Protests could slow border traffic

TORONTO, Ont. (WIVB) - A Native American dispute in Canada could lead to traffic jams at the US-Canadian border crossings this weekend. 

A Native American chief in Ontario is protesting alleged land rights abuses and other grievances and has been on a three-week-long hunger strike.  That is spilling over into protests that have inspired rallies in some American cities and some say will lead to a blockade at U.S. border crossings this Saturday.

The Toronto Star reports the unemployment rate among Canadian aboriginals hit 14.3% in 2010, versus 7.9% rate for other Canadians. First Nations members earned an average of $19,000 a year, against a national average of $33,000, according to the country's 2006 census.