[Indigsol] Barriere Lake Algonquins protest Conservative government's assimilation of their traditional political governance system: Political parties, major unions, Indigenous groups call for respect for community's Inherent rights

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

Barriere Lake Algonquins protest Conservative government's assimilation of
their traditional political governance system: Political parties, major
unions, Indigenous groups call for respect for community's Inherent rights


OTTAWA, traditional Algonquin territory, June 15 /CNW Telbec/ - A broad
network of political parties, unions, human rights and Indigenous
organizations are rallying today with the Barriere Lake Algonquins in
Ottawa at 11:30 am, in front of Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl's
office at Bank and Wellington, demanding that the Government of Canada
stop attempting to assimilate the community's traditional political
governance system.

Barriere Lake is one of the few First Nations in the country that have
never been under the Indian Act's electoral system, continuing to operate
under a traditional political governance system that is connected to their
use of the land. Despite there being a broad community consensus opposing
Indian Act elections, Indian Affairs has announced they will try to impose
them on August 19, 2010.

"Community members refuse to accept this unilateral and draconian attempt
to wipe out the way we govern ourselves. The government is attacking our
governance system because it is intimately tied to our continuing use and
protection of the land. We will defend our rights and customs for the sake
of our generation and the generations to come," says Tony Wawatie, a
Barriere Lake community spokesperson.

"The federal government has consistently tried to violate agreements and
interfere with the internal affairs of this First Nation, all in an effort
to access the natural resources of their traditional territory. Obviously,
they hope to weaken this community to the point where the logging
companies can take over. It is shameful," says Elizabeth May, Leader of
the Green Party of Canada.

Canada and Quebec are refusing to implement binding agreements dating back
to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development
agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the Agreement since 2001.
Quebec is violating the agreement by refusing to implement the 2006 joint
recommendations of two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special
representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative
Clifford Lincoln. The 2006 recommendations include giving Barriere Lake a
$1.5 million share of the $100 million in resource revenue that comes out
of their territory annually, and forest plans to harmonize logging
operations with the Algonquin's land use. Quebec has just issued cutting
permits to logging companies in Barriere Lake's traditional territory,
while refusing to respect the terms of the Trilateral Agreement.

"We're joining the community in demanding that the Harper government
respect the inherent right of First Nations to self-determination and
customary self-government," says Denis Lemelin, National President of the
Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

Representatives from the New Democratic Party and the Indigenous
Environmental Network will be attending, and the demonstration is endorsed
by KAIROS, Polaris, and the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement of
Ottawa.

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat has also issued a press release
supporting the community.


For further information: Media contacts: Norman Matchewan, community
spokesperson: 514-893-8283; Tony Wawatie, community spokesperson:
819-860-4121


-- 
In Solidarity,
IPSMO
on unceded Algonquin Territory
--
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