[Indigsol] IPSMO Newsletter, July 13-20

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

IPSMO Newsletter, July 13-20

1) Meetings
a) IPSMO's next GM, Tuesday, July 14th at 7pm

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2) Events:
a) Indigenous Grandparent's Rights Walk, at the Parliament Buildings
approximately 4:00 p.m. This is a formal invitation to include all Kookums
(Grandmothers) and Moosims (Grandfathers) and grandchildren to the Walk.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3) Leonard Peltier
a) 33 Years is too much! Parole for Peltier!
b) Leonard Peltier very ill/ Prayer/Calls needed
c) Parole for Peltier! Act now!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4) Articles
a) Deal to reopen bridge fails (Akwesasne)
b) Re: Fraudulent theft of Mohawk Land by the Municipality of Oka


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

5) Take Action:
a) DEMAND the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have their legitimate leadership
recognized!

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6) Organizing for Justice Conference

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1) IPSMO’s next GM

IPSMO’s next GM
Tuesday, July 14 at 7pm
Exile Infoshop (256 Bank St.)
Sorry this location is not wheelchair accessible
ipsmo at riseup.net
http://ipsmo.wordpress.com

IPSMO’s general meeting is where our working groups report back and where
we make decisions about any other organizing that we will do.
===============================================================

2) Events

a) Indigenous Grandparent's Rights Walk

We will be arriving in Ottawa at the Parliament Building on July 18, 2009
at approximately 4:00 p.m

Contact The Healing of the Seven Generations in Kitchener at (519)570-9118
for more
information.

The Indigenous Grandparent's Rights Walk from Kitchener to Ottawa from
July 4 - 20,
2009, will take approximately fifteen days of walking. The Kookums
(grandmothers in the Cree language) and Moosims (grandfathers) will begin
walking from Victoria Park in Kitchener. A sunrise ceremony will begin the
Walk. This is a formal invitation to include all Kookums and Moosims and
grandchildren to the Walk.

The intent of the Walk is to bring awareness the role of grandparents have
in our communities and the importance for our grandchildren to start
picking up their seeds of life, which are left behind through the
teachings. It is time for our sacred bundles to be shared with our
grandchildren. It is time for change! Strong and healthy foundations of
Indigenous culture, language, tradition and knowledge are the main
ingredients to rebuilding our grandchildren's lives!

The Indigenous Grandparent's Rights Walk is about our grandchildren's
future and children of the future. Indigenous history shows that our
ancestors were healthy people who lived off the land, lived a harmonious
life giving respect for one another in the community, and lived by the
natural laws of the land. Our grandchildren's lives have been burdened
with a history of residential schools, treaties, and foreign acts, laws
and policies which disconnected and displaced our grandchildren from their
history, culture, traditions and language. Indigenous peoples are familiar
with these government policies which were designed to intentionally
assimilate, civilize and colonize Indigenous nations
through cultural, biological and psychological genocide, treaties, Indian
Act, Christianity, residential schools and adoption tactics.

Government acts, laws and policies were forced and imposed on Indigenous
peoples. These imposition laws were the beginnings of the different types
of abuses that led to broken spirits, broken families, broken communities,
and broken nations. There are so many tragedies in this world regarding
children and it is through these children that have
returned to help those in need. It has been spoken through Elders, Kookums
and Moosims that our grandchildren are hurting. Our grandchildren are not
learning their language, culture, traditions and history; therefore
generations of children are left without a life of
knowing Who They Are. There have been generations of children who were
separated through different systems of society, such as child and family
apprehensions, foster care and adoptions, residential schools, taken from
traditional lands and put in reserves.

Indigenous grand-parenting is an honor and a responsibility to raise and
nurture our grandchildren in a healthy, safe and growing environment. We
understand the intergenerational effects of residential school, treaties,
dis-possession, and in-effective government policies. We walk with the
pain and wounds of our ancestors and our families who were dis-placed and
dis-honored in society. We are picking up our bundles and healing those
wounds of the past. We are growing and our children are growing with us.
This is what Indigenous Grand-parenting is all about; culture, tradition,
language, customs, spirit, prayer, sacred bundles, song and All of
Creation.

Contact Marlene J. Carriere (a kookum of the north), Norma Geauvreau, or
George Appleton, Sr. at

The Healing of the Seven Generations in Kitchener at (519)570-9118 for
more information.

Nya:Weh, Kinanaskomitin, Miigwetch, Thank You, Merci!
===============================================================

3) Leonard Peltier


a) 33 Years is Too Much! Parole for Peltier! (NYC)

Friday, July 17, 2009 • 7–9:30 p.m.
Judson Memorial Church
Corner of West 4th St. & Thompson St, NYC
(Exact location inside Judson to be announced)

Music: WMD Poetry, Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Others TBA
Speakers: Mike Kuzma, Tiokasin Ghosthorse
Interview: Bruce Ellison, Parole Attorney
Video excerpts: No Boundaries by Peter Matthiesen
Leonard Crowdog on Leonard Peltier
Sliding Scale: $5 to $10. Nobody turned away due to empty pockets

For more information: nyclpsg at gmail.com • nycjericho at gmail.com • 718-365-4407

Sponsored by New York Leonard Peltier Support Group and friends:
NY Anarchist Black Cross Federation (NYCABCF), NYC Anarchist People of
Color (APOC), First Voices Indigenous Radio, NYC Jericho, ProLibertad,
Resistance in Brookly, Autonomous/Anarchist People of Color Philadelphia
(APOC Philly)

Trains: A,B,C,D,F,V to W. 4th St., 2 blocks E. to Thompson; N,R to 8th
St., S. to W 4th, W. to Thompson
To download a flyer for this event, click on the image below:

www.whoisleonardpeltier.info
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b) Leonard Peltier very ill/ Prayer/Calls needed

Leonard is in really bad shape and bleeding internally and needs medical
help.

#89637-132 Leonard Peltier

Pennsylvania Prison 570-523 1251 (Corrected phone number/area code)

(Recall Leonard's Parole hearing is this month and a vigil at Lewisburg,
PA on July 28th)
----------------------
c) Parole for Peltier! Act now!
http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2/1491080468?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=9127&news_iv_ctrl=1621

Leonard Peltier, Native American leader, Ojibwa-Sioux of Turtle Mountain
Indian Reservation in North Dakota, has been unjustly imprisoned for 34
years in U.S. federal prison, a victim of FBI political persecution. His
upcoming parole hearing is Tuesday, July 28. We urge you to write letters
of support for Leonard’s parole to the Bureau of Prisons by clicking here.

Act Today! Letters should be received by the BOP before July 14. Add your
voice to help free Leonard Peltier!

The FBI has persecuted Peltier ever since a 1975 FBI armed raid on Pine
Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, in which two of their agents
were killed.

The FBI raid was the culmination of three years of a murderous U.S.
government war on the residents of Pine Ridge, in which over 60
traditional members and American Indian Movement activists were murdered.
Leonard Peltier was among the young AIM members who came to Pine Ridge to
protect elder residents who had pleaded for AIM’s protection.

On June 26, 1975, using the theft of a pair of boots as a pretext, the FBI
agents raided a reservation ranch of the Jumping Bull family, racing onto
the land in an unmarked car. A shoot-out ensued. One Native man, Joe
Stuntz, and the two FBI agents, Jack Coler and Ronald Williams, were
killed.

As dozens of FBI encircled the ranch in the hours that followed, several
AIM members, including Peltier, escaped. Two AIM members, Bob Robideau and
Darrell "Dino" Butler, were arrested and tried in Rapid City, Iowa, for
the killing of the FBI agents. They were acquitted by an all-white jury,
which agreed that their actions were in self-defense.

Because Peltier had successfully escaped to Canada and did not face trial
with Robideau and Butler, the FBI waged an all-out campaign so that
someone would pay for the FBI deaths. The FBI fabricated a false claim to
secure Peltier’s extradition from Canada. He was tried, convicted and
sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

During Leonard’s trial, numerous irregularities were committed by the
prosecution and FBI, including falsification of evidence, forced testimony
later recanted by witnesses, deliberate withholding of tens of thousands
of pages of FBI documents, and more.

Since his conviction in 1977, numerous appeals for a new trial for Peltier
have been denied on technical grounds, despite overwhelming evidence of
massive FBI misconduct in the prosecution. Peltier has many supporters in
the United States and around the world, including hundreds of U.S.,
European and Latin American parliamentarians, Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta
Menchú, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Southern Christian Leadership Conference,
Jesse Jackson, and the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights.

Take action now!

Click here to send a letter to the United States Parole Commission to
express your support for parole for Leonard Peltier. Justice is long
overdue!

Write to Leonard

You can also write a letter directly to Leonard to express your support
for his case. Letters should be addressed to:

Leonard Peltier
Reg. 89637-132
USP LEWISBURG
U.S. PENITENTIARY
P.O. BOX 1000
LEWISBURG, PA  17837


Statement from Leonard Peltier, June 27, 2009

Greetings my friends and relatives,

I want to start off this statement or speech or whatever you want to call
it by saying again as I’ve said before thank you thank you thank you from
the bottom of my heart for supporting me and for standing up for right
wherever you are. I can’t express to you in words how extremely grateful I
am not just to the people of America but to the people all over the world
who have supported the cause of Indian people and myself.

I know a lot of you have given up a lot to help so many in my predicament.
Daily I am made aware of political prisoners around the world. Many who
have been killed or tortured or who knows what for trying to right the
wrongs in their area, country or nation. I have been asked to make
statements in support of other movement people around the world from time
to time, South America, Europe and other places. People who love freedom,
people who love the earth, people who love their family, people who love
the freedom to make their own choice with their own resources, and all
indigenous people—we share a common bond. The bond of brother and sister
hood, the bond of believing there is a greater power than ourselves. And I
don’t mean some government power; I mean the greatest power in all the
universe the Creator Himself.

We also as human beings upon this earth have to recognize that there have
always been those who suffer from an illness called greed. They have an
appetite for gaining material wealth that is never satisfied. They have an
appetite for land that is never satisfied. And the most common symptom of
their illness is indifference to the suffering they cause with their
quest. These people are the ones that have identified themselves as our
common enemy. It is so terrible that under the guise of religion and
shouting freedom they pit one people against another. This isn’t something
new. All down through history it has taken place. All down through history
there have been men, spiritual men, holy men, great thinkers and
philosophers who have tried to unite us against this common enemy.

Today my brothers and sisters I want you to know that if nothing else if
we don’t unite against the destruction against the Mother Earth we will
have a common future that is void of clean air, clean water, and basic
freedoms. We must reach our hands out to embrace others to the cause of
life. We must do our best from where ever we are with whatever tools
available to enhance and further our quality of life. We must find a way
to break down the barriers that divide one people from another. We must
find the things we have in common and find ways to solve our differences
as basic humanity. We must evolve to a higher level of thinking or to as
you might say a traditional level of thinking which obviously is superior
to what they call progress today. Our traditional values taught us to live
in harmony with Earth the greatest manifestation of the Creator that we
have to relate to. Our traditions taught us to respect our bodies the
greatest gift we have or possess as an individual. Our traditions taught
us to preserve the environment for our children and all our future
generations. As a member of the American Indian Movement these values are
what we were about. Poverty isn’t solved by money, poverty is solved by
attitude. The problems we have today among all our people are caused by
attitude. They are caused by an attitude that was given to us in boarding
schools and on reservations that were nothing more than concentration
camps in the past. They are attitudes by people who came to us talking to
us about God and wanting us to embrace their version of religion and as
one brother said once, “They told us to bow our heads, and when we looked
up our land was gone, our culture was gone, our children were gone, our
way of life was gone.” And now the air itself is dwindling.

I have been in this cage for some 34 years and though I have been caged I
have sought the spirit in prayer of our brother the eagle, I have sought
to have an overview of things for as anyone can see I don’t have the
freedom to examine life from a close perspective. And from this distant
view, abstract view, this detached view, at times I get to see the
destruction and divisiveness that these political powers that have
scattered us for so long have involved themselves in promoting among our
people. I don’t know if it is because I am older now or because my future
is so uncertain or if through some spiritual inspiration I deeply want to
say so much. I deeply want to move you to do something to save our earth
and our children and our children’s future. I didn’t get to raise my
children; I haven’t got to really know them or my children’s children. I
may never get to, but I love them all just the same. And I love life as
much as anyone on the outside. And I don’t know how long I will walk this
cage. Some days I feel quite healthy and energized and some days I feel
like the 64-year-old man that I am. I’m always hopeful that I will be free
at some point, perhaps in the latter part of July after my parole hearing,
and perhaps I won’t. The people that hold me, the FBI and the conglomerate
corporations that have for so long controlled the resources of this
country and others and for so long have done their best to stifle, to
denigrate, and to vilify the voice of the oppressed are some of the most
formidable well-funded political people on Earth. I was told that the FBI
themselves are some 10,000 strong.

I am but a common man, I am not a speaker but I have spoken. I am not all
that tall but I have stood up. I am not a philosopher or poet or a singer
or any of those things that particularly inspire people but the one thing
that I am is the evidence that this country lied when they said there was
justice for all. I am the evidence that they lied when they extradited me
from Canada. I am the evidence that they can lie at your trial, they can
manufacture evidence at your trial, they can intimidate witnesses at your
trial, they can have back room conversations and agreements with the judge
at your trial. I am the evidence that the attitude, the powers that be
still hold us in a grip. They hold us in an emotional grip. They hold us
in a poverty grip. They hold us in a cultural deprivation grip. I could go
on and on about the things that go on that weigh so heavily against our
people but the bottom line in my case is well documented by court after
court after court, by hearing after hearing after hearing, by statement
after statement after statement. And we as a people are the evidence that
this country fails to keep its treaties, this country fails to keep its
word. This country has failed to follow its own Constitution—the treaty
between the people and the government. We are that evidence. I am nothing
more than evidence. That is why people all over the world and here at home
have supported the cause of justice in my case. In my particular situation
I can’t say that there will ever be any level of justice.

They cannot give back the 34 years of life that have been taken from me.
They can not give back the life of Joe Stuntz that they took June 26th
1975. They cannot give back the lives of the 60 something people that they
directly or indirectly caused the death of. They cannot give back the
thousands upon thousands of Indian people that were killed and abused
since the inception of this government. But the one thing we can do, we
must do, is find a way to change their attitude. My brother Leonard Crow
Dog once said, “If you want to change the white man you have to change his
religion.” And religion is a word that means how you do something on a
regular basis; most generally it is associated with your spirituality.
Perhaps with global warming as it is and the changes in the weather
patterns and the questionable future that faces the earth, they will start
to listen. Maybe they will reach back and embrace the words of our people
foretold again and again. We must live the way that the Earth will renew
itself every spring. We must help them reach back. We must speak to them
at every opportunity. We must make an effort to reach back ourselves to
our own cultural values. And in doing so we can start to solve the many
destructive challenges we face. We must more than ever before find a way
to heal the wounds of our children and prevent the social illnesses that
are so prevalent across our reservations and communities. We have the
tools, we have the teachings, we have the philosophies, we have the
culture, we have the artists, we have the singers, we have the
philosophers, I could go on and on but in essence what I am trying to say
is it is imperative that we bring together all our resources to enhance
the future for our children in a way that they themselves can further the
healthy teachings of our culture and way of life; and in doing so I have
no doubt that we can change the world.

If I am freed next month or if I die in prison remember my words and
remember we are evidence that the Creator made a beautiful people a people
that respected the Earth and nature and each other. We are evidence on
every level of goodness that when the Creator made us He meant for us to
be free. All our traditions have taught us this way. And even this very
form of government that exists today was copied from our people. Our
people with our foods, our medicines, belief in freedom and right to
choose have influenced the world. It's too bad they didn’t adopt a healthy
attitude that we had toward the Earth or an attitude of respect for us the
first keepers of this portion of the Earth. If there is something about me
that this government can point at and say is wrong or any person say is
wrong I will by my own choice, if it proves to be fact, seek to fix it
myself. But I also want to remind them the policies that have been in
place for so long have made us what we are today. The policies that have
been in place for so long, have created another reservation called Iraq
and another reservation called Afghanistan, and the list goes on and on,
you see what’s happening over there is what happened here and all down
through North and South America.

I am just a common man and I am evidence that the powers that put me here
would like to sweep under the carpet. The same way they did all of our
past leaders, warriors and people they massacred. Just as at Wounded Knee
the Fifth Cavalry sought its revenge for Custer’s loss and massacred some
300 Indian men women and children then gave out 23 Medals of Honor and
swept the evidence of their wrongdoing aside. Perhaps this statement is
somewhat more lengthy than the others I’ve made; perhaps it is some things
I should have said before and perhaps more, if so I hope you will forgive
me. I recently was thought to be having a heart attack because of pain in
my chest. After having been beaten and kicked and stomped in the last
year, I am not quite sure what was causing the pain. I had never been
beaten, kicked and stomped like that before. And also I have never been 64
years old before. The one thing all this did for me is it really brought
home my sense of mortality. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in
this prison. And I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life in some
prison of the mind, heart or attitude. I want you to enjoy your life.

If nothing else give somebody a hug for me and say, “This is from Leonard.”

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

Leonard Peltier

===============================================================

4) Articles

a) Deal to reopen bridge fails

Deal to reopen bridge fails
MOHAWKS, CBSA AGREEMENT: Union official vetoes proposal
By LAURA BOMYEA
JOHNSON NEWSPAPERS
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2009

CORNWALL ISLAND — Mohawk Council of Akwesasne officials say they were
close to an agreement with the Canadian Border Services Agency that could
have helped reopen the Seaway International Bridge before a Canadian
customs union official, who called Mohawk protests on Cornwall Island an
"act of terrorism," announced that customs agents would never return to
their post on the island.

Mohawks Grand Chief Mike Mitchell and a number of district chiefs spent
all day Tuesday working out terms for a possible agreement with CBSA
President Stephen Rigby, Executive Vice President Luc Portelence and
Director Barbara Hebert in the hopes that some resolution could be found
to the month-long standoff that closed the bridges on June 1.

The agreement called for construction within the next two weeks of a
temporary customs station in the city of Cornwall to allow the bridges to
open and international traffic and trade to resume.

The temporary facility there would remain operational for four months,
during which time trained border agents would carry the firearms the
Canadian government has promised to equip all of them with by 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT

At the end of that trial period, the Canadian customs station on Cornwall
Island would reopen with unarmed agents for a second four month trial
period.

"To provide for the safety and security of the customs facility and the
Akwesasne community, additional law enforcement would be stationed at the
Port of Entry," Mohawk officials said in a release. "They would have the
full-time support of Mohawk Security Service, Akwesasne Mohawk Police
Services and other law enforcement agencies, possibly the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police."

The eight month test period would also give both sides the opportunity to
hold talks about the underlying issues that led to the bridge closure and
implement a number of proposed long-term solutions, such as providing
cultural sensitivity training to border officers, creating a liaison to
handle issues between Canada and the Akwesasne community and hiring a
larger number of native border guards to work at the Cornwall/Massena
crossing.

Canadian officials were reportedly amenable to the agreement and, while
they were not certain they could agree to all of the terms laid out in
Mohawk proposal, they promised to investigate the issue and continue a
dialogue with the tribe.

But before the ink was dry on the version of the Mohawk proposal mailed
out to Canadian officials Wednesday afternoon, Canadian Customs and
Immigration Union President Ron Moran held a press conference stating that
customs officers would not, under any circumstances, return to the
Cornwall Island station.

"It needs to be clear in everyone's mind that the Custom's and Immigration
Union has taken a categorical position and will never allow its members to
work at the Cornwall Border Crossing unarmed again," Mr. Moran said.
"People need to further understand that the events which led up to the
office closing are such that the officers can never work at the current
location again, armed or unarmed."

Mr. Moran is calling on Canadian Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan,
who oversees the CBSA, to keep the Cornwall-Massena crossing closed until
the situation is completely resolved.

"The office's historical tensions have always stemmed from the fact that
the office was located on the reserve," union officials said in a
statement. "Given that the current native-provoked situation is clearly
irreconcilable, now, more than ever, the office must be moved off the
island."

Moran's release said that the customs officers did not flee the station,
as had been reported, but that CBSA leaders had made the decision to close
the crossing and that "agency management informed the staff that they were
to get ready to leave, pack their things and shut systems down as though
they were never coming back."

The union characterizes the events leading up to the closure as
"intimidation tactics" which "can only be described as a concerted act of
terrorism."

The union's stance has thrown a wrench into the proposed settlement and
some worry Mr. Moran's statements may undo what progress the sides had
made in trying to get the bridge reopened.

"We were going to cancel the agreement altogether," Mr. Mitchell said.

Shortly after Moran's statements were made, Mr. Portelence called the
grand chief to reassure him that CBSA was still hoping to resolve the
problem.

Mohawk and Canadian officials plan to meet in Ottawa again today, but the
union's stance may muddy the waters for both sides as they attempt to move
forward with a solution.

"The union has taken a hard line position on this and we want to see what
they're going to do about it," Mr. Mitchell said. "CBSA has committed
themselves to enter into negotiations."
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b) Re: Fraudulent theft of Mohawk Land by the Municipality of Oka

Press Release

Kanehsatà:ke Mohawk Territory
For July 11, 2009

Re: Fraudulent theft of Mohawk Land by the Municipality of Oka

It has now been 19 years since the “Oka Crisis” when the Municipality of
Oka, developers, in collusion with the Federal and provincial governments
attempted to defraud the Mohawk peoples of Kanehsatà:ke of our ancestral
Pines to make way for the expansion of a 9 hole golf course and a
condominium development.

19 years later, nothing has changed as the Municipality of Oka with the
approval of federal government, continues to defraud Mohawk peoples of our
land and its resources through housing developments, the nationalizing of
Oka Park and through the Kanesatake Interim Land Base Governance Act
(KILBGA).

Since June 6, 2008, I have written 3 letters to the Municipality of Oka,
with the inclusion of both the federal and provincial governments as well
as the Governor General of Canada: Michaëlle Jean, regarding my concerns
of the fraud being committed by the Municipality of Oka and developers. To
date I have not received any response from any level of government or
individual.

The issue that sparked the Crisis of 1990 was the blatant theft of our
homelands, the Mohawk peoples’ sovereignty over those lands and the
continued efforts by governments to undermine and defraud us of our
international human rights to our homelands.

The acceleration of development since 1990 is astounding and has exploited
the hardship and violations of human rights that the Mohawk peoples and
their allies suffered during the Crisis of 1990.  In fact, no level of
government, in particular the Municipality of Oka, has apologized for the
blatant human rights violations, which included the denial of food,
medicine and safety of the Mohawk peoples.  Mohawk men were beaten and
tortured by the Sureté du Québec and members of the Canadian Army.  Mid
August 1990, Kahnawake community members were assaulted with stones when
they tried to leave their community via the Mercier Bridge while the SQ
stood idly by.  Mohawk effigies were burned nightly by racist citizens in
Chateauguay who refused to understand that the blocking of the Mercier
Bridge protected the community of Kanehsatà:ke from a police and army
attack.   To date, the Governments of Canada and Quebec, the Sureté du
Québec and the Municipality of Oka have yet to apologize for their casual
disregard of human rights violations during the 1990 Oka Crisis.

The Mohawk peoples have been waiting for over 300 years for a peace that
never seems to come.  A peace blocked by arrogant, racist governments and
their forced assimilation policies concealing their coveting of our lands
and resources through their legislation.

And so in the past 19 years, what has changed?  It is evident that very
little has changed and that there is a continuation to defraud not just
the Mohawk peoples of Kanehsatà:ke of our lands and access to those
resources, but all Indigenous peoples living in Canada. Therefore the
following recommendations are being put forward to the Government of
Canada and those levels of government that fall under its jurisdiction:

1.        that a legal caution be placed on all current and future
development plans on Mohawk Territory, particularly those taking place
within the Municipality of Oka, especially “Oka Park”, Pointe Calumet,
Ste. Marthe, St. Joseph, St. Eustache et. al..
2.        that the Kanesatake Interim Land Base Governance Act (KILBGA) be
rescinded as the validity of the process is questionable and adversely
affects the rights of the Kanienkehá:ka peoples
3.        Furthermore, that a legal review be conducted by an
international human rights tribunal on the process used by Canada to pass
S-24 and that Canada pay for the cost of the tribunal
4.        that the Kanienkehá:ka (Mohawk) nation, and in particular the
community of Kanehstatà:ke, be accorded the time to begin the process of a
strategic plan that will protect our lands and its resources for future
generations.
5.        that a process begins to create a policy for the approval of
development by the traditional government of the Iroquois confederacy on
our territories.
6.        that an apology for the human rights abuses and all propaganda
criminalizing the Mohawk people be given by the Canadian Government, the
Government of Quebec and the Municipality of Oka as quickly as possible in
order to begin the process of reconciliation.
7.        that an environmentally friendly sustainable development program
be implemented throughout Kanienkehá:ka (Mohawk) Territory.
8.        that Government of Canada implement the norm of free, prior and
informed consent for any policy, legislation or development that has the
potential to adversely affect the rights of all Indigenous peoples in
Canada.
9.        that the Government of Canada be accountable for the money it
holds in trust for Indigenous peoples, including the Six Nations Trust
Fund, and that this accountability be made public in an honest and
transparent manner

These are only a few of the necessary recommendations required for the
process of reconciliation and for the rule of law to be respected by the
Government of Canada.  Nothing short of this disavows the honor of the
Crown.


In Peace,
Ellen Gabriel

Turtle Clan
Kanienkehá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke

“It does not require many words to speak the truth” Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

((FYI - Oka Crisis video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eupyZkLwSPQ))

*******français***********

Territoire Mohawk de Kanehsatà:ke
Pour le 11 juillet, 2009

Re: Le vol frauduleux des terres Mohawk par la municipalité d’Oka

19 ans se sont écoulés depuis l’avènement de la « Crise d’Oka », lorsque
les promoteurs de la municipalité d’Oka, de connivence avec les
gouvernements provinciaux et fédéraux, ont tenté de priver frauduleusement
les peuples Mohawk de Kanehsatà:ke de leurs Pins ancestraux afin de
permettre l’expansion d’un terrain de golf de 9 trous et le développement
de condominium.

19 ans plus tard, rien n’a changé puisque la municipalité d’Oka, avec
l’approbation du gouvernement fédéral, continue de priver frauduleusement
les peuples Mohawk de leur territoire et de ses ressources par les
développements immobiliers, un vol effectué à travers la nationalisation
du parc d’Oka et la Loi sur le gouvernement du territoire provisoire de
Kanehsatake.

Durant la dernière année, j’ai rédigé 3 lettres à la municipalité d’Oka,
en joignant une copie aux gouvernements fédéraux et provinciaux ainsi qu’à
la gouverneure générale du Canada, Michaëlle Jean, concernant mes
préoccupations quant à la fraude commise par la municipalité d’Oka et ses
promoteurs. Jusqu’à maintenant, je n’ai reçu aucune réponse des paliers
gouvernementaux ni des individus.

L’évènement qui a provoqué la crise a été le vol flagrant de nos terres
d’origine, la souveraineté des peuples Mohawk sur ce territoire ainsi que
les efforts continus des gouvernements pour nous retirer nos droits
humains internationaux relatifs à nos terres d’origine.

L’accélération du développement depuis 1990 est incroyable, elle est basée
sur l’exploitation de la détresse et des violations des droits humains
dont les peuples Mohawk et leurs alliés ont souffert durant la crise de
1990. En effet, aucun palier gouvernemental, en particulier la
Municipalité d’Oka, ne s’est excusé pour les violations flagrantes des
droits humains, qui comprennent le refus d’offrir de la nourriture, des
médicaments et la sécurité aux peuples Mohawks. Des hommes Mohawks ont été
battus et torturés par la Sureté du Québec et les membres des forces
armées canadiennes. À la mi-août 1990, les membres de la communauté de
Kahnawake ont été assaillis par des pierres lorsqu’ils ont tenté de
quitter leurs communautés en passant par le pont Mercier, tandis que la SQ
est restée là sans rien faire. Durant la nuit, des effigies mohawks ont
été brûlées par des citoyens racistes de Châteauguay qui ont refusé de
comprendre que le blocus du pont Mercier protégeait la communauté de
Kanehsatà:ke des attaques des policiers et de l’armée. Aujourd’hui, les
gouvernements du Canada et du Québec, la Sureté du Québec et la
Municipalité d’Oka doivent présenter leurs excuses pour les indifférences
face aux violations des droits humains durant la crise d’Oka de 1990.


Les peuples Mohawks attendent depuis plus de 300 ans pour une paix qui
jamais ne semble arriver. Une paix bloquée par des gouvernements arrogants
et racistes et leurs politiques d’assimilation forcée qui consolident leur
convoitise de nos terres et ressources à travers leurs législations.

Et alors, durant les 19 dernières années, qu’est-ce qui a changé? Il est
évident que très peu a changé et que la fraude continue, non seulement
envers les peuples Mohawks de Kanehsatà:ke pour nos terres et l’accès aux
ressources, mais également envers tous les peuples autochtones au Canada.
Dans ce contexte, les recommandations suivantes sont présentées au
gouvernement du Canada et aux autres paliers gouvernementaux qui tombent
sous sa juridiction :

1.        qu’une injonction soit placée sur tous les plans de
développements futurs et actuels sur le territoire Mohawk,
particulièrement sur ceux qui sont réalisés au sein de la municipalité
d’Oka, comme le parc d’Oka, Pointe Calumet, Ste. Marthe, St. Joseph, St.
Eustache etc.
2.        que Loi sur le gouvernement du territoire provisoire de
Kanesatake soit annulée vu que la validité du processus est questionnable
et affectera défavorablement les droits des peuples de Kanienkehá:ka.
3.        qu’une révision judiciaire soit conduite par un tribunal
international des droits humains concernant le processus utilisé par le
Canada pour l’adoption de S-24 et que le Canada paie les coûts de ce
tribunal.
4.        que l’on accorde du temps à  la nation Kanienkehá:ka (Mohawk),
et en particulier à la communauté de Kanehsatà:ke, pour entamer un
processus de planification stratégique afin de protéger nos terres et ses
ressources pour les générations futures
5.        que l’on entame un processus afin de créer une politique pour
l’approbation de développements sur nos territoires par le gouvernement
traditionnel de la confédération Iroquoise.
6.        que des excuses pour les violations des droits humains et toutes
les propagandes criminalisant le peuple Mohawk soient présentées par le
gouvernement canadien, le gouvernement du Québec et la municipalité d’Oka
aussi vite que possible afin de commencer le processus de réconciliation.
7.        qu’un programme de développement durable soit mis en œuvre à
travers le territoire Kanienkehá:ka (Mohawk).
8.        que le gouvernement du Canada mette en œuvre la norme du
consentement libre et éclairé pour toute politique, législation ou
développement qui peuvent potentiellement affectés défavorablement les
droits des peuples autochtones au Canada.
9.        que le gouvernement du Canada rende des comptes pour les fonds
qu’il détient au nom des peuples autochtones, incluant le fond des Six
Nations, et que ce soit rendu public de manière honnête et transparente.

Ce ne sont que quelques recommandations nécessaires pour que le processus
de réconciliation et que l’état de droit soient respectés par le
gouvernement du Canada. Il ne s’agit que du strict minimum pour que
l’honneur de la Couronne soit conservé.

En paix,
Ellen Gabriel
Clan tortue
Kanienkehá:ka de Kanehsatà:ke

===============================================================

5) Take Action:

a) DEMAND the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have their legitimate leadership
recognized!

ACTION ALERT

****ACTION ALERT****

Please take FIVE MINUTES to DEMAND the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have
their legitimate leadership recognized!!!

JOIN the community and Barriere Lake Solidarity in showing the Department
of Indian Affairs that we will not tolerate another coup d’etat in
Barriere Lake!

he Algonquins of Barriere Lake held a leadership selection ceremony on
June 24, 2009 on their traditional territory. The community selected a new
Customary Chief and Council, confirming their confidence in long-time
Customary Chief Jean Maurice Matchewan.

Since March 2008, the Department of Indian Affairs has refused to
recognize the legitimate Customary Chief and Council of the Algonquins of
Barriere Lake. This has been just the latest government tactic to
undermine Barriere Lake’s historic Trilateral agreement – a land
management plan covering 10,000 square kilometers of their traditional
territories – that the Customary Chief and Council have been fighting to
have implemented since its signing in 1991. For the last year and half,
the Department of Indian Affairs has recognized a Chief and Council who
were not, according to Barriere Lake’s Elder’s Council, selected according
to the community’s Customary Governance Code, Mitchikanibikok Anishnabe
Onakinakewin, and who are only supported by a minority community faction.

To have their legitimate leadership recognized and to continue the fight
for the Trilateral agreement,  the Algonquins of Barriere Lake held a
leadership selection ceremony at the end of June, but the ball is now in
the federal government's court. The Department of Indian Affairs should
recognize the results and enter into relations with Matchewan and his
Council, but they have shown that they do not want to deal with an
assertive leadership pushing for respect for their customary government
and land rights.

The community needs supporters to put pressure on Indian Affairs to
recognize and abide by the results of Barriere Lake's leadership
selection.

DEMDAND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPECT THE CUSTOMARY GOVERNMENT OF
FIRST NATIONS:


SENT AN EMAIL VIA THE BARRIERE LAKE SOLIDARITY WEBSITE :
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html


EMAIL/CALL/FAX-IN to:

Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl
Phone: (604) 847-9711, 1-800-667-2808
Fax: (604) 847-9744

E-mail: riding at chuckstrahl.com, ottawa at chuckstrahl.com

Quebec Regional Director of Indian Affairs Pierre Nepton
Phone: (418) 648-3270
Fax : (418) 648-2266

Email: nepton.p at ainc-inac.gc.ca

And PLEASE cc us at barrierelakesolidarity at gmail.com


[See talking points for telephone calls and more background information
below]


****SAMPLE LETTER****


Dear xx,

I am writing to you regarding the recent selection of the Algonquins of
Barriere Lake Customary Chief and Council.

I am urging you and Indian and North Affairs to recognize the leadership
selection for the following reasons:

First, the Elder's Council in Barriere Lake confirms their Customary
Governance Code was followed in this selection and that there is a broad
community consensus among the eligible community members about the
selection.

Secondly, the entire leadership selection respected due process,
transparency, and was documented by Keith Penner, former parliamentarian
and author of the Penner Report on Aboriginal Self-government. On top of
Penner’s documentation, several outside observers were present, including
David Bleakney of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Algonquin Nation
Secretariat Grand Chief Norman Young, and Chief
Harry St. Denis of Wolf Lake First Nation, who all confirm that customary
traditions were exercised in the leadership selection process.

Thirdly, Indian Affairs' recognition of Customary Chief Jean Maurice
Matchewan and his Council should not be a mere administrative gesture.

I am aware that Pierre Nepton stated in a letter addressed to Loraine [sic
Jeanine] Matchewan on June 23rd, 2009 that he would not recognize the
leadership selection in Barriere Lake because of a judicial review,
launched by the Elder's Council of Barriere Lake, to challenge Indian
Affairs’ decision to recognize a minority faction as Chief and Council in
March 2008. The fact that there is an ongoing judicial review should not
prevent Indian Affairs from recognizing the outcome of the leadership
selection of June 24, 2009.

Once again, I strongly encourage Indian and Northern Affairs to recognize
the customary Chief and Council recently selected by the Algonquins of
Barriere Lake (as follows):


·        Jean Maurice Matchewan - Chief
·        Benjamin Nottaway - Councillor
·        Eugene Nottaway - Councillor
·        Joey Decoursay – Councillor
·        David Wawatie - Councillor

In closing, you can be sure I will be closely watching the Barriere Lake
leadership recognition by the federal government, and their situation
broadly.

Sincerely,


Your name here


****SOME TALKING POINT SUGGESTIONS FOR PHONE CALLS****


-The Elder's Council in Barriere Lake confirms their Customary Governance
Code was followed in this selection and that there is a broad community
consensus among the eligible community members about the selection

-The entire leadership selection respected due process, transparency, and
was documented by Keith Penner, former parliamentarian and author of the
Penner Report on Aboriginal Self-government

-Indian Affairs' recognition of Customary Chief Jean Maurice Matchewan and
his Council should now be a mere administrative gesture

-The fact that there is an ongoing judicial review, launched by the
Elder's Council of Barriere Lake, to challenge Indian Affairs decision to
recognize a minority-faction as Chief and Council in March 2008 should not
prevent Indian Affairs from recognizing the outcome of the leadership
selection of June 24,2009
===============================================================

6) Organizing for Justice Conference

Organizing for Justice Conference

We are a coalition of groups and individuals organizing the second annual
Organizing For Justice conference in Ottawa this coming fall, from Thurs
Oct 15 to Sat Oct 17. This is a conference that focuses on local efforts
towards social justice, environmental justice, economic justice and
healthy communities. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Grassroots
Responses to the Economic and Environmental Crises’. See
http://org4justice.wordpress.com for more.

We are seeking input for what this conference should include and be about.
We are looking for input on the three main aspects we seek to develop –
strategy and vision; skills and tools; relationships and network
building – as well as possible participation in the organizing process,
and other people/ groups we may want to talk to and include in this
process.

We have set up an online survey which we ask that you please take a look
at and answer any/all questions you feel inclined to provide your input
on. Please consider filling out the survey, and also sending this on to
others who may be interested and be able to provide some valuable input.
Your time is appreciated! (Note: the deadline for filling this survey out
is Sunday July 18)

Survey link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Te4kV_2fFEveEjHnx9XsoVCA_3d_3d

Please note our basis of unity that follows. This is what we ask all
groups or individuals participating in the conference to agree with as a
basis of convergence for this conference.

Sincerely,
The Organizing For Justice conference organizing committee
~~~~~~~~

FORMAT OF CONFERNCE:

Thurs October 15:

* 7:00pm: Keynote speaker(s) / panel

Fri October 16:

* 7:00pm: Arts night – music and theatre, more

Sat October 17:

* 11:00am-6:00pm: Book-fair/Info-fair, and multiple workshops/sessions

* 6:00-8:00pm: Community dinner

* 8:00pm-2:00am: Social event

BASIS OF UNITY:

Organizing For Justice is an annual event that brings together activists
from a variety of issues, struggles, ideologies and backgrounds to learn
and reflect on local organized action towards social justice,
environmental justice, economic justice, and healthy communities.

Through diverse workshops, panel discussions, speakers, skill-shares,
tabling, and the creation of an open and safe space, Organizing For
Justice seeks to develop: strategy and vision; skills and tools; and
relationships and networking.

We advocate mutual aid, direct democracy, autonomy, solidarity and
decentralized grass-roots forms of organization. We strive to be inclusive
and counter all forms of oppression, domination and hierarchy.