‘Draw the Line’ rally calls for action on Indigenous sovereignty, climate justice and immigration

The "Draw the Line" rally occurred on Sept. 20 in Fredericton, starting at Fredericton City Hall. (Polina Kozlova/AQ)

On Sept. 20, downtown Fredericton was filled with banners, drums and chants as hundreds gathered for “Draw the Line,” a National Day of Action calling for climate justice, treaty respect and social equity.

The event, part of a coordinated effort across Canada, brought together Indigenous leaders, students, newcomers and residents who agreed that urgent change is needed to protect people and the planet.

Wolastoqiyik Grand Chief Ron Tremblay addressed the crowd from the steps of Fredericton’s City Hall, connecting the rally to the 300th anniversary of the Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1725. (Polina Kozlova/AQ)

“In 1725, our traditional leadership of the Wabanaki Confederacy signed the Peace and Friendship Treaty with the Crown,” Tremblay told the audience. “We want to remind the Crown and the province and various levels of the governments that there’s still a legal binding document that they have not respected in a justful way.”

The speech drew cheers from the crowd, who later marched down Queen Street carrying a banner reading: “For People. For Peace. For the Planet.”

Participants stopped traffic briefly as they crossed intersections, chanting and holding signs calling for renewable energy, fair taxation and migrant justice.

The rally was coordinated by the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and the Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre. (Polina Kozlova/AQ)

Kelly Green, a Fredericton resident, said she came to stand against corporate greed and rising anti-immigrant sentiment.

“Billionaires are not paying their fair share of taxes … and I don’t like what’s happening in terms of the shift toward people blaming immigrants instead of blaming the proper people who are controlling what’s happening,” she said.

For others, the rally was about global solidarity.

“I’m here as a global citizen with great privilege and great responsibility,” said protester Cheryl Watts.

“I’m standing for Indigenous sovereignty, land back [and] end to genocide … so that our children have a future and their children have a future.”

Organizers framed the event as a single piece of a nationwide mobilization, meant to pressure governments to accelerate the transition to renewable energy, respect Indigenous rights and curb corporate power.

Saturday’s turnout reflected a mix of ages and backgrounds — from parents with strollers to students carrying hand-painted signs.

For many, the rally was as much about building community as demanding change.

“It’s so nice to see how Canadians support us as well,”  said Green, reflecting on the solidarity between Indigenous, immigration and climate justice advocates.

Whether the calls to action will spur government response remains to be seen, but participants said the point of “Draw the Line” was to make sure the conversation about justice, climate and equality can’t be ignored.