Dec 15: Fundraiser for the Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Fundraiser in support of The Algonquins of Barriere Lake

Poster – please print off and display

Monday, December 15th 2008 at 7:30 pm
UMI Cafe, 610 Somerset St. W
Corner of Somerset and Percy in Ottawa
Suggested Donation $5-$15

Presented by Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement – Ottawa (IPSMO)
ipsmo@riseup.net, https://ipsmo.wordpress.com

Everyone is Welcome!

We will be showing 2 short videos on the blockade highway 117 taken place on Oct. 6th, 2008 (12 minutes) and Nov. 19th, 2008 (7 minutes).  Some members of IPSMO will recount their experiences as front-line activists, followed by storytelling featuring Algonquin Elder Albert Dumont, poetry and music by Loh, Mehdi, Horus, Christopher Herodier and other talented friends!

There will be Barriere Lake t-shirts available for sale.

All proceeds will go to the Legal Defense Fund for the 4 arrested Algonquins for their crime: Defending the Land.  The arrested Algonquins are:

Marylynn Poucachiche, Mother of Five, Tribal Council Youth Representative
Offense: Demanding Canada recognize customary chief and council

Michel Thusky
Offense: Resisting cultural, linguistic and political assimilation

Rose Nottaway, Grandmother
Offense: Surviving poverty on a 59-acre reserve

Benjamin Nottaway, Barriere Lake Acting Chief
Offense: Defending traditional territory for natives and non-natives

Background Info:

“In 1991, Barriere Lake signed a historic Trilateral agreement with Canada and Quebec to sustainably develop our traditional territories – the United Nations called the plan an environmental “trailblazer.”  Yet in 1996, the federal government tried to hijack the agreement by replacing our legitimate Chief and Council with a minority faction who let the agreement fall aside.  A resolution was achieved in 1997 by Quebec Superior Court Judge Réjean Paul, who restored our legitimate Chief and Council and renewed the Trilateral agreement.  In 2001, the government pulled out of the Trilateral agreement and started favouring certain community members opposed to our legitimate leadership.  Judge Réjean Paul mediated again in 2007, concluding that the opposition to our Chief and Council was “a small minority” whose leadership challenge “did not respect the Customary Governance Code.”  But when this same minority group conducted another alleged leadership selection in January 2008, the federal government quickly recognized them.”

Barriere Lake Demands:

1. That the Government of Canada agree to respect the outcome of a new leadership re-selection process, with outside observers, recognize the resulting Customary Chief and Council, and cease all interference in the internal governance of Barriere Lake.
2. That the Government of Canada agree to the immediate incorporation of an Algonquin language and culture program into the primary school curriculum.
3. That the Government of Canada honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the Trilateral, the Memorandum of Mutual Intent, and the Special Provisions, all of which it has illegally terminated.
4. That the Government of Canada revoke Third Party Management, which was imposed unjustly on Barriere Lake .
5. That the Province of Quebec honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the 1991 Trilateral and 1998 Bilateral agreements, and adopt for implementation the Lincoln-Ciaccia joint recommendations, including $1.5 million in resource-revenue sharing.
6. That the Government of Canada and the Province of Quebec initiate a judicial inquiry into the Quebec Regional Office of the Department of Indian Affairs’ treatment of Barriere Lake and other First Nations who may request to be included.
7. The Government of Quebec , in consultation with First Nations, conduct a review of the recommendations of the Ontario Ipperwash Commission for guidance towards improving Quebec-First Nation relations and improving the policing procedures of the SQ when policing First Nation communities.

After exhausting all political avenues, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and many non-native supporters blockaded highway 117 for the first time on Oct. 6, 2008.  The community, including Elders, youth and children, were met with a brutal police response. Riot cops used tear gas and pain compliance, instead of negotiators. The police response has drawn criticism from international human rights groups, the Chiefs of Ontario, and the Christian Peacemaker Team.

The second time, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and allies blockaded the highway again on Nov. 18, 2008.  As a result, 4 Algonquins, including Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway were arrested by the SQ riot squad.

For more info, please visit Barriere Lake Solidarity http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com web site.

Dec 1st: Protect The Land feast

Protect The Land: IPSMO’s Fundraiser Dinner
Benefit dinner and concert
Dinner will be served at 7pm
Colour poster Poster #2

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Monday, December 1st at 7:00pm
Music will begin at 8:00pm
Green Door Restaurant (198 Main St.)
Dinner will be served at 7pm
Tickets: $0-50
No one turned away
More information: ipsmo@riseup.net
https://ipsmo.wordpress.com/

Speaker: Mireille Lapointe,
Co-chief of the Ardoch Alqonquin

Bands:

Use Every Part of the Deer
Tyler Shepherd w/ AND 245
The Rough Sea
Musk Ox
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The Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Allies (AAFNA) is a confederation of Algonquin families who have lived in the Ottawa’ River watershed since time immemorial and who are currently situated in the area described by the Mississippi, Madawaska, Rideau, and Tay watersheds.

The Ardoch Algonquin “are committed to finding peaceful ways to resolve the underlying factors that led to the issuance of mineral claims within [their] homeland. This approach includes educating the public and ourselves on the danger that uranium represents to human and animal health and ecological stability, as well as providing information on Algonquin law, relationships with the land, and responsibilities within our homeland.

[They] have also pursued legal and political solutions, as well as direct action, to bring attention to the issue and the ways in which the Government of Ontario promotes the mining industry over human rights and the environment.”

From: http://www.uraniumdefense.ca/

More information: http://www.aafna.ca

The Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement of Ottawa is a grassroots organization that directly supports indigenous peoples in diverse struggles for justice. We also work within communities to challenge the lies and half-truths about indigenous peoples and colonization that dominate Canadian society.  The organization is open to both indigenous and non-indigenous people, and focuses on local and regional campaigns.

As we act in solidarity with indigenous people, we build relationships where we can learn from indigenous cultures. By doing this, we can further decolonize ourselves, and so learn to better challenge the racist and colonial ideas that dominate Canadian society.

We provide support to actions and campaigns for Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, defense of the land, environmental protection, cultural revitalization, and the honouring of treaties and agreements.

More information: https://ipsmo.wordpress.com/

IPSMO presents public eduction

*MEDIA ADVISORY*

For Immediate Release

Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement-Ottawa (IPSMO) Presents Public Education, Ottawa, Ontario

Saturday, November 1, 2008, 3:30PM: IPSMO members will build public awareness; gathering at War Memorial to demand that CN Rail drop racist charges against Mohawk activists.

As part of long-standing struggles for land and self-determination – including unresolved land claims, poverty, suicides and polluted water – – members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk community have organized to defend their territory. In particular, several actions, including blockades, have taken place to expedite the slow negotiation process over the Culbertson Tract, a piece of land the government has long acknowledged was taken illegally from the Mohawks. A quarry on the land was reclaimed in March 2007, and Mohawks have maintained a full-time presence on-site ever since.

Due to their actions in defence of their land, several members of the Tyendinaga community have been charged with serious offences, and forbidden from participating in protests. Instead of acknowledging the just claims of the Tyendinaga Mohawks, the government and police permitted the development of the mine on land to which they are not legally entitled and then criminalize the community when it asserts its ownership.

CN is currently suing three activists from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory – Shawn Brant, Jason Maracle and Tara Green — for over $100 million. Given the financial strength of the individuals and community, it would be impossible to pay this sum of money. The lawsuit does not seek justice or foreseeable financial gain, rather it intimidates and marginalizes indigenous organizers to keep them from reacting to the injustices which occur when their title to the land is not recognized. Those who are active in the legitimate defence of their land and livelihood face criminalization as the broader issues remain unaddressed. By bringing public attention to the ludicrous lawsuit, we hope to pressure CN into dropping all charges against the activists, recognizing that the Mohawks have title to the land.

In solidarity with actions in Tyendinaga and Montreal, we are demanding that CN drop their racist lawsuit.

General inquiries may be sent to ipsmo@riseup.net

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Nov1: Barriere Lake Teach-in

Workshop on Barrier Lake solidarity, presented by IPSMO (as part of Exile’s Free School program)

Sat Nov 1, 10-11am, at Ottawa Public Library Main Branch, Meeting Room on Bottom Floor

Barrier lake is an Algonquin reserve about 4 hours north of Ottawa, in the province of Quebec.  It is a poor reservation, where the unemployment rate is around 80%.  The primary reasons for the current poverty and joblessness is their ongoing fight with the federal and provincial governments and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.  Although the Algonquins’ struggle to be recognized as a sovereign nation and to be treated with dignity and respect is hundreds of years old (beginning with European colonization), the current battles revolve around Trilateral and Bilateral agreements signed with the Federal and Provincial governments. These governments have supported several coup d’etats against the Barrier Lake Algonquin;  the traditional government, which is widely supported by the majority of the BL community, has been deposed while a small minority faction that does not have wide support in the community is treated as the legitimate goverment by the Feds and the Province.

as part of EXILE INFOSHOP’S FREE SCHOOL!!!

Exile doesn’t like getting up early any more than you do, but we’d love if you did it this once and came out to make the first Day of Free School a success!

When: Saturday, November 1st 9AM-1PM
Where: Ottawa Public Library Main Branch, Bottom Floor in the Meeting Room
Why: Because school CAN be fun! We promise!

Here is the updated schedule of workshops:

9AM-10AM: Queer Zine Making
Hosts: Patrick and Elke
Description: Learn about the history of zines, their relevance to queer culture, and how to make ’em, then try it out yourself from the materials and inspiration supplied!!

10AM-11AM: IPSMO and the Struggle for Barriere Lake
Host: Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa
See what’s been going on lately at Barriere Lake reserve and how you can help.

11AM-11:45PM: Internet Security
Host: Krishna
Krishna will show you some basics to keeping your internet browsing safe and secure from organizations prowling for private information.

11:34-12:00PM: BREAK! COMPLIMENTARY COFFEE AND SNACKS plus goodies for sale at the library cafe.

12:00PM-1:00PM: Guitar Skillzzzz
Host: TBA
Bring your guitar or guitar related questions or your own knowledge to make this badass workshop a success.

1:00PM GO HOME AND HAVE A NAP BECAUSE YOU NEED TO REST BEFORE THE ROCKY HORROR PUNK SHOW (7:30PM SUN NOV 2) AT EXILE (256 BANK ST) !!

Oct 30: Indigenous Solidarity Movie Night

“Struggle For The Land”, by Tom Keefer and Autonomy & Solidarity
“What I Learned In Class Today”, by Karrmen Crey and Amy Perreault
Plus a speaker from the Aboriginal Students Centre at Carleton University

Free!
Thursday, October 30 at 7:00pm
Carleton University
University Centre Building, Room 282

All Donations will go to Six Nations Land Reclamation Legal Defense

Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement -Ottawa
ipsmo@riseup.net

IPSMO is showing 2 movies and having a presentation by a member of the Aboriginal Students Centre on the “Aboriginal Initiative: What I Learned in Class Today”.  The initiative aims to combat the racist and colonial attitudes that exist in Carleton University’s classrooms.

Struggle for the Land: Interviews with Participants at the Six Nations Reclamation (April-May 2006).

This DVD consists of a series of interviews with First Nations activists occupying the site and video of the protests and counter protests concerning the reclamation of the Douglas Creek Estates. In what ranks as one of the most significant indigenous confrontations with the Canadian State since the 1990 Oka crisis, participants speak in their own words about what is at stake in their struggle. Includes videos with reclamation site spokesperson Jacqueline House, Six Nations resident Robin Williams, supporter Mike Desroches, a member of the Mohawk Warrior Society, kitchen organizers Gene and Ruby, footage of the racist anti-native protests and a variety of interviews with Caledonia residents.

http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/video/index.html

What I Learned in Class Today:
Aboriginal Issues in the Classroom

Classroom discussions of Aboriginal issues often leave students feeling alienated and angry. Though troubling, these situations often go unreported and unresolved, affecting students’ abilities to function in classes and in their coursework. To make these situations visible and to find ways to have more professional and productive classroom discussions, two undergraduate students in the First Nations Studies Program at the University of British Columbia, Karrmen Crey and Amy Perreault, developed What I Learned in Class Today: Aboriginal Issues in the Classroom. This project asks students, instructors, and administrators at UBC, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, to share in videotaped interviews their most memorable classroom experiences where the discussion of Aboriginal issues became difficult, and to share their reflections on the dynamics underpinning these situations.

To find out more visit the website:
http://www.whatilearnedinclasstoday.com/

New Website

The website is now launched, for set-up and feedback. Let us know what you think!