Mohawks to protest torch run with a ceremony

Page 4

Runners carrying the Olympic torch will meet with non-violent protests in Montreal and Ottawa say groups supporting the Lubicon Lake band's boycott.

The Assembly of First Nations and the Kahnawake Mohawk band near Montreal announced their support of the Lubicon's boycott last week and say when the relay team passes through the Kahnawake reserve it will only meet a ceremony.

Chief Bud Morris says the ceremony will be "creative" and "non-violent", but refused to give further details.

The Assembly of First Nations has distributed letters to the bands and tribal organizations across the country asking for their support for the Lubicon band.

An assembly spokesman said the demonstrations are not aimed at "ordinary" Canadians but rather Petro-Canada and other oil companies "taking revenues out of the Lubicon land."

The torch arrives in Ottawa Dec. 16 coinciding with a meeting of regional leaders of the assembly.