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Solidarity blockade of Highway 6 bypass continues, drivers told to expect delays

The Highway 6 bypass has been blocked since Feb. 24.

The road has been blocked since Feb. 24

Indigenous protesters near Six Nations of the Grand River blocked Highway 6 in Caledonia, Ont. show their support for the Wet'suwet'en protests on Feb. 25, 2020. (Colin Cote-Paulette)

The Highway 6 bypass remains blocked by demonstrators, and provincial police are warning drivers to expect delays.

The road has been shut down between Argyle Street South and Greens Road in Caledonia since Feb. 24.

Police describe the blockade as "solidarity demonstrations."

Colleen Davis, a member of the Mohawk Nation (Bear Clan), previously told CBC the highway will be blocked until the demands of the Wet'suwet'en people, who oppose construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through their territory in northern B.C., are met.

"The onus is now on Justin Trudeau, on the OPP, on the RCMP to withdraw from our territories," she said.

"We have our own self-governing systems that we abide by and that's what we are standing up for. That's how we're going to get things moving forward … if they can come appreciate and acknowledged the true title owners of the lands."

On Sunday a Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief and senior government ministers said they had reached a proposed arrangement to acknowledge land title rights.

'We've come up with an arrangement,' Wet'suwet'en hereditary chief says

5 years ago
Duration 1:00
Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief Woos says a new 'arrangement' with senior government ministers will create a 'better outlook' for disputes that occur on traditional territory.

But the parties still disagree on how to move forward with the controversial pipeline.

Federal ministers would not give details on the proposed arrangement, saying it first has to be reviewed by the Wet'suwet'en people.

In the meantime, the blockade in Caledonia continues.

"Please be patient if impacted," the OPP stated in a media release Monday morning. "Use [an] alternate route."

On Sunday police also advised drivers of a "march" taking place on Main Street near King Street and ending at First Line in Hagersville.