For the second annual national Aboriginal Day of Action, First Nations demonstrators took a decidedly different approach from last year's barricades.
Thursday, peaceful protesters took to the streets of downtown Toronto in a march that followed a four-day camp-out on the lawns of Queen Park.
Several tents were set up across the front lawn of the Legislature.
"We can easily get, oh, ten to twelve people sleeping in here," reported Jack Lapointe, Ardoch Algonquin. He was one of many native protesters demanding the province get their permission before it allows mining to take place on First Nations lands. First Nations also want politicians take a firmer stand on environmental issues.
Bob Lovelace, an Aboriginal leader who opposed mining in his community, was jailed in February. He was convicted of breaching an injunction that allowed Frontenac Ventures to conduct uranium exploration on his community's territory. He's calling on the province to make changes to its Mining Act, which allows companies to stake claims wherever they want.
Coincidentally, he was released from jail Wednesday and out at Queen's Park Thursday. He said his release showed him that supporting his people was rewarded.
"You can stand up for your rights and that the laws of Canada will prevail," he praised.
Frank de Jong, leader of the Green Party, said that the issue is being studied. "The Minister of Mines is looking at a timetable, but we don't know if they're going to do anything substantive at all or what the time line will be," he acknowledged.
Gloria Keejick of the Grassy Narrows First Nation summarized the demonstrators' goal.
"The message has always been the same right from the beginning - to stop the clear-cuts and stop extracting the trees and also to stop the mineral extraction around the traditional areas," she explained.
Chrissy, of Grassy Narrows First Nations, explained why she was protesting.
"There's been too much environmental damage done to our territory."
"We're fighting for our land and our trees for the future," agreed Israel, also of Grassy Narrows.
James Loney of the Christian Peacemakers Teams, one of two Canadians held hostage for several months in Iraq, was among the demonstrators camped out Thursday morning.
"The native communities are calling for the right to say no to developments on their traditional lands ... and the end of criminalizing native leaders who are standing up for their rights and land," he said.
Lovelace is hopeful that their actions will be successful.
"Most of the people in this legislature over here have a good conscience. People in general are beginning to wake up to the fact that democracy and colonialism can't walk hand in hand," he said.
Thursday's march made its way east across College, south on Bay Street to Front Street and then over to Bathurst.