Sea of blankets marks symbolic return of land to Aboriginals

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 29 June 2001

OTTAWA, Ont. -- An estimated 1,000 blankets were spread across the Supreme Court lawn here on June 21 to mark National Aboriginal Day and the symbolic return of land to North American First Nations people.

The blankets arrived by train from across Canada. After up to 3 1/2 days on the rails collecting blankets from church, Aboriginal and community groups along the way, 70 riders joined over 100 others at the Supreme Court lawn for a rally. "We got over 1,000 blankets," said a jubilant Ed Bianchi of the ecumenical Aboriginal Rights Coalition.

Among the riders were representatives of Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite Church Canada. "This was significant as both a gesture of friendship and a call for change," said to Rick Zerbe Cornelsen of MCC Canada. "Ottawa needs to know that while Aboriginal people can speak for themselves they do not stand alone."

Riders also collected petition signatures as they travelled. The event was part of a national Jubilee petition campaign calling on the federal government to establish an independent commission to implement Aboriginal land rights.

Dave Dyck, executive director of MCC Canada joined other church and community leaders in signing the petition during a ceremony that followed the unrolling of the blankets.

Among the Aboriginal leaders attending were Chief Arthur Manuel of the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, who rode the train from Kamloops, B.C., and former Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Ovide Mercredi. Mercredi spoke to the crowd about the significance of the Supreme Court in the recognition of Aboriginal rights and about the importance of solidarity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org