Six Nations activists close Caledonia street to protest Dakota Access Pipeline

Six Nations opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline closed Caledonia's main street Tuesday as part of a string of protests across Canada and the U.S.

People held signs that read "#NoDAPL" and "Water is life" as they stood on Argyle Street South for about two hours as cars created a long line, waiting to pass. OPP say the street closed between Highway 6 and Braemar Avenue. 

Tuesday was a day of action in support of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota. Tribe members have protested for months against the contentious pipeline, which they say threatens their water. The pipeline will take light sweet crude to Illinois from the Bakken oil field near the Canadian border.

The Standing Rock message hits home for Six Nations, where some members fought Enbridge's reversal of the oil flow in Line 9 in north Hamilton, said Tahnee Williams, spokesperson for the Caledonia protest.

"Indigenous struggle is the same across the board," she said. "We need to stand united and fight this fight together."

"We are hoping to send a message to the oil industry that what is happening at Standing Rock is not OK."

Reaction from people in Caledonia to the protest Tuesday wasn't all positive.

It's been "pretty racist, actually," Williams said. "It's been not the best."

"We've been explaining that this is an issue with everyone in Caledonia. We're here ultimately for their children and their grandchildren."

It isn't the first local protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which would transport light sweet crude to Illinois from the Bakken oil fields near the Canada border.

Earlier this month, hundreds gathered in Gore Park for a protest that included drums and protestors chanting "water is life." There was also a protest at Brantford's Lynden Park Mall this month.