No "Day of Action" for Okanagan

Photo: Contributed - CBC

A train waits in the distance on the tracks as protesters block the rail line near the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and the Yellowhead Highway on Wednesday. (Claudine Richard-Beaudoin/CBC)

Today (Wednesday) was supposed to be a “Day of Action”, with Idle No More demonstrations expected to take place all over the country.

In Ontario, police blocked one of two access roads to the Ambassador Bridge – a major trade crossing from Southern Ontario to the United States – to allow for protesters.

Other reports have disruptions taking place in New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia with rallies, flash mobs and prayer circles expected to bring attention to the changes of the Federal Governments controversial omnibus Bill C-45.

Here in the Okanagan, plans are moving noticeably slower. The Okanagan Indian Band which stretches from Vernon to Winfield have no immediate plans for any gatherings and a representative who answered the phone says the group is currently preoccupied with the death of a band member.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance has nothing planned either but the groups executive assistant says there are events coming up later this month.

“I inquired yesterday and I’m aware that it’s a day of action. However, according to our sources, there isn’t anything and at this point I haven’t heard of anything being planned.”

The response was the same from the Westbank First Nation, where Communications Officer Mandi Carroll wrote in an email response saying they are unaware of any events.

Chief Jonathan Kruger of the Penticton Indian Band also told Castanet.net he does not know of any events planned for the day.

“I heard lots of people talking about things across Canada from the grassroots people but I didn’t hear anything,” says Kruger.

“I don’t know, maybe they’ve joined other movements in other places. (Idle No More) is run by the grass roots people and not leadership.”

While media reports prove that it has been a Day of Action in many parts of Canada, the same cannot be said for the Okanagan Valley where it will most likely be remembered as a day of inaction.