A peaceful rally brought traffic on the eastbound Highway 401 to a standstill and slowed traffic on Wellington Street Wednesday morning as protesters made their way to Ivey Park.

As many as 1,000 people were expected to turn out for the rally, in which participants will drive and walk from Highway 401 and Colonel Talbot Road up to the Forks of the Thames.

The group is expected to arrive in the city’s downtown and head west on Dundas Street to the park area around 1 p.m.

The unity walk and rally, part of the ‘Idle No More’ campaign, was being held in support of aboriginal rights.

It is aimed at helping protect the land, water and people in part by raising awareness about bills like C-45, which the campaign says endangers reserve land.

Chippewas of the Thames Chief Joe Miskokomon says there was no consultation prior to Bill C-45’s introduction, ‘We have a different relationship with Canada, we’re not a corporation.”

More rallies are expected across Canada in an effort to stop the bill.