About 20 members of the Mohawk community of Kahnawake demonstrated this morning, to show their support towards an anti-shale gas protest in New Brunswick held on Oct. 17.
The group gathered on the 132 approach to the Mercier Bridge at around 6:30 am on Oct. 18, and began distributing pamphlets on the dangers of shale gas.
"Hydro fracking is not just a native issue," said one of the protesters near the bridge. "It's an issue that concerns everyone -- contaminating the water kills fish, the animals, natives, non natives."
The protesters in New Brunswick, including members of the Elsipogtog First Nation, were making a plea for SWN Resources to stop seismic testing and leave the province.
This demonstration erupted into violence, leading to the arrests of at least 40 people, saw Molotov cocktails used, and resulted in a number of police vehicles being burned.
The Oct. 18 protest near the Mercier, however, has remained peaceful and access to the bridge was not blocked by demonstrators at any point.
Several other demonstrations were held by First Nation's communities across the country in solidarity with the rally held in New Brunswick.
-- with files from the Canadian Press
