[Indigsol] Call Out for Court Support: Pack the Courtroon on Dec. 10

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

*Call-out for Support*

If you need a ride up or can provide a ride for others, contact us:
ipsmo at riseup.net

**
In October 2008, members of the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement
(IPSMO)- Ottawa participated in a blockade led by the Barriere Lake
Algonquins. A number of charges were laid against Ottawa, Montreal and
Indigenous protesters. On December 10th, three members of IPSMO, will plea
guilty to the charges of mischief under $5000 and obstruction of justice. We
want to pack the court room to show that we don't trust the courts sense of
justice and that we want to be there to witness the decision.

*Why a blockade?*
The purpose of the non-violent demonstration was to force the Quebec and
Canadian governments to negotiate with the Barriere Lake people in regards
to their rights and treaties. Since 2001, Canada has been in breach of the
1991 Trilateral Agreement. This agreement was hailed a landmark sustainable
development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United
Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Unfortunately,
Canada backed out of the agreement.

*Changes outlined in the agreement included:*
-Barriere Lake reserve of 59 acres would be enlarged
-co-management of resources would be implemented

-Barriere Lake would receive a share of $1.5 million of the $100 of
resources currently extracted from the territory by Hydro Quebec and private
logging companies

The demands of the blockade included upholding this Trilateral Agreement. A
second demand of the blockade was for the Department of Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada (INAC) to respect the outcome of the traditional leadership
process. The community has documented three instances of interference in the
traditional leadership process, including two coups. In fact, the demands
that Barriere Lake people were looking to discuss were no more than what
Canada had already agreed to, the Trilateral Agreement, and not interfering
with the traditional governmental structure, both which expected within
Canada's own legal and policy framework.
*For more information please visit: **
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/*<http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/>


*Police Brutality and Misinformation at the Blockade*
The police misinformed those who were stopped as well as media, some of whom
did not come closer as a result, falsly claiming that protesters had guns.
The blockade was completely non-violent, at least from the protestor side of
things. The police did shoot tear at the crowd which had many children and
elders in it.

Multiple members from Barriere Lake have served jail time due to arrests at
the blockades. Canada has a duty to negotiate and consult with the Barriere
Lake people, but instead it has stood back and allowed the courts to
criminalize the community through targeted arrests of the community's
leadership during blockades. Meanwhile, the root issues of Canada's
aggression towards the community is still not being addressed.


*Description of police brutality towards the three IPSMO protesters and
subsequent reactions:*

"Police move to shield the remaining blockaders from view, forming a human
wall around the lock-boxes. Peering between riot police standing with batons
at the ready, we can see an official (he's wearing a different uniform)
giving orders. We see those locked in kicking or flailing in agony. We will
later learn that police used "pain compliance" methods. We will hear from
those who were locked in that the police pinched and pushed at pressure
points, causing severe pain. We will hear that police told those locked in
that by remaining, they were causing more pain to their comrades. We will
hear that police used a crowbar to attempt to pry one blockader's arm loose.
We will hear about sexual harassment. We will argue about whether or not
"torture" is too strong a word to describe what the police did. We will
decide that causing someone pain in order to convince them to do something
they do not want to do does in fact qualify as torture, but that the media
will not take us seriously if we use that word. An elder will say that "pain
compliance" is a good description of the government's policies towards the
Algonquins of Barriere Lake. . . "
Full article detailing blockade, "Pain Compliance as Indigenous Relations"
by Dru Oja Jay, is available at:
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/search/label/media


*What You Can Do:*
Pack the courthouse! (December 10th) 266, rue Notre-Dame, 1st floor

You can help support the three IPSMO members by coming to court with us on
December 10th. We would like to pack the court house to show that there is a
community behind these people, to make the court aware that we are there to
witness the proceedings and decision, and to cut the intimidating and
oppressive atmosphere by bringing some humanity to the place. Please e-mail
Francois at fleclerc33 at gmail.com if you would would like to go, but need a
ride, and if you have a car and are able to drive people that day. The
proceedings will begin at 9:30 am in Maniwaki. We will let you know whether
signs or other demonstrations are appropriate after clearing it with the
lawyer.
*Research *
Please e-mail Angela at aschleihauf at gmail.com if you are able to help with
research for the case.


Thank you for your support.

IPSMO Legal Support Committee


-- 
Check out IPSMO's Videos:

http://ipsmo.wordpress.com/video-archives/

IPSMO's Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=120142932547&ref=ts
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