, and that the politicians have closed their doors so as to not be reigned into a politically explosive issue of their making. The issues of poverty and land claims affecting Native Canadians require resolution. Punishing all Canadians and threatening armed violence if confronted based on an umbrella framework of societal ills - is simply criminal activists seeking thrills at other's expenses. Shame on Harper for not having a spine.Karim Sultan, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Sadly, all Canadians are affected by these protests. Economically , it hurts us all. Internationally its an embarrassment.Alex, Montreal,Canada
I am aware of the issues that concern first nations peoples and I believe they have every right to protest and raise awareness for their concerns. I can tell you however, that disrupting my life in no way endears their cause to me. And it baffles me to think that they haven't considered the fact that they are disrupting the lives of and angering VOTERS. We all have votes that might come back and bite the butts of the protestors if they don't consider their actions more carefully. Just ask the people who are stranded on the long weekend thanks to the protests. Most of them are unlikely to be sympathetic to the cause.Michelle C, Ottawa, Canada
This is ridiculous. We are paying through the nose so these people can live for free in these compounds. The last thing they need is money. They need work ethic, a sense of responsibility and they need to drop this self victimization. This is like a lazy spoilt child who's grandfather was abused at some point, and now the child feels like he should get more and more and more. Instead of disrupting the economy try adding to it. And since when do 'peaceful' protesters issue gun threats to the public and the police? Daniel Frampton, Halifax, Canada
I like within an hour of Ottawa and I think that the highway protests won't accomplish what is intended. It has only angered other Canadians trying to go about their daily activities. The government needs to take responsibility for the problems in reserves, not humour highway blockades. Hannah Burleton, Alexandria, Ontario
I sympathize with the First Nations (FN) people, but basically the issue is one rooted in an old history now. Social problems on reserves are no longer the fault of the Anglo-Saxon ancestors of modern day Canadians. It is up to the FN people to tackle these problems themselves (drugs/alcohol... nobody's forcing a bottle to your mouth). They have to heal themselves from within, however they can within the current constraints of Canadian society.Stephen, Toronto, Canada
I am not effected yet by the highway display of protest. I do feel how ever that the Indians or any one from other countries should be treated just as Canadians are treated. This of course means paying taxes, and obeying the laws of Canada where ever they leave. This is a wonderful country and we have this freedom of speech because of rule and regulations. Any one who jeopardizes others on our roads or highways should be arrested and put in jail to cool off and think of their actions. I also suggest a fine of wrongful behaviour on a road or highway. Drugs, suicide and alcohol and in any nationality not just our NATIVEDeanna Ross, Guelph Ontario Canada
The issue of poverty among First Nations people here in Canada is an international issue. The marginalization of these peoples is not at all unlike that experienced by the majority of the world's population (noticeably prevalent among Indigenous populations of all nations; specifically in Latin America, Australia, Africa) from an international political-economic order imposed by the hand of a powerful minority. Editorials in Canadian newspapers today express a widely held belief among urban Canadians: the inability to adapt and integrate into the Canadian economy leaves the First Nations people at fault for the majority of their problems. Indeed this is no far cry from the policy of racist and abusive 'residential schools' introduced in 20th century Canada to 'assimilate' natives into the 'general population'. Perhaps what is actually at play is that the marginalization of First Nations people in Canada gives the urban middle class a taste of a suffocating poverty so embedded! In the international system that they are neither prepared nor willing to understand.Terrence, Kingston, Canada
