Protesters at an encampment that has been set up in the eastern part of the Manitoba legislature for more than a year have no plans to leave after the noon eviction deadline has come and gone.
Around noon Friday — the deadline the province gave to clear the encampment — one of the organizers of the eastbound encampment climbed the steps of the legislature, beating a drum, and spoke briefly.
Political leaders in Manitoba “continue to legislate, to do everything they can to get rid of us, to put us back in these communities,” said Mary Starr, whose traditional name is Grandmother Bear Who Comes Like the Wind.
“They don’t want us around. It’s not right.”
A sacred fire was lit on legislative grounds in June 2021 following the discovery of suspected unmarked graves in former dormitories. Organizers have said they intend to keep it going until all former school grounds in the country have been searched for burial sites.
But last week the provincial government issued eviction notices to the demonstrators, initially saying the camp must be vacated by Tuesday. Earlier this week, the group was granted an adjournment until Friday lunchtime.
In an email Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the provincial Department of Justice said that although the deadline had passed, the department was continuing “dialogue with the protesters in the camps.”
A police officer at the legislature told a CBC News reporter that they have no plans to evict the protesters on Friday.
Multiple police cars rushed to the Legislature building around noon and officers were inside for several minutes.
Police said they rushed to the Legislature after receiving a gun complaint that turned out to be a false alarm. They had started leaving before 12:30
Last week’s eviction notice came after the provincial government passed legislation earlier this year that gives cabinet members the right to determine what can and cannot happen at the discretion of the legislature. The law prohibits camping, vandalism and blocking of vehicles.
It also prohibits lighting fires on the grounds and placing firewood or other items that would support the camp.
A second encampment, which formed earlier this year and included a large teepee on the front lawn of the legislature, was also ordered to leave.
This camp was previously linked to vehicles parked nearby that had messages posted on them opposing public health restrictions against COVID-19.
Leaders of the eastern camp say they are not affiliated with the other group.
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