[Indigsol] IPSMO newsletter July 11, 2010

[ipsmo at riseup.net]

IPSMO Newsletter: July 10, 2010


Table of Contents:

1) EVENTS
2) 20 YEARS SINCE 'OKA CRISIS'
3) ARTICLES
4) MANIWAKI COURT SUPPORT
5) RBC ARRESTEES SUPPORT
6) ACTIVIST SECURITY CULTURE
7) 'THE REAL NEWS' JOB POSTING


~~~~~~~


EVENTS:


IPSMO New & Potential Members Meeting / Orientation
>> Tues July 13, 5:45pm
room 205, University Centre, University of Ottawa
... all welcome


IPSMO General Meeting
>> Tues July 13, 7:00pm
room 205, University Centre, University of Ottawa
... if you're new, please try to make the 5:45 mtg first


Rally to Defend Civil Liberties / Against G20 Policing
>> Sat July 17, 1:00pm
Meet at Human Rights Monument, Elgin at Lisgar
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=136608409701137


Decolonial Study Group
(Film) Qallunaat! Why White People Are Funny
>> Sun July 18, 2:00pm
at Exile Infoshop, 256 Bank St (at Cooper) suite 200 (2nd floor)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130936700277598


Court Support in Maniwaki (Barriere Lake related)
email ipsmo at riseup.net if interested to arrange rides
* see blurb further down for more info
>> Thurs July 22 starts at 9:30am
>> Thurs July 29 starts at 9:30am
>> Thurs Aug 26 starts at 9:30


~~~~~~~


20 YEARS SINCE THE OKA BLOCKADES

Twenty years ago this July 11, the people of Kanehsatake, Kahnawake and
Akwesasne rose up in defense of their ancestral lands, facing off against
government officials, the police, and the Canadian Army (a.k.a "Oka
Crisis").  During the time of the "Oka Crisis", the governments of Canada
and Quebec, and the mainstream media failed to enlighten the
non-indigenous peoples in Canada about the underlying issues behind the
"Oka Crisis".  Twenty years later, nothing has changed.  Indigenous
peoples on Turtle Island continue to resist Canada's colonial policies, to
defend their traditional territory and sovereignty: from Dene Nation
striving to protect their land and water from Tar Sands development to
Algonquins of Barriere Lake defending their traditional governance and
territory from clear-cutting.  Canada still refuses its treaty obligations
signed with Indigenous nations across the Turtle Island, Canada still
refuses to recognize the Inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples (The truth
about Canada's record on Indigenous rights -
http://www.defendersoftheland.org/dayofaction).

Please tell the prime minister of Canada Stephen Harper, your MP, MPP,
city councilor and mayor, who are supposed to represent you on the
federal, provincial and municipal levels, that we are all treaty people
and urge our governments to transform all policies and regulations to
reflect our treaty obligations and incorporate the UN declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous peoples.


Recommended reading:
* The Red Indians, by Peter Kulchyski -
http://octopusbooks.ca/book/red-indians
* This is an Honour Song: Twenty Years Since the Blockades, by Leanne
Simpson & Kiera L. Ladner (Editors) -
http://arbeiterring.com/books/detail/this-is-an-honour-song/

Recommended Film:
* Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, directed by Alanis Obomsawin, 1993
- watch online at
http://www.nfb.ca/film/kanehsatake_270_years_of_resistance/

Websites:
* http://www.defendersofland.org


~~~~~~~


ARTICLES

This Land is Still Stolen: The G20 and Aboriginal Rights
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/3541

The Hurting: Award-winning novelist Joseph Boyden on the link between
residential schools and the devastation of native suicide
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/07/01/the-hurting/

The Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse team is scheduled to play the opening game
in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championships in England, but the British
Consulate has refused to recognize the team’s Haudenosaunee passports and
has delayed issuing travel visas while awaiting assurance from the U.S.
State Department that the group will be allowed back into the United
States.
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/home/content/Iroquois-Nationals-tournament-departure-delayed-by-British-travel-snafu-98061744.html

Notes from a presentation by Kelly Lendsay of the Aboriginal Human
Resource Council
http://learningcentral.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8


~~~~~~~


CALL-OUT FOR COURT SUPPORT
Pack the Courtrooms in Support of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake

In October and November of 2008, members of the Barriere Lake First
Nation, Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement (IPSMO)- Ottawa,  and
Barriere Lake Solidarity Montreal participated in a blockade led by the
Barriere Lake Algonquins. A number of charges were laid against Ottawa,
Montreal and Indigenous protesters. 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.

July 22- IPSMO activist for charges stemming from the October 2008 blockade

July 29 – IPSMO activist with charges stemming from the November 2008
highway blockades, and Barriere Lake elder with charges from March 2008 SQ
escort of the INC recognized band council

August 26- Two Barriere Lake Community members and two Barriere Lake
Solidarity activists from Montreal with charges stemming from the October
2008 blockade.

All court dates are at 9:30am at the Maniwaki courthhouse 266, rue
Notre-Dame, Maniwaki, PQ . Rides should plan to leave by 7am.


Please e-mail IPSMO at riseup.net to request a ride or offer a vehicle.


BACKGROUND:

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/

Police Brutality and Misinformation at the Blockade:
-misinformed those stopped on road, and reporters by claiming that
protesters had guns. This was a lie- the protest was completely
non-violent. Some reporters did not come close as a result
-shot tear gas at crowd that had many children and elders present
-multiple members from Barriere Lake have served jail time. 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
not addressed.

Description of police brutality 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! 266 rue Notre-Dame, Maniwaki
July 22nd, July 29th, and August 26 ... each at 9:30am, 2nd floor

You can help support the community and solidarity organizers by coming to
court with us on July 22nd, July 29th and August 26th . 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
ipsmo at riseup.net if you would would like to go, but need a ride, and/or if
you have a car and are able to drive people that day. The proceedings will
begin at 9:30 am in Maniwaki (leave Ottawa 7-7:30am, estimate back
mid-afternoon or later). We will let you know whether signs or other
demonstrations are appropriate after clearing it with the lawyer. Note
that at the last court appearance, two supporters were asked to leave the
courtroom because they were wearing shorts and were not permitted back in
until they had pants on.

Thank you for your support.
IPSMO Legal Support Committee
ipsmo at riseup.net


~~~~~~~


RBC ARRESTEES UPDATE

from Ottawa Movement Defense
email them to receive further updates:
ottawamovementdefense at gmail.com


We encourage you to write letters of support to Roger and Matt. They have
been detained for over a week and will remain in detention for at least a
week or more. Please send letters and let them know that their community
of family and friends are behind them during this difficult time and are
in support of their immediate release.

Their mailing addresses are:

Joseph Roger Clement
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
2244 Innes Road
Gloucester, ON
K1B 4C4

Matthew Morgan-Brown
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
2244 Innes Road
Gloucester, ON
K1B 4C4

Your letters of support will be very much appreciated.


~~~~~~~


ACTIVIST SECURITY CULTURE

Some important information to counter the plague of state/police
surveillance/infiltration:

http://security.resist.ca/personal/culture.shtml
http://www.why-war.com/guides/2003/09/security.html
https://ssd.eff.org/
http://web.mit.edu/gtmarx/www/neglected.html


~~~~~~~


Job Posting: Assistant Producer/Editor at The Real News Network

9 Month Internship (Designated for Indigenous/First Nations Applicant)

Funded by Youth Eco Internship Program (YEIP) - YWCA Canada


IWT - The Real News Network (TRNN) is a non-profit news and documentary
service focused on providing independent and uncompromising journalism.
Collaborating with courageous journalists around the globe, we have
launched a daily video news service on the Internet. The Real News Network
investigates, reports and debates stories concerning the critical issues
of our time. The network is member supported and does not accept
advertising, government or corporate funding.


Assistant Producer/Editor Responsibilities:

   - Conceives and develops news program ideas and concepts
   - Participates in the preparation and delivery of daily news objectives
   - Develops program content including researching and gathering stories
   - Involved in all facets of production

Requirements:

   - Proven experience working with media
   - Strong written and communication skills essential
   - Experience using a video camera and editing software is an asset
   - Academic or practical background in a relevant field (Media studies,
   Communication, Journalism)

Terms and Conditions:

   - As outlined by YEIP http://www.yeip.ca/
   - Flexible newsroom hours are required
   - Length of Contract: 9 months
   - Closing Date: July 14, 2010
   - Position Start date: ASAP

Application Procedure:

   - Submit your application to natalie at therealnews.com
   - Cover letter should include why you want to work for The Real News
   - Subject line must read: Producer: AP071410


In keeping with the operations of our daily news cycle, TRNN is hosting an
internship opportunity for an Assistant Producer from the Indigenous/First
Nations Community in Canada. This posting is open to youth who identify as
members of the Indigenous Community in Canada. The candidate should be an
avid news follower with geopolitical analytical skills and a particular
ability to write to visuals. The internship placement is intended to
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a particular focus on Indigenous, environmental, community and women's
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If you know of anyone who would be a strong addition to our team, please
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Sincerely, Sharmini Peries
Journalist/Senior Editorial Board
Please visit our website www.therealnews.com before applying for this job.