[Indigsol] Algonquin protest on july 28

[Matt Kristjansson]

hey yall
ive most likely got saturday off. i've hitched that stretch of highway 7 
before, and it's slow, but doable. if anyone is down to drive, even better. 
i may actually stay at the blockade site a day or two, but yeah, i'll know 
for sure by tommorow whether i can do it or not. i'd really like to. matt, 
please keep in touch and we'll figure shit out if we have to hitch.
take care,
matt k.

>From: "Dan (OPIRG-Carleton)" <opirgadmin at gmail.com>
>To: "mattm-b at resist.ca" <mattm-b at resist.ca>
>CC: indigsol at lists.resist.ca
>Subject: Re: [Indigsol] Algonquin protest on july 28
>Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:27:24 -0400
>
>I'd really like to go, but I don't think I have a car.  Anyone else?
>
>D.
>
>On 7/26/07, mattm-b at resist.ca <mattm-b at resist.ca> wrote:
> > hi,
> >
> > some of you may already know: there will be a protest on saturday, july 
>28
> > from 3-6pm against the uranium mine.
> >
> > does anybody want to go?  does anybody have a way to get out there?
> >
> > can i or we hitchike?
> >
> > matt
> >
> > 
>http://intercontinentalcry.org/algonquin-protest-and-information-toll-july-28/
> >
> > *ALGONQUINS PROTEST AGAINST URANIUM EXPLORATION WILL AFFECT TRAFFIC ON
> > TRANSCANADA *
> >  <http://intercontinentalcry.org/wp-content/uploads/perth-ontario.png>
> >
> > Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation will be
> > conducting a protest and information toll on Highway 7 in Perth on July 
>28th
> > from 3pm-6pm to bring attention to the issue of uranium exploration and
> > mining in North Frontenac County.
> >
> > This will be the third action by the Algonquin alliance to bring 
>attention
> > to the fact that mining claims were registered and issued to Frontenac
> > Ventures Corporation for land where Algonquin title and jurisdiction 
>remain
> > and where required consultation never took place.
> >
> > Consultation must take place between the Crown and the two affected 
>First
> > Nation communities prior to any mining or land use permits being issued.
> > More actions are planned along Highway 7 over the next few months until 
>a
> > positive resolution has been achieved.
> >
> > *For more information please contact: *
> > Chief Paula Sherman – 613-329-3706 omamikwe at bell.blackberry.net;
> > Chief Randy Cota – (613) 541-8205;
> > or our lawyer, Christopher Reid – lawreid at aol.com (416) 466-9928.
> >
> > *ALGONQUINS SUED BY URANIUM MINING COMPANY *
> >
> > The Algonquin First Nations occupying a proposed uranium mine site in
> > eastern Ontario are being sued by the mining company, Frontenac Ventures
> > Corporation, for $77 million dollars in damages, as well as a court 
>order
> > ending our protest and forcing us to vacate our land.
> >
> > In their Statement of Claim, which was served on our lawyer today, the
> > company makes absurd and outrageous claims that we are "threatening" and
> > "intimidating" them and their employees. In fact, our peaceful protest 
>has
> > been completely non-violent and non-threatening from the beginning, even
> > when the president of FVC threatened to send in armed paramilitaries to
> > attack us.
> >
> > We are not afraid and we have no plans to end our protest! In fact, news 
>of
> > the company's legal action has brought more supporters to our protest 
>camp
> > at the mine site. Meanwhile, the provincial government, which has the 
>legal
> > obligation to consult with us, remains conspicuously silent.
> >
> > Last year Frontenac Ventures Corporation began aggressively exploring 
>for
> > uranium on our land in Frontenac County in eastern Ontario. FVC have now
> > staked hundreds of mineral claims covering more than 5,000 hectares of 
>land
> > and have clear-cut large areas of forest to make way for the next phase 
>of
> > exploration: drilling core samples to determine how much uranium is 
>under
> > the land they have staked. The government of Ontario has allowed all of 
>this
> > to happen without any consultations whatsoever with our communities, in
> > clear violation of Canadian law.
> >
> > Last week, after we rejected an offer by the company to end our protest 
>in
> > exchange for $10,000 blood money, we again called for the province to 
>begin
> > discussions with us to end the standoff. The province has still not
> > responded.
> >
> > AAFN members, together with our neighbours, the Shabot Obaadjiwan 
>Algonquin
> > First Nation, have occupied the site of the proposed uranium mine since 
>June
> > 29 and we have informed Frontenac Ventures that no further mineral 
>staking
> > or exploration activity will be allowed within our territory at this 
>time.
> >
> > Today, Chief Doreen Davis of Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation and Paula
> > Sherman, Co-Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation again called on 
>the
> > province to begin consultations to resolve the issues which led to the
> > protest. Said Chief Sherman, "we have yet to hear anything from Premier
> > McGuinty or his Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, David Ramsay, and so far
> > none of their officials have even had the courtesy to return our calls,
> > emails or letters, They do not appear to have any interest in resolving 
>this
> > mess or meeting their legal obligation to consult with us."
> >
> > *ALGONQUIN ALLIANCE STATEMENT AGAINST URANIUM EXPLORATION AND MINING*
> >
> > July 24, 2007
> >
> > On June 28, 2007 leadership and members of Ardoch Algonquin First Nation 
>and
> > Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation moved to secure the site of a proposed
> > uranium mine in the traditional lands of the Ardoch Algonquin First 
>Nation
> > near Ardoch Ontario. Frontenac Ventures Corporation, under the ownership 
>of
> > George White had been notified by mail to vacate the premises prior to 
>the
> > 28th with his equipment and staff. On the 28th members of the two 
>Algonquin
> > communities moved in and secured the site to prevent the drilling of 
>uranium
> > core samples which were slated to begin the following week.
> >
> > Upon securing the site, the two communities established an alliance 
>whose
> > overall purpose was to prohibit access to the site and any proposed 
>drilling
> > within and around the site and all associated sites by Frontenac 
>Ventures
> > Corporation. The Algonquin alliance discovered through an initial search
> > that multiple users had been granted access to the site and land 
>surrounding
> > the site by the MNR, Mining and Northern Development and private owners. 
>At
> > no time did any of these ministries or private owners contact or secure
> > permission from Algonquin people to use the lands or resources in 
>question.
> > In fact, while Algonquin people in the area had heard rumors of a 
>proposed
> > uranium mine in Frontenac County, we were not aware of the plans to 
>develop
> > a mine on our traditional territory until Gloria Morrison, a private 
>land
> > owner in the region, attended a council meeting and asked for the Ardoch
> > Algonquin council's help in protecting her property. Gloria came to the
> > meeting because 60 acres of her 100 acre holding had been staked by
> > Frontenac Ventures under the Mining Act. She had exhausted all other
> > alternatives at that point and hoped that Algonquin people could help 
>her as
> > she understood that the land she had purchased was in the historical
> > territory of Algonquin people.
> >
> > As already mentioned the overall purpose of the Algonquin alliance is to
> > prohibit access to the site and any proposed drilling within and around 
>the
> > site and all associated sites. This includes sites that are privately 
>owned
> > and leased to Frontenac Ventures Corporation as this usage is against 
>the
> > Original Teachings and Guiding Principles which provide the guidance
> > necessary to live within Mino-Pimaadiziwin (which means to live the good
> > life, in a balanced way that promotes the sustainability of the Natural
> > World and all living entities). The alliance is using a four-pronged
> > approach to dealing with uranium exploration and mining which includes
> > education of the larger community on the dangers of uranium exploration 
>and
> > mining and direct action in various locations in Algonquin territory to
> > bring local, national and international attention to the issue. The two
> > Algonquin communities who make up this alliance are also concerned with
> > their responsibility as Anishinaabe people to examine prior usage of the
> > land and resources by all users who have been granted access by the 
>province
> > of Ontario. Part of that strategy is to develop sound mechanisms for
> > restoring balance to the land and waterways that have been impacted by 
>their
> > activities on the land and also create protocols of interaction that can 
>be
> > used with future users so that the same mistakes do not occur again.
> >
> > The alliance also has to deal with the other users who were granted 
>access
> > to our territory through the province. One such user is MREL. MREL is a
> > company that has moved heavily into the defence and security industry, 
>and
> > in particular the development of a range of vehicle disrupters which are
> > used to neutralize improvised explosive devises and bomb laden vehicles,
> > placed in anything from regular automobiles up to tractor trailer sized
> > trucks. The units are robot deployed and designed to minimize collateral
> > damage. The thrust of their work is humanitarian with an emphasis on 
>saving
> > lives, both by countering the threat of bombs in the civilian community, 
>as
> > well as to improve the defence capability of Canadian troops.
> >
> > As MREL's current contract is designed to save lives, and not connected 
>to
> > the drilling of core samples or uranium mining, the alliance has made 
>the
> > decision to permit MREL to enter the site under a memorandum of
> > understanding between MREL and Ardoch and Shabot Obaadjiwan First 
>Nations.
> > The memorandum of understanding will cover only the current project 
>related
> > to their research on vehicle disrupters. It will cover the nature of
> > required clean-up from previous MREL work, set out the protocols for
> > relating to the land in a way that promotes balanced relationships with 
>the
> > land and waterscapes, while also enabling MREL to complete the project 
>in
> > the designated timeframe. Any other usage of the site by MREL would have 
>to
> > be renegotiated. The MOU will also address the issue of securing the 
>site
> > while MREL is conducting their research. MREL has also come out openly
> > against George While and Frontenac Ventures Corporation and has provided 
>the
> > alliance with numerous documents, maps, and correspondence that supports 
>our
> > position against uranium mining.
> >
> > The alliance is also concerned with a new tendency on the part of some
> > individuals to treat this site as a tourist attraction. The articulation 
>of
> > our autonomy here is a serious issue for both Ardoch Algonquin First 
>Nation
> > and for Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation. We have secured the area for the
> > sole purpose of preventing the drilling of core samples which would lead 
>to
> > the development of a uranium mine on our traditional territory. Securing 
>the
> > area means literally keeping everyone out unless they have been invited 
>to
> > enter at the main gate where the encampment is located. This policy is
> > necessary to secure the safety of everyone, inside and outside the gate. 
>The
> > entire parameter has been secured through the use of warriors to prevent
> > access to Frontenac Venture Corporation and no one should enter the site 
>as
> > you could be seen as working for FVC. This encampment and occupation of 
>the
> > surrounding land and watersheds is part of an ongoing resistance on the 
>part
> > of these two First Nations to resist the attempts of Frontenac Ventures
> > Corporation to drill core samples, it should respectfully not be treated 
>as
> > a tourist attraction.
> >
> > The Algonquin alliance and resistance force is being assisted by CCAMU,
> > Mining Watch, and other environmental and citizenship groups who are 
>opposed
> > to uranium mining. Many of the individuals involved in the various 
>groups
> > have had their own property staked under the Mining Act by Frontenac
> > Ventures Corporation. While Algonquin people are concentrating on direct
> > actions that articulate our autonomy in the valley of the Kiji Sìbì 
>(which
> > is a necessary component in the overall efforts to prevent uranium
> > exploration and mining on our traditional lands), our non-Aboriginal 
>friends
> > and neighbors have renewed ancient relationships with the Algonquin 
>people
> > and communities here and have taken up once again their side of the 
>wampum
> > belt that was neglected long ago by their ancestors. Their efforts to 
>create
> > and disperse important information on the Mining Act and impacts of 
>uranium
> > mining have gone a long way in gaining outside support for our struggle 
>to
> > stop Frontenac in their tracks. Our non-Aboriginal neighbors have also
> > created a network of support for the Algonquin and other Aboriginal
> > communities who remain on the site behind the gate. This network of
> > concerned friends and neighbors have taken it upon themselves to make 
>sure
> > that the people who remain there have the food, supplies, and 
>necessities
> > needed to maintain the occupation until a positive resolution can be
> > achieved. Both Algonquin communities, as well as the other Aboriginal 
>people
> > at the site greatly appreciate the dedication and sacrifices made by
> > everyone who has supported and continues to support our efforts to stop 
>the
> > proposed uranium exploration and mining on Algonquin land and that of 
>our
> > neighbors.
> >
> > Direct Action
> >
> > The alliance has taken several direct actions in the past few weeks to 
>draw
> > attention to the issue including two protest marches down Highway 7 in
> > Sharbot Lake. The next direct action will take place on July 28 in 
>Perth.
> > Those wishing to participate in the action should meet at the lot behind
> > Wendys at 3pm. This particular action will take place at two spots on
> > Highway 7. There will be pylons inserted into the middle of the road to 
>slow
> > it down to two lanes. We will be setting up information tolls at each 
>end of
> > perth on Highway 7. Cars will be allowed to travel but at a much slower 
>pace
> > which will permit us to provide info on the issue and also ask for 
>donations
> > which are needed to sustain the resistance force at the site and to pay 
>for
> > legal fees. We will need volunteers to stand at each end of the highway 
>with
> > picket signs and eight people to work the information toll. We will 
>maintain
> > the information toll from 3pm-6pm. We will continue to plan such actions 
>on
> > Highway Seven moving next to Carleton Place and eastward……eventually
> > reaching Ottawa if necessary.
> >
> > Legal Strategy
> >
> > The Algonquin alliance has secured the legal services of Chris Reid, who 
>is
> > an expert on Aboriginal rights and law. Chris is working from the legal
> > standpoint that Algonquin people never surrendered our lands and thus 
>our
> > autonomy and jurisdiction remain intact in the areas in which Frontenac
> > Ventures Corporation has staked and plans to drill core samples. The 
>details
> > of that strategy need to remain confidential, but we will keep you 
>updated
> > on the progress made.
> >
> > Response from Frontenac Ventures Corporation
> >
> > Frontenac Ventures Corporation has responded to our protest in a variety 
>of
> > ways, including issuing a statement in the Globe and Mail wherein
> > Frontenac's CEO George White suggested that perhaps companies in Canada
> > should utilize paramilitary forces such as those used in Africa (if you 
>have
> > seen Blood Diamond you will get the idea) to protect mining interests 
>from
> > people such as ourselves, which he equated with terrorism. In a meeting 
>held
> > last week, White's lawyer said several nasty things about our Mohawk 
>allies
> > and asked point blank if there were Mohawk warriors on the premises. 
>White
> > also promised swift legal action against us at that meeting and has 
>followed
> > through with that threat as we have been told that he has filed a 77 
>million
> > dollar law suit against the two Algonquin communities here and their
> > associated leaders. While a security force showed up at several points 
>today
> > trying to serve the notice, no one accepted it and they will know 
>deliver it
> > to our legal team which is being led by Chris Reid out of Toronto.
> >
> > Fundraising
> >
> > Given the length of time we will need to maintain the occupation of our
> > lands and the nature of the legal issues, we will need to implement and
> > maintain various fundraising initiatives and activities over the next 
>few
> > months. Frank Morrison, who alerted us to the activities of Frontenac
> > Ventures Corporation, is in the process of organizing a major benefit
> > concert to take place in Carleton Place which will help in that regard, 
>as
> > will the one that is scheduled for Weds in Sharbot Lake. If you are not 
>able
> > to come and stand with us on the ground here please get involved in
> > organizing fundraising activities to support our efforts here and what 
>will
> > be undoubtedly a lengthy and costly legal battle. All funds raised can 
>be
> > dropped off at the gate or mailed to 1045 Canoe Lane Ardoch, ON. Please
> > specify that mailed funds go to fight uranium mining and the efforts of 
>the
> > Algonquin people occupying the site. If you are not able to get involved 
>in
> > the organization of fundraising activities, please consider dropping off 
>or
> > sending in your donation to support this important issue. Uranium
> > exploration and mining will destroy our traditional territory and make 
>it
> > impossible to live off the land or to maintain our responsibilities to 
>the
> > land and waterways. We are doing this for the benefit of your children 
>and
> > grandchildren, so that they will have a future as Algonquin people.
> >
> > CHI-MIIGWECH!
> >
> > The Algonquin Alliance of Ardoch Algonquin First Nation & Shabot 
>Obaadjiwan
> > First Nation
> >
> > *For more information please contact: *
> > Chief Paula Sherman – 613-329-3706 omamikwe at bell.blackberry.net;
> > Chief Randy Cota – (613) 541-8205;
> > or our lawyer, Christopher Reid – lawreid at aol.com (416) 466-9928.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Indigsol mailing list
> > Indigsol at lists.resist.ca
> > https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/indigsol
> >
>
>
>--
>Organizational Development and Administrative Coordinator
>OPIRG-Carleton
>V: 613 520 2757
>E: opirgadmin at gmail.com
>F: 613 520 3789
>www.opirg-carleton.org
>
>OPIRG-Carleton
>326 Unicentre, Carleton University
>1125 Colonel By Dr., K1S 5B6
>_______________________________________________
>Indigsol mailing list
>Indigsol at lists.resist.ca
>https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/indigsol

_________________________________________________________________
Bring Your World To Life with Windows Live Spaces 
http://spaces.live.com/?mkt=en-ca