[Indigsol] Media Release: Today, Ottawa Rally for Algonquin Chief Jailed for Asserting Land Rights: Elizabeth May, NDP, Major Unions, Chiefs Call on Canadian government to Honour Landmark Agreements

[Barriere Lake Solidarity]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
*
**Rally for Algonquin Chief Jailed for Asserting Land Rights: Elizabeth May,
NDP, Major Unions, Chiefs Call on Canadian government to Honour Landmark
Agreements *

* *
Ottawa, January 7, 2009/ - A broad network of political parties, unions,
human rights and Indigenous groups will rally today to support the
Algonquins of Barriere Lake, demanding that the Government of Canada respect
a landmark agreement and Barriere Lake's right to decide who serves as their
Customary Chief and Council.

The groups will hold a rally on January 7 at noon in front of the
Headquarters of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, in support of Customary
Chief Benjamin Nottaway, jailed for two months for joining community members
while they peacefully asserted land rights to Barriere Lake's traditional
territories in Western Quebec. Community spokespeople will then travel to
Montreal for a demonstration on Thursday in front of Premier Jean Charest's
office.

"The Algonquin of Barriere Lake have shown extraordinary patience in the
face of governmental interference and foot-dragging," said Elizabeth May,
Leader of the Green Party.  "It is a scandal that Chief Nottaway spent
Christmas in jail for peaceful civil disobedience to demand governments live
up to their responsibilities, with barely a murmur of notice from the media
and with stony silence from our government."

Barriere Lake wants Canada to uphold signed agreements, dating back to the
1991 Trilateral Agreement, a groundbreaking sustainable development and
resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal
Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada pulled out of the binding agreement
in 2001.

"Barriere Lake is one of the most impoverished communities in Canada. Indian
Affairs has meddled in this community, undermined land negotiations and
walked away on signed agreements," said NDP Parliamentarian Charlie Angus.
"It's time the government showed some leadership and helped this community
on the path to healing."

The Government of Canada stopped recognizing Acting Customary Chief Benjamin
Nottaway on March 10, 2008, and caused great leadership uncertainty by
recognizing individuals whom Barriere Lake's Elder's Council says did not
follow their Customary Governance Code, which the community uses to select
their leadership. Community members have demanded that the federal
government appoint an observer to witness and abide by the results of a new
leadership selection, but the government of Canada has to date refused. When
families from the community peacefully protested on a highway outside their
reserve in October and November, the government of Canada remained silent
while the Quebec government sent in riot police, which tear-gassed people of
all ages and made numerous arrests.

"This is another example of the federal and provincial governments
collaborating with each other to criminalize a Chief who has demanded that
both orders of government honour signed agreements regarding co-management
of land and resource revenue sharing," said Grand Chief Norman Young of the
Algonquin Nation Secretariat, Barriere Lake's Tribal Council, which
continues to recognize and work with Benjamin Nottaway and his Council.

On Tuesday, the Federal Court of Appeal contradicted the arguments of
lawyers for the Department Indian Affairs, ruling in favour of the Barriere
Lake's Elder's Council, who will now proceed with their motion to review
Indian Affairs' decision to stop recognizing Acting Chief Nottaway. The
Court decision casts doubt on the legitimacy of Canada's recognition of the
"Ratt Council" and gives weight to the Elder's Council position that Indian
Affairs violated their Customary Governance Code.

"The federal government has caused enough suffering in our community. It is
time that they respect our leadership customs and negotiate the
implementation of agreements that will secure our future," said Marlynn
Poucachiche, a community spokesperson and mother of five who was targeted
for arrest by the Quebec police after participating in the peaceful
blockade.

"We believe the roadblocks erected on highways that pass through First
Nations' traditional territories will come down when government roadblocks
to self-determination, self-government and land entitlements are
eliminated," said National Vice-President Patty Ducharme of the Public
Service Alliance of Canada.

- 30 -

*Events:*

Rally at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, GATINEAU
WEDNESDAY, January 7th, 2008, NOON
Corner of Wellington & Montcalm

Rally in front of Jean Charest's office, Montreal
                                           THURSDAY, January 8, 2008,
NOON
corner of McGill College & Sherbrooke


*For further information:
*

For interviews contact: Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson:
613 - 265-6739; Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader:(c) 613-614-4916; Charlie
Angus, NDP parliamentarian: (705) 929 - 2819; Algonquin Nation Secretariat
Grand Chief Norman Young, (819) 627-6869; PSAC National Vice-President Patty
Ducharme: (613) 329-3706; CUPW National President Denis Lemelin,
613-236-7230 ex 7900;
Contact for Montreal rally: Courtney Kirkby: 514-893-8283; Luc Tailleur,
National aboriginal equal opportunities committee representative for PSAC,
514-917-8946
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