The construction of a gas station on Aamjiwnaang First Nation ran into a blockade of protestors Thursday.
Dozens of demonstrators lined the entrance to the construction zone in the 1700 block of St. Clair Pkwy, near the Blazing Budz pot shop.
Protestor Jada Henry said the situation dates back to 2019 when the community heard that a family was trying to build a gas station in the residential area right along the St. Clair River.
"They have been told numerous times and given other options to build in the community, but they have tried to go ahead and start the construction," said Henry. "[The community] came together and made a petition to stop the construction and put a hold on any new businesses building any further. [The family] still went ahead and put a business on their property, and now fast forward to 2021, they have started the construction for their gas station."
Henry said the situation escalated Thursday morning.
"My grandma, Kim, got a message saying that there were gas tanks in front of our house for construction of their gas station. She came out with her sign and started to stop the traffic going in and out from the property," she said. "I was unaware she was out here this morning. I knew my grandpa had gone to work and then I heard him come in and say 'come on, we're going outside.' So when I came out, I saw my grandma sitting on a chair, and she had her sign she painted herself, and came out and stopped the traffic by herself."
Henry said her grandmother started protesting around 7:30 a.m. and more people started showing up around 8:30 a.m.
Henry said she is very proud of her grandmother.
"Thankfully our community is really close here and we are all in agreement that we do not want a gas station along our riverfront," she said. "Us members of the community and neighbours to the street aren't very happy, so that's why we decided to stop that [construction], just to protect our land, our health, and our water."
Henry said they will continue to protest construction of the gas station, adding that they have the support of Chief Chris Plain and the band council.
"It's all about our clear drinking water. And just with the recent news about the residential schools and having that kind of connection with everybody, it's hard when we're trying to build a connection with people outside of our communities and there's things like this going on within our own communities, within our own people. So just trying to work towards, just a better life for everyone, after our past."
