Protestors gathered at the Alberta Legislature to support the Idle No More movement Sunday.
The movement is trying to draw attention to First Nations concerns about Bill C-45.
“Within Bill C-45 there’s other effects that are going to affect Canadians, not just First Nations people,” co-organizer Victor Horseman said.
“With this Bill and with the Water Acts changes within Bill C-45, we’re all going to be affected by it.”
People also turned out to show solidarity with Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, who has been fasting to draw national attention to the issue.
“I love what Chief Spence is doing and I would like to stand in solidarity with her and really help her and give her a voice,” Barb Adekat said.
Adekat told CTV News she travelled nine hours from High Level to be a part of the gathering.
She said she was inspired by Chief Spence.
“She is a true warrior spirit and a very big inspiration to all of us.
“She has awakened our spirits.”
“This is just a part of what is really going on,” protestor Conway Kootenay explained.
“We need a meeting with a federal government and the Nations not bureaucrat to bureaucrat.
“We need these people to meet with our Nations, sit down and work this out and that’s what we’re going to get.”
NDP MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona Rachel Notley turned out to speak to those at the rally.
She told CTV News she supported the movement.
“There has been so much going on both federally as well as provincially that truly challenges and undermines our First Nations people both on reserve as well as off reserve.
“We need for there to be a genuine commitment to true reconciliation with our indigenous people in this land and that won’t happen the way things are now.”
Similar gatherings were held around the country for the Idle No More movement.
With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith
