Despite hundreds of First Nations people descending on Ottawa Wednesday in opposition to the harmonized sales tax (HST), Finance Minister Jim Flaherty refused to meet First Nations leaders to discuss the issues.
Forty-two members of Rama First Nation were bused to the protest, which began at Parliament Hill and ended at the Ministry of Finance.
"I don't know whether we will be ignored, or what, but we're going to keep fighting," said Shawna Snache, who organized the bus to bring local protesters to the march. "I'm all in this fight."
Members of Rama aged three to 63 protested for two hours in Ottawa to support their beliefs, she said.
"It was an awesome turnout and the response was bang on," Snache said. "We were all really pumped to get out there with our signs and our flags and take our message to the hill."
The HST rally was one of three protests held at Parliament Hill Wednesday, the other two being a demonstration against Canada's commercial seal hunt, staged by the Ottawa Animal Defense League and a rally in celebration of the 51st anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day.
Of the three demonstrations, Snache said the HST rally was the largest and loudest. Participants brought flags, placards and drums.
"Some people blew up their status card Bristol board-sized," Snache said. "The message is 'Honour these everywhere.'"
The rally was organized by Chiefs of Ontario, representing the four major Ontario First Nation organizations, in an attempt to bring attention to the cancellation of their current tax-exempt status once the province makes the switch to HST July 1. First Nations communities say change in exemption breaks historic treaties.
"It's insulting," said Snache of Flaherty's response to the protest. "It's insulting that they are even attempting to tax us in this fashion."
Another protest will be held in April at Queens Park. The group hopes to attract more media coverage.
"The collective voice is a powerful one," she said. "Our nation is growing stronger every time we come together and become of one mind."