[Indigsol] Critical Help Needed Now at Dumpsite 41

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

Critical Help Needed Now at Dumpsite 41

***Post far and wide***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Anishinabe Nation,

Hello my name is Elizabeth Brass Elson, councillor of Beausoleil First
Nation and one of the Anishinabe Kwe who have been protesting dumpsite 41
in the County of Simcoe.

The Dump Site 41 Protest has been going for 101 days now and we have
maintained a peaceful presence while being creative and using our culture
and traditions in conjunction with blockades of people at the gates to the
entrance of the landfill. Our blockade was formed when construction
accelerated and an email was circulated from the County to their council
implying the dumpsite would be in production in a few weeks.

Our protest started with Anishinabe women who understood our duty to stand
up and protect our water, our environment and save this pristine aquifer
from the destruction of a landfill site. Since that date we have welcomed
the local farmers and many other nations and cultures that have come
together to help in protecting what is so pure and untouched. This aquifer
extends through our lands with 13 underground rivers and the Laurention
Channel which is located in the bedrock beneath the tributaries which many
of our lakes and rivers in Ontario feed from. As Anishinabe people we have
the Aboriginal Right to protect the waters for the future generations and
we have taken on this responsibility on our own accord.

We had managed to keep the construction from happening for 5 weeks. We
faced police intimidation and court injunctions which prevented many from
helping keep the construction company from entering the gates this past
week. Ten individuals have been arrested with various charges to date
including myself being taken from the gates last Saturday morning while
surveying the breach to our blockade from the night before.

The police came in later in the afternoon on the Friday before my arrest
with 10-12 cruiser, 2 paddy wagons and 1 army and 1 police helicopter. We
had been warned the police were coming by many who had seen them
congregating on the surrounding side roads. The roads were also closed by
police preventing us from escaping by vehicle. There were 5 women, 3 young
children and 3 youth and us women with warrants hid in the corn field,
texting out messages for help with our struggle. The youth and children
occupied the lodge until the turmoil was over and I wondered how many
times in history has this happened and why do we in this day and age have
to go to these measures to protect our resources?

I am writing this letter to ask for help with our protest. There are very
few Natives left on sight because of arrests and those arrested from
Chimnissing are prohibited from coming back to the camp. I sent out a
press release stating to police I can not accommodate these conditions
because of my duty to protect the water and the spiritual connection to
our sacred fire. I just could not stay away from something I feel so
strongly about.

The road block has not been in place since the day of my arrest and we
feel the construction is in the critical stages where they will be
accepting garbage before the next court date which we feel will not be in
our favour because of the Crown not taking into account our Aboriginal
Rights because we have no leaders from our Anishinabe Nation in this
protest.

This water has been tested and proved to be the purest source in the
world. Having a landfill on this aquifer when we have no faith in the
science as stated in Beausoleil First Nation Band Council Resolution that
was forwarded onto the County Simcoe is a travesty to our Mother Earth.

We are asking our Brothers and Sisters, our Grandmothers and Grandfathers
to come and join us at “Site 41” – join our ancestors, and our extended
family that have joined together to stand up against the destruction of
our Water on this Sacred Land. We need support from First Nation people
who are willing to help in protecting our water.

May our intentions always be pure and lasting!

Miigwetch,

Elizabeth Brass Elson
Councillor, Beausoleil First Nation