Idle No More rallies took place in Regina and Saskatoon on Friday as part of a global day of protest.
While First Nations leaders met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa, a group of grannies braved the cold and drifts of snow in Regina as part of an organized march.
The group of seniors walked down Dewdney Avenue blocking traffic as they trudged toward Albert Street about four blocks away.
Phyllis Kretschmer, 76, helped organize the march.
She says it is important for young people to know all generations support their push for positive change.
“We’re supporting them. I admire them, I do. We are supporting the young people. They’re voicing out, they’re not resting – they know what’s going on. They’re smarter than we are.”
About two dozen people took part in the march, some of whom were in their 70’s and 80’s.
Over at the University of Regina, about 200 people took part in a flash-mob round dance.
The round dance took place at the Riddell Centre during the noon hour.
Shuhnais Soucy, one of the event’s organizers, says people need to be educated about what is behind the Idle No More movement.
“A great turnout happened. I wanted people to know who Theresa Spence is, why we are doing this, why everyone is involved and why this is on the news. Why everyone is enraged but why we are peaceful because that’s how are people are – we do things through our voices because that’s what our ancestors taught us to do.”
Among the speakers was First Nations University of Canada Students’ Association President Brad Bellegarde.
He says events like this get people talking and was impressed with the crowd.
In Saskatoon, about 150 activists braved the cold to gather in a downtown Saskatoon park.
The activists met in Friendship Park before marching down 20th Street to the White Buffalo Youth Centre.
John Sugar, one of the movement’s Saskatoon organizers, says he hopes some positive results come out of the meeting in Ottawa between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nations leaders but it is at the grassroots where the real changes are happening.
“Idle No More is a little bit bigger than what is going on in Ottawa, this is an issue that is affecting us as human beings.”
A number of First Nations chiefs boycotted the Ottawa meeting with the Prime Minister including Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence who did not attend.
And about 10 to 15 people in Pelican Narrows also staged a demonstration near the bridge into the community.
RCMP said the demonstration was peaceful.