What Now?
Chief Leslee White-Eye was emotional as she addressed the crowd, thanking everyone for their prayers and support.
Indigenous activist Claudette Commanda says it's "sad" indigenous communities have to demand their rights.
For the people gathered, they hope the Supreme Court will stop the Line 9 tar sands pipeline from going through traditional Chippewa of the Thames territory, and reverse the decision to begin seismic blasting near Baffin Island, through Clyde River Inuit territory.
The Supreme Court has not yet reached a decision, and is not expected to for many months.
But ralliers are hopeful.
The ralliers are people of all ages, both present and future generations, all uniting around the same issue.
Rallier Suze Morrison explains what she wants to come out of the rally.
The Chippewa and Clyde River Inuit hope they do not become part of a pipeline-approval trend, in light of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to approve two pipelines in the west.
On Nov. 29, just a day before the rally, Prime Minister Trudeau approved Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain and Enbridge's Line 3 expansions.
Indigenous activist Claudette Commanda reflects on the heaviness she and other indigenous people feel after Prime Minister Trudeau's recent approval of two pipelines in the west of Canada.
The Trans Mountain pipeline extends from Edmonton, AB, to Burnaby, BC. It has been opposed by the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. They were not consulted about pipeline, which passes close to the perimeter of their territory near Vancouver, BC.
Enbridge's Line 3 expands on an existing pipeline that stretches between Hardisty, AB and Superior, WI.
Trudeau stated that "these projects will effectively triple our capacity to get Canadian energy resources to international markets beyond the Unites States."
In 1999, the original Line 3 malfunctioned, spilling more than 20,000 barrels of oil near Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan, on Ochapowace First Nation territory.
The Keeseekoose First Nation and Pasqua First Nation have voiced their concerns over another potential malfunction. They pointed out that the pipeline is located downstream from the Qu'Appelle River, which is teeming with fish and other marine life.
They were also not consulted about the effects of the pipeline on their territory.
While both pipelines do not pass directly through First Nation territories, they are very close to the perimeters, which still leaves the potential for harm to natural resources -- either as a result of a malfunction, or simply as a result of the construction process.