[Indigsol] IPSMO's Newsletter, Nov. 16 to 23

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

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IPSMO Newsletter
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Meetings, Events, Articles, Video
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The Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement of Ottawa acknowledges that
the city of Ottawa exists on stolen native land.
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IPSMO is a grassroots organization that directly supports indigenous
peoples in diverse struggles for justice. We also work within communities
to challenge the lies and half-truths about indigenous peoples and
colonization that dominate Canadian society. The organization is open to
both indigenous and non-indigenous people, and focuses on local and
regional campaigns.
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Newsletter Contents
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1)	Meetings

1a) Next IPSMO meeting, Monday, Nov. 23rd at 7pm
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2)	Events

2a) Decolonial Study Group, Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1pm
2b) “FOR THE **NEXT** 7 GENERATIONS: 13 INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS WEAVING A
WORLD THAT WORKS," Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6pm.
2c) Two Spirit and Queer Liberation Movements, Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7pm
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3. Articles

3a) TWO MARTYRS REMEMBERED ON NOVEMBER 16
3b) Onion Lake Cree Residents rally to raise awareness about
First Nations citizenship
3c) Supreme Court of Canada misses opportunity to redress discrimination
against Aboriginal Women
3d) Canada to unconstitutionally abolish Algonquin's customary government
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4)	Miscellaneous

4a) When the police come knocking, do no talking.
    Quand le SCRS frappe à la porte/If CSIS comes knocking
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IPSMO Newsletter
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1) Meetings

1a) Next IPSMO Meeting, Monday, Nov. 23 at 7pm

Next IPSMO Meeting
Next Meeting
Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7pm
Exile Infoshop
256 Bank St.
Sorry the location is not wheelchair accessible
Everyone Welcome!
http://www.ipsmo.org
ipsmo at riseup.net

This is an organizing meeting where we discuss our current and future
plans.  These meetings are open to everyone.  Our current organizing
focuses are: support for the Ardoch Omàmìwinini, the Barriere Lake
Algonquin, Native Women and Two-Spirited People, opposition to police
brutality, the prison-industrial complex and support for political prisoners.
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2a) Decolonial Study Group, Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1pm

Decolonial Study Group
Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1pm
Exile Infoshop
256 Bank St. (2nd Floor)
Sorry this location is not wheelchair accessible
Everyone Welcome!
ipsmo at riseup.net
http://www.ipsmo.org

The reading for the study group on Sunday, Dec. 13 will focus on treaties
between the Mi'kmaq and the British Crown, and on the recognition of
Mi'kmaq treaty rights in the Marshall decision.

The Decolonial Study Group is a new project of the IPSM Ottawa. We will be
deepening and broadening our understanding and analysis of indigenous
struggles for decolonization, social justice and revolution. We will be
doing this through readings, workshops, oral presentations, movies and so
on.

The exact reading is to be determined. The name of the article and a link
to it will be posted ASAP.
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2b) “FOR THE **NEXT** 7 GENERATIONS: 13 INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS WEAVING A
WORLD THAT WORKS"

“FOR THE **NEXT** 7 GENERATIONS: 13 INDIGENOUS GRANDMOTHERS WEAVING A
WORLD THAT WORKS," Tuesday, 24 November at 6pm

Film Screening
Carleton University
Tuesday, 24 November at 6pm
Kailash Mital Theatre – Southam Hall

The film reveals the importance of Indigenous knowledge in our
world today as shared by 13 Indigenous Grandmothers originating from all
four corners of the world. It reveals timeless wisdom to help us make a
difference in our every day lives, in service of peace, of our earth
mother and of healing.

To visit a preview of the trailer, check out the website
http://www.forthenext7generations.com

A poster is attached with more information.
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2c) Two Spirit and Queer Liberation Movements, Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7pm
Two Spirit and Queer Liberation Movements
The OPIRG Carleton Fall Colloquium presents
TWO SPIRIT AND QUEER LIBERATION MOVEMENTS
>From Radical Revolt to Freedom Fighting Justice

With presentations by:

Jessica Yee, Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Gary Kinsman, co-author of "The Canadian War on Queers"
Ashley Fortier, Q-Team
Zaheen, Agitate! Ottawa

Wednesday Nov 25th 7-9 pm
Montgomery Legion Hall,
330 Kent Street near Somerset Ave
(wheelchair accessible)
Suggested donation $5-10, no one turned away

Advance tickets available at OPIRG Carleton (326 UniCentre), OPIRG-GRIPO
(631 King Edward Ave, 3rd floor) Venus Envy Ottawa (320 Lisgar St), and
Octopus Books (116 Third Ave)

Talk descriptions:

>> Two Spirited Indigenous Feminist Freedom Fighting with Jessica Yee <<

Jessica Yee is a self-described Two Spirited Indigenous Feminist Freedom
Fighter - and as such will outline how frameworks like reproductive
justice and movements like Indigenous feminism come into play with her
work with Two-Spirited youth specifically as the founder and Executive
Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network - currently the only
Aboriginal organization in North America to work within the full spectrum
of reproductive and sexual health.

Jessica Yee is a 23 year old Two Spirited young woman from the Mohawk
Nation. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Native Youth
Sexual Health Network, a North America wide organization working on issues
of healthy sexuality, reproductive justice, cultural competency, and youth
empowerment.

>> Remembering Revolt and Resistance: Queer Struggles Against the Canadian
National Security State with Gary Kinsman <<

Queer liberation started as a radical revolt against heterosexual hegemony
in alliance with other groups fighting against oppression and for social
liberation. This presentation actively remembers queer organizing against
the Canadian national security state from the late 1950s to the 1990s.
This resistance undermined and dismantled the Canadian War on Queers which
had led to the purging, surveillance, and harassment of thousands of queer
identified people. This presentation draws from the just-released book
"The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual Regulation" which
will be available for sale at the event.

Gary Kinsman is a longtime queer liberation and anti-capitalist activist.
He is the author of The Regulation of Desire: Homo and Hetero Sexualities
(1996), co-editor of Whose National Security? (2000), and Sociology for
Changing the World (2006). He is a professor of Sociology at Laurentian
University in Sudbury.

>> Queer Organizing Against Apartheid with Ashley Fortier <<

Drawing on a long history of queer solidarity organizing against South
African apartheid, and in response to Israel’s branding of itself as a
safe haven for queers in order to distract from its racist policies
towards Palestinians, a growing movement of queer solidarity against
Israeli Apartheid has emerged in recent years. This presentation will
highlight some organizing successes and challenges throughout Canada and
the U.S. and demonstrate the importance for queers to learn about and join
in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign against Israel.

Ashley Fortier is based out of Montreal where she organizes around radical
queer, prisoner justice, and Palestine solidarity struggles. She's also a
part-time activist researcher with the Collectif de recherche sur
l'autonomie collective, works as a coordinator at QPIRG Concordia, and
hopes one day to complete her graduate certificate in Editing and
Publishing from Ryerson University.

>> Agitating Ottawa: A Local Perspective on Queer Anti-Racist Organizing
with Zaheen <<

Think Ottawa’s bureaucratic and stuffy reputation is a drag?
Unfortunately, this reputation has permeated many facets of our community,
including the activist and queer communities. Anti-racist and queer
organizing has never been easy in this city, but we have definitely come a
long way. Zaheen from Agitate!, a local collective for queer people of
colour, will address some challenges in doing this type of organizing in
our city, as well as successes and ways we have overcome and continue to
overcome these challenges.

Zaheen is a local community activist and has been a member of Agitate for
almost 5 years. She is also involved with other community organizations
such as Ladyfest Ottawa, SASC, and has recently joined the staff at
OPIRG-GRIPO as one of their Coordinators. In her spare time, she likes to
eat ice cream, be a Muslim heathen, and rock out to Whitney Houston.
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3a) TWO MARTYRS REMEMBERED ON NOVEMBER 16

By Gurpreet Singh

November 16 is the martyrdom day of a great Indian revolutionary, Kartar
Singh Sarabha, who was hanged in 1915 by the British Empire that occupied
his motherland until 1947. Although it's a matter of sheer chance that his
martyrdom day coincides with that of Louis Riel, the Métis hero of Canada,
the two men had one thing in common: they challenged colonialism at
different times and in different forms.

Kartar Singh Sarabha was born in 1886 in Punjab, when India was under the
British rule. He migrated to the USA in 1912 for studies at the University
of California, where he came in contact with Indian revolutionaries who
believed in armed rebellion to free India from the foreign invaders. He
became an active member of the Gadar Party that was founded in 1913 and
helped in running the party newspaper.     He later went to India to
participate in an armed revolution and tried to incite Indian soldiers who
worked for the British Empire to revolt. He had also participated in
robberies to raise funds for arms and ammunition. While the planned
rebellion failed, he was later arrested by the police with the help of an
informer and hanged.

Louis Riel was born on October 22, 1844. Known as a founder of the
province of Manitoba, he led two resistance movements, the first one being
the Red River Rebellion, which established a provisional government that
later negotiated the terms under which Manitoba entered the Canadian
confederation. He was executed on November 16, 1885, after the second
Métis resistance was defeated at Batoche. Although Riel was not the only
person hanged for struggling for Aboriginal rights, he symbolizes the
continued indigenous resistance in Canada.

The two men set an example for those who believed in social justice and
equality. Their sacrifices have made some difference, but there is still a
long way to go. The imperialist wars and the plunder of resources are
still going on in the world. Colonialism in the garb of globalization is
still posing a threat to the life and liberty of people, especially those
belonging to economically weaker sections. And above all the exploitation
of indigenous peoples continues shamelessly both in India and Canada.

Known as the world's largest democracy, India has witnessed systematic
discrimination against the so-called untouchables or dalits, who are the
First Nation of that country. In south India, the dalits were allowed to
enter a Hindu temple after 100 years last month, and that too under the
police protection. They were declared untouchables by the priest class
centuries ago and are still not allowed to enter many temples. The Indian
communists have now launched a campaign in support of the dalits seeking
social equality. Ironically, Kartar Singh Sarabha's Gadar Party had
denounced caste discrimination, yet this social ill is prevalent in free
India.

In Canada, Aboriginal peoples are still struggling to retain the rights
over their lands, rivers and cultural heritage. Prime Minister Stephen
Harper has apologized for the abuse of the students in the residential
schools, and US President Barack Obama has opened dialogue with First
Nations on the other side of the border. Instead of making tokenistic
gestures, these leaders should check institutional racism.   In both the
secular and culturally diverse countries, right- wing thinkers and
historians have always tried to demonize the First Nations as savages one
way or the other.

The Indo-Canadian pioneers used to call the natives Tae Ke (those
belonging to the elderly uncle's family). This informal sense of
association should be popularized to strengthen relations between the two
communities. Progressive groups can make some beginning by organizing a
commemorative event to mark the martyrdom of both these  men.
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3b) Onion Lake Cree Residents rally to raise awareness about
First Nations citizenship

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Onion+Lake+Cree+Nation+residents+rally+raise+awareness+about+First+Nations+citizenship/2216458/story.html

REGINA — A delegation from Onion Lake Cree Nation rallied at the
Legislative Building on Thursday to raise awareness about First Nations
citizenship.

Chief Wallace Fox said he wants to bring the issue to the forefront,
adding proposed changes to the Indian Act do not sit well with First
Nations. That's why members of Onion Lake, located 50 kilometres north of
Lloydminster, decided to hold a peaceful demonstration in Regina.

"(We wanted) to create awareness within the general public of us
maintaining the right to determine who is a citizen of our nation," he
said.

Fox explained that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is changing
the definition of citizenship by amending the Indian Act, which defines
who is eligible to be registered as a Status Indian.

Sharon McIvor, did not agree with the Indian Act's definition and took
Canada to court. Her claim was that certain registration provisions of the
Indian Act are unconstitutional because they violate the equality
provision of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In April, the B.C. Court
of Appeal ruled in McIvor's favour and gave INAC one year to amend the
Indian Act.

"We are in the 11th hour," Fox said, adding that in five months time INAC
is going to change its definition of who is a Status Indian. "We need to
be proactive rather than reactive."

He believes First Nations should have some input into who can be a member
of a First Nation.

"How can a government decide who is a citizen of a certain tribe?" said Fox.

"That is an inherent right given to us by the Creator of our people."

He said Onion Lake has already developed its own citizenship act, as have
other First Nations and would like the government to take those into
consideration before making a unilateral decision that will affect all
First Nations.

Darlene Chocan, organizer of the march to the Legislative Building, is
concerned about what INAC is doing and wants answers.

"I come here as a mother and a grandmother to support our leaders in their
fight for our treaty rights because our membership status is in crisis as
a result of the outcome of the McIvor case," she said. "It's affecting
First Nation communities throughout Canada."

Chief Guy Lonechild of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations
(FSIN) was also at the peaceful protest in a show of support.

"We're here to turn the page on the oppression of First Nation women —
Cree women, Saulteaux women, Dene women, Nakoda women," said Lonechild. "I
think our nations have been hurt by the constant policies of
assimilation."

He said FSIN doesn't dispute the Supreme Court of Canada's decision not to
hear an appeal in the McIvor case. However, like Fox, he believes leaders
need to stand behind one another when it comes to exerting the inherent
right to citizenship and the determination of their membership.

"We're here to support the women's voice. They are taking the leadership
role today. As FSIN (chiefs), we want to make sure this is a new era of
hope and reconciliation for those rights violations against First Nations
women."

kbenjoe at leaderpost.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
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3c) Supreme Court of Canada misses opportunity to redress discrimination
against Aboriginal Women

Supreme Court of Canada misses opportunity to redress discrimination
against Aboriginal Women

For Immediate Release

Supreme Court of Canada misses opportunity to redress discrimination
against Aboriginal Women

Toronto, November 5, 2009 - This morning the Supreme Court of Canada
refused to hear the appeal in the case of McIvor v. Registrar, Indian
and Northern Affairs Canada.  This decision represents a lost
opportunity for the Court to redress the historic and ongoing
discrimination against Aboriginal women under the Indian Act.

The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) applauds Sharon
McIvor, who has tirelessly pursued the redress of discrimination
against Aboriginal women under the Indian Act for more than two
decades.  She first commenced her equality rights challenge to the
discriminatory provisions of the Indian Act in 1985 with the support
of LEAF.  She has challenged the Indian Act in its definition of who
is “Indian” under the Act, which accords diminished entitlement to Indian
status to descendents of Aboriginal women.

McIvor’s challenge was successful at trial and on appeal. The remedy
on appeal, however, was narrower than the remedy ordered at trial.
McIvor therefore sought leave of the Supreme Court of Canada to obtain
broad redress for historic discrimination against Aboriginal women and
their descendents, consistent with the ruling of the trial judge.

The elimination of sex discrimination under the status provisions of
the Indian Act remains a priority for LEAF.  The federal government is
currently amending the Act, although its proposed amendments have been
criticized by McIvor and Aboriginal organizations.  “LEAF encourages
the federal government to amend the legislation in a manner which
comprehensively removes historic and ongoing sex discrimination under
the Act and which responds to the concerns and demands of Aboriginal
women,” said Audrey Johnson, Executive Director of LEAF.

The McIvor case was originally funded by the Court Challenges program.
This federally-funded program provided resources to historically
challenged individuals or groups to take test cases into courts to
challenge federal laws based on equality rights in the Charter.  This
program was cancelled by the federal government in 2006, without warning.

-30-

Contact:

Audrey Johnson, Executive Director, LEAF, 416-595-7170 ext 225
Joanna Birenbaum, Director of Litigation, LEAF, 416-595-7170 ext 223
Nicole Curling, Director of Communications, 416-595-7170 ext 224

LEAF is a national, non profit organization committed to confront all
forms of discrimination through legal action, public education, and
law reform to achieve equality for women and girls under the Charter
of Rights and Freedoms. For more information, please visit us at www.leaf.ca.
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3d) Canada to unconstitutionally abolish Algonquin's customary government

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Canada seeks to unconstitutionally abolish Algonquin's customary
government to avoid honouring agreements and recognizing legitimate
leadership

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory /– On Friday, October 30, 2009,
Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl sent notice to the Algonquins of
Barriere Lake that he will not recognize their legitimate leadership, but
instead impose elections on the community in April, 2010 by invoking a
section of the Indian Act that would abolish the customary method they use
to select their leaders.

The attempt at assimilation would be a violation of Barriere Lake's
constitutionally-protected Aboriginal right to their customary system of
government.

"The Canadian government doesn't want to deal with our Customary Chief and
Council because we are demanding that the federal and Quebec governments
implement agreements they signed with us regarding the exploitation of our
lands and resources. So rather than recognize me, they want to do away
with our customary system of government by which I was selected," says
Jean Maurice Matchewan, Customary Chief of Barriere Lake. "And while they
are not recognizing our community's legitimate leadership, Quebec has been
taking advantage by illegally allowing forestry companies to clear-cut our
forests in violation of our Trilateral agreement."

Documents released under court-order indicate the Government of Canada was
invested in quashing the precedent-setting Trilateral agreement, signed
with Barriere Lake in 1991, and undermining Barriere Lake's legitimate
Customary Chief and Council.[1]

Jean Maurice Matchewan was reselected as Customary Chief on June 24, 2009,
but the Government of Canada has refused to answer six consecutive letters
sent by Barriere Lake's lawyers, the last on Thursday, October 29,
requesting that the Government recognize this result. The June leadership
selection process was facilitated by Keith Penner, a former Member of
Parliament who chaired the Special Parliamentary Committee on Indian
Self-Government in 1983 that culminated in the historic Penner Report on
Indian First Nations Self-Government. Penner concluded that Matchewan and
his Council "followed and adhered to in each and every respect" Barriere
Lake's Customary Governance Code and are the "the legitimate and properly
constituted leaders," a result which should clear up confusion about the
identity of Barriere Lake's legitimate Customary Chief and Council.[2]


At a Federal Court hearing on September 24, 2009, Prothontary Tabib urged
the Minister, in light of the new leadership selection, to withdraw his
recognition of Casey Ratt, whom the Minister has been dealing with as
Chief since March 2008.  This could allow the claims to leadership to be
resolved through the Courts. Rather than recognize the June leadership
selection or take direction from the Courts. Minister Strahl has decided
to impose elections on Barriere Lake, alleging the community is "lacking
the political will and the governance tools to resolve this matter" of
their leadership selection.

"We already have a Customary Governance Code, which would work well if it
were not for the internal interference of the Government of Canada. First
the Government of Canada recognized and worked with a minority faction
which didn't respect our Customary Governance Code, in order to derail our
signed agreements. Now that we have the Government backed into a corner
because of our legal challenges and the recent leadership selection
process, which was documented by credible witnesses, they are trying to
win some more time by attacking our customs," says Customary Chief
Matchewan.

Section 74 of the Indian Act states that the Minister of Indian Affairs
can impose an electoral system on First Nations with customary leadership
selection processes. But Barriere Lake’s Customary governance code is
recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution, and
the Minister is therefore prevented from changing their customary system
of government.

Barriere Lake wants Canada and Quebec to uphold signed agreements dating
back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development
and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the
Royal Commission since 2001. Quebec signed a complementary Bilateral
Agreement in 1998, but has stalled implementation despite the 2006
recommendations of two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special
representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative
Clifford Lincoln, that the agreement be implemented. The 2006
recommendations include forest plans to harmonize logging operations with
the Algonquin's land use and revenue-sharing to give the Algonquins a $1.5
million share of the $100 million in resource revenue that comes out of
their territory every year.

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, a Tribal Council representing three
Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, continues to support Chief
Matchewan.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Jean Maurice Matchewan, Customary Chief of Barriere Lake: 819-435-2136

Notes

[1]
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2009/08/another-smoking-gun-top-diplomats.html

[2]
http://ia341334.us.archive.org/0/items/2009-06-24AblPennerLeadershipReport_695/2009-06-24AblLeadershipReport.pdf


For more information: www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com
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4. Miscellaneous

4a) When the police come knocking, do no talking
    Quand le SCRS frappe à la porte/If CSIS comes knocking

[English below or http://peoplescommission.org/en/poped/whattodo-csis.php
] [À partager avec militant-es et allié-es dans la lutte pour la justice
sociale]

Quand le SCRS frappe à la porte:
*Un message du Réseau de la Commission populaire (Montréal) *
 Montréal, le 10 novembre 2009

Au cours des dernières semaines, le Service canadien du renseignement de
sécurité (SCRS) a effectué plusieurs visites chez des militants et
militantes de la région. Cette déclaration est une réponse à ces visites.

Les visites du SCRS chez des militants et militantes montréalais-es ne
constituent pas une nouveauté. Des visites semblables ont eu lieu dans le
passé, dans le contexte de projets et d'événements spécifiques. Le SCRS a
récemment effectué plus de 60 visites chez plus de 40 miitantes et
militants de Vancouver, dans le cadre du mouvement d'opposition aux Jeux
Olympiques de 2010. De façon générale, les visites du SCRS ont plusieurs
objectifs et ne visent pas seulement la collecte de renseignements; leur
travail a aussi pour but de créer ou d'exploiter des divisions entre
militant-es, de semer de la désinformation, d'intimider, de développer des
profils psychologiques et de recruter des informateurs et informatrices.

Si le SCRS frappe à votre porte, nous suggérons d'adopter une attitude
d'entière non-collaboration. Une visite du SCRS dans votre chez-vous ou
sur votre lieu de travail vous prendra par surprise, mais nous vous
encourageons néanmoins à vous tenir prêt-es à ne PAS collaborer avec eux
de quelconque manière.

Si vous êtes dans une situation précaire - à cause de votre statut
d'immigration, d'accusations criminelles, de conditions de probation ou de
libération conditionnelle ou pour toute autre raison -  vous ne devriez en
AUCUN CAS parler seul à seul avec les agents du SCRS. Vous devriez plutôt
leur demander de contacter un-e avocat-e de votre choix et refuser de leur
dire quoi que ce soit de plus. Vous pouvez contacter le réseau de la
Commission populaire pour obtenir une liste d'avocat-es pouvant agir de
manière rapide et efficace contre les tactiques d'intimidation du SCRS.

Si vous vous sentez à l'aise de le faire, vous pouvez aussi demander les
noms, numéros de téléphone et cartes des agents du SCRS qui veulent vous
parler. Insistez pour qu'ils et elles s'identifient, et ne dites rien
d'autre. Vous n'êtes jamais sous l'obligation de confirmer votre identité
auprès du SCRS.

Parfois, les agents du SCRS entameront une discussion avec vous sans
s'identifier d'emblée. Dans ce cas, si vous êtes pris-es par surprise,
nous vous encourageons à refuser de poursuivre la conversation avec le
SCRS. Vous pouvez toujours garder le silence. Il faut se rappeler qu'en
matière de services de sécurité, le silence est la règle d'or.

Dans tous les cas, demandez au SCRS de quitter votre domicile ou votre
lieu de travail, ou d'arrêter de vous suivre. Dites-leur clairement de
partir, de la manière qui vous convient. Vous avez le droit d'insister.
Vous pouvez même leur claquer la porte au visage, si cela vous chante.

N'oubliez pas que malgré les gestes sales qu'il pose au quotidien, le SCRS
ne détient aucun pouvoir policier, ses agents ne peuvent donc pas vous
arrêter.

En cas de visite du SCRS, nous vous invitons à contacter le réseau de la
Commission populaire. Nous nous engageons à garder confidentielle toute
communication avec nous. Considérez toute visite surprise du SCRS comme
étant du harcèlement. Si possible, notez une version des faits suite à la
visite, afin de faire le suivi.

Le boulot du SCRS, c'est de recueillir des renseignements pour l'État et
de perturber les mouvements pour la justice sociale. Leur mandat inclut la
surveillance de toute activité considérée comme étant une menace envers
l'ordre politique et économique actuel.  Leur intimidation cible les
autochtones, les immigrant-es, les communautés racisées, les groupes
radicaux, les syndicats et les allié-es de ces groupes. Les actions du
SCRS - qui incluent l'incompétence crasse, le racisme et la complicité
dans des actes de torture - constituent autant de raisons pour décourager
toute personne impliquée dans des mouvements pour la justice sociale de
coopérer de quelconque manière avec eux.

La totale non-coopération avec le SCRS et les autres services de sécurité
par l'entièreté du mouvement pour la justice sociale (au sens large) est
la meilleure façon de maintenir unité et solidarité tout en nous
concentrant sur l'important travail quotidien que nous effectuons.

En résumé: ne parlez PAS au SCRS ; ne partagez AUCUNE information, même si
celle-ci vous paraît inoffensive.

Prière de diffuser ce message dans vos réseaux et avec tout-es les members
de votre groupe, afin d'encourager une non-collaboration collective avec
le SCRS.

Solidairement,
Le Réseau de la Commission populaire (Montréal)

courriel:  abolissons at gmail.com <http://mc/compose?to=abolissons@gmail.com>
Tél: 514-848-7583
www.peoplescommission.org

[Toute communication avec le Réseau de la Commission populaire est
considérée comme étant confidentielle.]

Pour plus de détails:
- Targetting of Anti-Olympics Movement: What To Do When Police & Spies
Come Knocking:
http://web.resist.ca/~orn/blog/?p=32<http://web.resist.ca/%7Eorn/blog/?p=32>
(en anglais)
 - Canada’s spies: the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service:
<http://peoplescommission.org/en/poped/csis.php>
http://peoplescommission.org/en/poped/csis.php  (en anglais)


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[Please share this advisory with your social justice allies and contacts]
[La version française:
http://peoplescommission.org/fr/poped/whattodo-csis.php ]

If CSIS comes knocking:
A community advisory from the People's Commission Network
November 10, 2009, MONTREAL

There have recently been visits by members of the Canadian Security
and Intelligence Service (CSIS) to various local social justice organizers
and activists. This community advisory is in response to those visits.

Visits by CSIS to activists in Montreal are nothing new; they have taken
place before around specific events or projects. CSIS has recently
conducted over 60 visits to about 40 activists in the Vancouver-area,
related to opposition to the 2010 Olympics. In general, CSIS visits can
have different purposes: they are not only about information-gathering but
can also be attempts to create or exploit divisions between activists,
plant misinformation, intimidate, develop psychological profiles, and
recruit informers.

If CSIS comes knocking, we strongly encourage total and
complete non-cooperation. A CSIS visit to your home or workplace will be a
surprise, but we encourage you to be ready to not cooperate with them in
any way.

If you are in a precarious position -- due to your immigration status,
pending criminal charges, probation, parole, or any other reason -- we
strongly encourage you to NEVER EVER talk to CSIS alone. Instead, tell
them to contact a trusted lawyer that you have chosen, and then refuse to
say anything else. You can contact the People's Commission Network
for references to lawyers who can act diligently against CSIS
intimidation tactics.

If you are comfortable doing so, ask for the names, telephone numbers
and cards of the CSIS agents who want to talk to you. Insist they provide
their names, and don't say anything else. You are under no legal
obligation, ever, to confirm your identity with CSIS.

Sometimes CSIS agents might begin speaking to you and only later
identify themselves. In that case, if you are taken by surprise, we
encourage you to refuse to continue speaking with CSIS. You can always
default back to being silent. In dealing with security services, silence
is the golden rule.

In all cases, you are encouraged to tell CSIS to leave your home
or workplace or cease following you. Tell CSIS clearly to leave, in
whatever fashion you feel is appropriate. You can insist they leave, to
the point of closing doors in their face.

Remember, although CSIS can act in very ugly ways, it has no arrest
or policing powers.

We encourage you to get in touch with the People's Commission Network
to report any CSIS visits or related incidents. Your correspondence with
the People's Commission Network will be considered confidential. Consider
any unannounced CSIS visit to be harassment against you. If possible, we
encourage you to write down your experience so that you have the facts
clearly noted.

CSIS' job is to gather information for the state and to disrupt movements
of social justice. Their broad mandate includes monitoring any activities
they deem to threaten the current political and economic order. Their
intimidation focuses on indigenous peoples, immigrants,
racialized communities, radical political organizations, labour unions, as
well as the allies of these groups.  CSIS' actions, which show clear
evidence of gross incompetence, racism, as well as complicity in torture,
are just even more reason why they deserve no cooperation whatsoever by
anyone involved in movements for social justice.

Total non-cooperation with CSIS and other security agencies by the
entire social justice community - broadly and inclusively defined - is our
best way of maintaining unity and solidarity, as well as keeping our focus
on our important day-to-day organizing and activism.

To recap: Do not talk to CSIS or share any information with them, no
matter how harmless you think it is. Do consider reporting the visit to
the People's Commission Network.

Please share this community advisory within your networks, and with
members of your organizations and groups, so we can encourage
collective non-cooperation with CSIS.

In solidarity,
-- The People's Commission Network (Montreal)

E-mail: abolissons at gmail.com
Tel: 514-848-7583
www.peoplescommission.org

Selected background information:
- Targetting of Anti-Olympics Movement: What To Do When Police & Spies
Come Knocking:
<http://olympicresistance.net/content/targetting-anti-olympics-movement>
http://olympicresistance.net/content/targetting-anti-olympics-movement
- Canada's spies: the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service:
 http://peoplescommission.org/en/poped/csis.php




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