Indigenous solidarity protests block Highway 6 in Caledonia, delay Hamilton GO trains

Indigenous demonstrationsareblocking Highway 6 in Caledonia and delaying commuter trains along the Lakeshore West GO linein response to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) movingto end the blockade by the Mohawks ofTyendinagaof arail linenear Belleville, Ont.

"It is a solidarity demonstration blockade," Rodney Leclair, an OPPmedia relations officer, toldCBC News about the Highway 6 blockade.

Roughly15 to 20 peopleareprotesting on the tracks with small fires burning on the tracksin the area between Aldershot and Hamilton at the Bayview Junction.

Anne Marie Aikins, a Metrolinx spokesperson, toldCBC News the line between Aldershot GO and Hamilton GO is not operatinguntil further notice as a safety precaution, which stopped trains in the afternoon.

Aikins says trains are stopping at Aldershotand busing people into Hamilton.

The section of the tracks with protestors is owned by CN Rail. Company spokespeople from CN and CP Railalso tellCBC News it isaware of the situation and monitoring it.

Six Nations will defend land 'indefinitely'

A Facebook group calledWet'suwet'en Strong: Hamilton in Solidarity is posting about the blockade, which seems to be organized by a local anarchistgroup.

Sonia Hill, who identifies asMohawkfrom Six Nations of Grand River, sang medicine songs and supporteddemonstrators before voluntarily leaving.

The24-year-old, who is a teaching assistant in sociology atMcMaster University,said the Six Nations will defend their landindefinitely despite fearsshe would be arrested.

"I'm coming back tomorrow ... I'm going to bring my students, make it a part of their credit, their attendance [to]'check in with me at the blockade.'"

Darien Bardy, 20, was also leaving with Hill. She toldCBC Newspolice officers vastly outnumbereddemonstrators on the tracks.

"It not only affects the Indigenous community, it affects everyone," she said.

Hamilton police declined to provide a comment and would not allow media to approach the railroad.

Blockade atHighway 6 in Caledonia

Highway 6 is closed between Argyle Street Southand Greens Road in Caledonia. The protest is close tothe Six Nations reserve just outside Caledonia on the bypass over the Grand River.

The OPP tweeted drivers in the area shouldexpecttraffic delays.

"Please be patient if impacted," the message warns.

Bettee Giles, 71, lives in Caledonia and says she saw a similar demonstration last week. She tells CBC News spent an hour in traffic because of it, but the demonstrationdidn't upset her.

"They were standing there very peacefully," she said.

The demonstrationscomein support of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs in opposition of buildingthe$6-billion Coastal GasLinknatural gas pipeline,restricting the transport of goods across the country over the past two weeks.

And Hill says they won't stop fighting.

"Until RCMPare cleared offWet'suwet'enland ... we'll continue to stand here in Hamilton, we'll continue to stand across Turtle Island and block the rails. This is not it;Hamilton is not it at all."