Colonialism no more camp packs up after 126 days

It has been 126 days since colonialism no more set up camp in front of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada’s (INAC) offices on Albert Street and 11th Avenue in Regina.

On Sunday afternoon the camp came down.

The protest began in April as part of larger movement which saw similar protests in Toronto and Vancouver.

A post on the group’s Facebook page said the decision was made, in part, after a meeting with INAC and Health Canada officials, where many in the group got the chance to voice their concerns.

Prescott Demas took part in the sit-in and said the it had accomplished a number of their objectives.

“Getting our meetings with INAC and then trying to work with them actually I think that was the main thing was trying to get onto the same page with them.”

Demas said the meeting with INAC gave the group a chance to voice some concerns about specific issues like poverty, housing and inadequate drinking water.

Demas added the sit-in provided a chance to educate people about some of the issues indigenous peoples in Canada face.

“People always come out here and like, what are you protesting, why are you protesting, that was always a question, you know give them a pamphlet and we’ll say look we want issues that are dealt with the Indian Act and with our treaties.”

Demas said he is more optimistic about the future.

“Because now you get more of an idea of what we can do or what we should do.”