Canada's passenger rail system suspended yesterday's service on two key routes because of worries that Canadian Indians might block a railway during a day of protests over poverty, poor health care and lack of education on their reservations.
Provincial premiers and territorial leaders issued a rare joint statement on Thursday acknowledging that Indian tribes were understandably disappointed and frustrated with past injustices, but urging that yesterday's demonstrations should be peaceful.
Most of the events planned for yesterday were peaceful marches, but there were concerns that protesters in eastern Ontario could blockade a rail line.
Mohawk leader Shawn Brant was the lone voice promoting hard-line militancy during the "day of action."
Mohawk protesters began a protest on Thursday night by parking a school bus and a pickup truck across a highway near Deseronto, Ontario, and turned back traffic in both directions.
Men, women and children in army-style fatigues, their hair braided back or shaved in traditional Mohawk style, began arriving at a makeshift camp outside Deseronto just after 5pm.
Brant said he was prepared to "meet force with force" if police got in their way.
"We've made no secret that we have guns within this camp," Brant said. "It's our intent to go out and ensure a safe day. Unfortunately, previous incidents have shown that aggressive tactics by the police need to be met with equal resistance by the people."
The Bay of Quinte Mohawks, organized by Brant, blocked the railway near Deseronto, Ontario, in April, paralyzing service on that busy route. He threatened to repeat the blockade yesterday and also possibly block Canada's busiest highway in Toronto.
The chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Phil Fontaine, called for peaceful actions.
Earlier this month Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper proposed legislation to speed up the legal process to resolve claims by Indians to land taken by the government.
The train cancelations announced on Thursday by Via Rail affected the Montreal-Toronto and Ottawa-Toronto routes. Service was expected to resume today.
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