Hundreds of people marched through downtown Halifax in support of the Idle No More movement as similar protests were held across the country on Monday.

Prayers were said in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Halifax Harbourview Hotel in Dartmouth before hundreds of people — Halifax Regional Police estimated a crowd of between 200 and 300 — marched across the Macdonald Bridge.

One lane of the three-lane bridge was shut down to accommodate the activists.

The protesters went up North Street, stopped briefly in front of the Mi'kmaq Native Friendship Centre on Gottingen Street for drumming and singing, then passed Citadel Hill before forming a circle on the Halifax Common.

Hundreds of people marched across the Macdonald Bridge in support of the Idle No More movement. (Rob Gordon/CBC)

The participants waved flags and chanted "Idle No More" and "Save Our Water" as they marched and were greeted with honks of support from passing motorists.

Idle No More, which began in late October, is a grassroots movement made up of people who mainly want to stop Bill C-45, a second omnibus budget bill that will change the legislation contained in dozens of acts including the Indian Act, the Navigation Protection Act and the Environmental Assessment Act.

In addition to the legislative changes, those involved in the movement were angered by what they call a lack of consultation with indigenous peoples. Members of the movement have also expressed concern about other acts and bills from the federal government.