Students Plan Rally To Support Native Standoff

Students Plan Rally To Support Native Standoff

Friday, April 28, 2006 at 14:00

What is being called an Aboriginal solidarity march and rally is taking place this afternoon at the First Nations University of Canada campus in Saskatoon.

Organizers say the event is intended to be a show of support for the Six Nations protesters at the centre of a tense standoff in Caledonia, Ontario over a land claim dispute.

As well, those taking part in today’s rally plan to march from the FNUC campus to Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott’s office in Saskatoon.

Organizers are calling for anyone to come out and show their deep opposition to the possible appointment of Vellacott as the Chair of the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Northern Affairs.

Vellacott has angered many in the Aboriginal community for trying to defend two police officers convicted for abandoning a Native man on the city’s outskirts in freezing weather.

The rally begins at 3:00 pm. Members of the public have been invited to attend.