Hwy 17 traffic slowdown planned for Serpent River First Nation

A spokesperson for Serpent River First Nation told SooToday.com this afternoon that there will be a traffic slowdown on Hwy 17 in that community tomorrow, Wednesday, January 16.

Later, we received the following details by e-mail:

"Serpent First Nation and the Idle No More movement have invited Chiefs and their Band Members, along the North Shore as well as Manitoulin Island to a Information Sharing and Highway slow down on Highway 17 west of Spanish ON. Within the Serpent River First Nation. Adjacent to the Serpent River Trading Post and Gas Bar.
 
"From 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., this event will include scheduled prayer and ceremony next to the Trading Post, which will not interfere with highway traffic.  Information pamphlets related to the Idle No More movement and the specific issues and impacts related to SRFN will be distributed to all event participants.  In addition, event participants will be invited to participate in information sharing sessions next to the Trading Post."

At this time, we have received no information about possible activity elsewhere in SooToday.com country.

Earlier today, we received the following e-mail from Serpent River First Nation Chief Chief Isadore Day (shown in file photo):

"There are a number of slow-downs and teach-ins tomorrow in the North shore of Lake Huron region as part of the National Day of Action. Words are not enough! So we will start by taking up a greater effort to engage.

"In other parts of the province...there is more direct action to affect the economy. We support this and won't be far behind if things continue to spin endlessly into nothing but talk and political rhetoric.

"At this time we in Serpent River First Nation feel its more important to educate than to frustrate traffic.

"It is becoming clear however that the work that is truly needed will include foundational restructuring in the Crown-First Nation relationship. The AFN has made an attempt to put 8 items on table, less than half were accepted by the Prime Minister. This Harper government is going to be forced to examine fundamental changes in the way he approaches First Nations in this country. A recent Supreme Court ruling classifying non-status and metis as 'Indians' is a looming constitutional challenge that Harper can't run from. First Nations are not only going to expect change in our relationship - but even more so now, the recognition of Indigenous sovereignty is the only course to take as a country - soon we'll all be 'Indians' and that won't be practical. Jurisdictional discussion, debate and development is crucial. Citizenship, child welfare, economic, elections, etc., are just some very pressing issues that we must resolve if Canada is to achieve integrity in its relationship with the first peoples of this land.

"Harpers plans to discuss treaty from a policy perspective with the AFN will not be tolerated or accepted - this is the sentiment of over 90% of treaty chiefs in the country. Domestication of First Nation treaties in Canada is also a solvent that will remove the very foundation of the principles that the Royal Proclamation was founded on.

"Most First Nation communities and treaty regions have the people necessary to do the mental navigation to put our governance systems in place. We are getting ready to do much of this work, with or without government - first we must seize control of what is rightfully ours; our territories and our resources. Its time for Canada to take notice."