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Grassy Narrows First Nation members and their supporters began walking from their community in northwestern Ontario to protest provincial and corporate destruction of their forests on their traditional lands. They will be arriving at Queen's Park on Monday to be part of the four day camp at Queen's Park.

Click here to see their Protecting Mother Earth web site  for more information.

From London Free Press

Natives plan camp at Queen's Park

By JONATHAN JENKINS, SUN MEDIA QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU, May 23, 2008 

TORONTO -- Natives plan a four-day encampment on the grounds of Queen's Park leading up to the national Day of Action on May 29, in part hoping to bring greater attention to the seven native leaders now behind bars on contempt convictions.

"We're telling everybody that especially for the KI-6, they were incarcerated for saying no to drilling on our land," Kitchenumahkoosib Innunuwug spokesperson Susan Nanokeesic said yesterday.

"Our land is precious to us. It's our livelihood."

Six members of the KI band were convicted of contempt of court in March after protesting the presence of mining firm Platinex, and sentenced to six months in jail.

Yesterday, Platinex announced it was suing the Ontario government for $70 million, claiming it was unfairly prevented from developing its claim -- 360 kilometres north of Thunder Bay near Big Trout Lake -- by the KI First Nation and Ontario failed to properly consult with the band.

Ardoch Algonquin First Nation leader Bob Lovelace, who was convicted in February, also is serving a six-month jail term for protesting against a proposed uranium mine -- and is now on a hunger strike.

Nanokeesic said she expects at least 3,000 people to join the tent rally at Queen's Park between May 26-29, including a busload of about 50 KI members.

The four-day tent rally at Queen's Park will include sunrise ceremonies, round-the-clock drumming, singing and speakers. It culminates with the national Day of Action, organized by the Assembly of First Nations