"March marks 400th anniversary of the Two Row Wampum agreement"

Around 150 Idle no More marchers braved cold and snow and tied up traffic in downtown St. Catharines for about an hour Saturday. The event was coordinated by the Niagara Two Row Society, a coalition of Haudenosaunee, Metis, Niagara settler residents and trade unionists. Buses also came in from Brantford, Six Nations, London and Toronto.

The march ended at Montebello Park where there was drumming, dancing and speakers.

They marched with the same giant Two Row flag that was also marched through downtown Caledonia last spring.

February 2, marked the 400th anniversary of the first Two Row agreement with European settlers, and is oldest living treaty between the Haudenosaunee and settlers. It is one of the existing Treaties protected by Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982.

The march was to bring awareness to non-Natives about the power and strength of the Two Row Wampum agreement made between the Haudenosaunee and the Dutch, French and British dating back to 1613.

That agreement is based upon mutual respect, non-interference, sovereignty, peace, and friendship. Many Haudenosaunee and knowledgeable settlers are hoping the Canadian government returns to the Nation to Nation relationship this Wampum symbolizes.

"It's kind of the mother of all treaties between the indigenous people of Turtle Island and North America and the Europeans that came to the continent," said settler marcher Elizabeth Chitty "It is a treaty of peace, respect and friendship based on non-interference. Obviously through the years the treaty has been violated."