March in Review, Part I Aboriginal programs face cuts, Greenpeace faces grassroots and Canadian government faces new lawsuit http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/3274

A military analyst from Queen's University warned conditions are ripe for—and that Canada is vulnerable to—a possible uprising of Indigenous peoples across the country. He said the mix of grievances of Aboriginal communities—including lack of adequate housing—and their proximity to Canada's resource supply chains places them in a position where they could lead a major economic disruption.A new report revealed tuberculosis rates in Inuit communities to be 185 per cent higher than in the rest of Canada. The spread of tuberculosis in northern communities dates back to outbreaks of the disease when European colonists infected Inuit communities. An Inuit health official said the rate of infection will only decrease once housing, food security and access to health care are improved.

The Halalt First Nation in British Columbia continued their blockade of the Chemainus river in protest of a plan to dig wells into the underground aquifers flowing from the river. The Halalt believe more impact assessments are in order and that the plan goes against their traditional rights to protect the water source found on their territory.Indigenous of the Cheam reserve of the Pilalt/Sto:lo people faced charges of defiance of government fishing regulations in Chilliwack, BC. The Cheam argued Indigenous sovereignty in court, where a group of Natives and non-Natives attended in solidarity. The judge moved the trial to May 25.

Approximately 500 people gathered at Queen's Park in Oakville, Ontario, demanding a stop to a gas-fired power plant planned for their community. Protesters raised their concerns over the placement of the power plant near homes and schools. The area already suffers from high levels of air pollution and there is a safety concern over the possibility of an explosion.Over 150 people rallied outside the Royal Bank of Canada's Annual General Meeting in Toronto to protest the bank's role financing the Athabasca tar sands. The Toronto demonstration, organized as a part of the Rainforest Action Network's campaign targeting tar sands financiers, was echoed at solidarity actions across Canada.