[Indigsol] Commemoration, ABL support, Printable items, & Events

[ipsmo at riseup.net]

In this newsletter:


Commemoration: Grandfather William Commanda and Jack Layton

Call for support
- Algonquins of Barriere Lake court case

Printable items:
- new IPSMO pamphlet
- booklet: "My Entry into Aboriginal Understanding"

Upcoming events:
- Sept5-Oct4: 30 Days of Justice in honour of the missing and murdered
Indigenous women and their families
- Sept10: South March Highlands "A Living Temple" Honouring Algonquin
Grandfather William Commanda
- Sept13: Public lecture by Dr. Cindy Blackstock: Make a Difference for
this Generation of First Nations Children
- Sept26: Say No to the Tar Sands: Ottawa sit-in
- Oct28-29: Covenant Chain Link II: Aboriginal Perspectives on Education


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~ ~ ~ ~


Dear Friends,

This past month, two well-known people in our community - Grandfather
William Commanda and Jack Layton - along with many more unknown heroes
around the globe, went to the Spirit world. It is sad time for us but we
know that they are in a peaceful place now. We send our love and prayer to
all of their relatives and wish them strength to continue the work of
these two men for peace. Grandfather and Jack had very different world
views but they both spent most of their life working for their people. It
is an honour to work for the people.

Grandfather William Commanda, the respectful spiritual leader of the
Algonquin Nation, passed away on the morning of August 3. He would be 98
years old on November 11 this year! Ojigkwanong is the name his mother
gave to him because he was born under the morning star. Even though
Grandfather isn't here physically with us anymore, he, like the morning
star, will always look after us and lead us in a good way. We, the folks
at this small grassroots group called IPSMO, had the honour to meet
Grandfather three years ago.  Grandfather was one of our very first
supporters for our work trying to learn and act in solidarity with
Indigenous peoples.

On March 3, 2009, we had our first big event in the National Library and
Archive. We screened the documentary "Invisible Nation - The Story of The
Algonquin" and had Grandfather open the event for us. His Granddaughter,
Claudette Commanda, was our special guest speaker. Grandfather's presence
was a big reason why close to 500 people showed up, overflowing the
auditorium's seating capacity and requiring the setting up of a second
screen in the foyer! It was a big success and we did what we intended to
do - creating an opportunity for native and non-native peoples, who've
been separated in the past by colonial measures like the reserve system,
to get to know each other on a deeper level.

Six months later, Grandfather surprised us by coming to another big event
we held - “The Epidemic of Continuing Violence Against Indigenous Women”,
to raise fund for Maisy Odjick’s family. Maisy and her friend Shannon
Alexander, both from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, went missing on Sept 6,
2008.

And at the beginning of this year he was active in supporting the efforts
to protect the Beaver Pond Forest and South March Highlands in Kanata.

Grandfather has inspired us and many others. He taught us about
forgiveness. It was hard to understand at first how he could forgive after
so many years of colonization by the white settlers. But now, we
understand: it is only through forgiveness, the white settlers /
colonizers can have a way out of white guilt for what they have done to
Native peoples.  It is only through forgiveness, the white settlers can
have the chance to transcend their guilt and start their decolonization
process, and the Natives can get a possibility for co-existence.

Please read here for more: http://bit.ly/GWC-passing
and for a tribute from Organizing For Justice, including links to many
media articles: https://organizingforjustice.ca/?p=623


Jack Layton, another respectful man, passed away on the morning of August
22.  We did not know him well, to be honest. But, at our recent direct
action to support the Algonquins of Barriere Lake in front of the Minister
of Indian Affair’s office on a cold December day, he surprised us by
showing up and speaking to the crowd in support of Barriere Lake’s
inherent right to self-determination and customary governance. We thank
him and respect him for his support for Indigenous rights and other social
justice issues. RIP Jack.


To continue the legacy of these two great men and countless others, please
continue supporting our solidarity work.  Here is how:


* * * *

CALL FOR SUPPORT: ALGONQUINS OF BARRIERE LAKE

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake have been forced into a costly legal
battle with Canada to protect their land rights. They cannot succeed
without your support.

Please donate! You can either make checks out to “Indigenous Peoples
Solidarity Movement Ottawa”  with “Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund” in
the memo line, or through PayPal - http://bit.ly/barrierelake
Everything counts. Please give what you can.

For details on Barriere Lake’s legal battle and where to mail your cheque,
please go to: http://ipsmo.org


* * * *

PRINTABLE ITEMS


IPSMO HAS A NEW PAMPHLET! It describes who we are and what we do, and
especially what we stand for. Don’t miss it!
>> Please feel free to download it and share it with your friends and
relatives - http://bit.ly/ipsmo-pamphlet2011


Also, our long time solidarity activist Greg Macdougall has generously
shared a BOOKLET: "MY ENTRY INTO ABORIGINAL UNDERSTANDING", featuring a
collection of articles on Indigenous self-determination and sovereignty,
rights, resistance, language and culture that he has written.
>> You can download two different PDF versions of the booklet at:
http://bit.ly/equitableeducation
>> See the announcement here:
http://nationtalk.ca/modules/news/article.php?storyid=46277



* * * *

UPCOMING EVENTS

~~

30 Days of Justice in honour of the missing and murdered Indigenous women
and their families

When: Monday, September 5 at 8:00am - October 4 at 11:30pm
Where: Ottawa

At least 10 events have been planned during these 30 days, including the
arrival of Walk4Justice from Vancouver, and the annual Oct 4 vigil.

For full schedule (info will continue to be updated):
http://30daysofjustice.wordpress.com
OR https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=272511289441700


~~

South March Highlands - "A Living Temple"
Honouring Algonquin Grandfather William Commanda

Where: Beaver Pond Park (end of Walden Dr., Kanata)
When: Saturday Sept 10th, 6am - 11pm

For details: http://www.union-algonquin-union.com


~~

Public lecture with Dr. Cindy Blackstock:
Make a Difference for this Generation of First Nations Children

When: Tuesday, September 13 - 7:00PM-8:30PM
Where: TBA at Carleton University

For updates and details: http://www2.carleton.ca/events/?com=detail&eID=3053
OR contact cace at carleton.ca / 613-520-5622


~~

Say No to the Tar Sands: Ottawa sit-in

It is time to stand outside of the system to stop the Tar Sands, the most
destructive project on earth.  Sign up and take a stand to say No to to
the Tar Sands: http://ottawaaction.ca/sign-up

When: Sept 26, 2011
What: the largest acts of civil disobedience on the climate issue that
Canada has ever seen

Be a part of a new history that is just and fair!

For details on this Tar Sands action: www.ottawaaction.ca
To learn about Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign:
http://www.ienearth.org/tarsands.html
For the recent Tar Sands Action in Washington DC:
http://www.tarsandsaction.org/


~~

Covenant Chain Link II
Building Bridges of Understanding Between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal
Peoples by Creating Relationships

October 28 & 29: Fri Oct28 7pm-10pm, Sat Oct29 9am-5pm
at Immaculata High School, 140 Main Street, Ottawa

Learn about Aboriginal perspectives on education – join us for panel
discussions, workshops, displays, resources, documentaries, networking
opportunities, and more!

Register before Oct14 for only $30, or $45 after Oct14
Discounts for students and non-wage earners available.

For more information please contact Ed Bianchi
ebianchi at kairoscanada.org, 613-235-9956 ext.221