It was a symbolic start to the day for Walpole Island protesters taking part in the #ShutDownCanada initiative.
Theo Blackbird-John, the event organizer, said an eagle flew overhead as the protest began.
“It was a sign… we had an eagle fly over, just about half an hour into it,” Blackbird-John told the Sydenham Current. “He came, and I never see an eagle out this way. He did a couple of circles and took off towards the Island.”
Blackbird-John added: “It happened while the cops came up to speak with us. It was really symbolic. It’s unfortunate that we have to come to this point in time and take to the streets as grassroots and come up with these resources. The Government of Canada has the resources available to provide the education needed and create the awareness that we need right now in Canada.”
Blackbird-John said the #ShutDownCanada initiative is focused on asking the Federal government to take a deeper look into the statistics of missing and murdered indigenous women across Canada.
“The missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada might not effect our family, it might not seem like it,” he said. “It’s not in our house, it’s not in our family at all, but it effects all of us.”
Blackbird-John said the rally was off the a great start
“We’re having lots of passing motorists honking their horns,” he said. “Obviously there is a presence of authorities as the OPP are here. They have come and talked to us this morning, they were first on the scene even before us. It was nice, they are supporting our initiative wholeheartedly and they are slowing the traffic down and making it a really safe event.”
The protest is set to take place until 5 p.m. at Dufferin Avenue and Highway 40.
Watch for more on this story.
Here are some photos from the event:
