[Indigsol] SOLIDARITY UPDATE ON THE ALGONQUINS OF BARRIERE LAKE

[Indigenous Peoples' Solidarity Movement -Ottawa]

Dear friends and supporters of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake,

Since the great outpouring of support at the Ottawa demonstration in
December (http://bit.ly/f7abMo) against the imposition of the Indian Act
on their community, a great many of things have transpired on Barriere
Lake’s territory. Stronger than ever, the community is ready to fight back
and needs your help.

Please read the update below (or in the attached) and stay tuned for ways
to get involved. Contained herein are:

1. MINING ALERT ON ALGONQUIN TERRITORY
2. REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INDIAN ACT BAND COUNCIL
3. REPORT ON SECTION 74 LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN

In sol,
Barriere Lake Solidarity

http://www.barrierelakesolidairty.org
https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30975284378&ref=ts


*** Stay tuned for ways to get involved. Please forward widely ***


1. MINING ALERT ON ALGONQUIN TERRITORY

Barriere Lake Algonquins say “No” to mining exploration on their land,
Cree workers agree to leave site

RAPID LAKE, QC – Last week, Barriere Lake community members discovered
that Val D’ Or based Cartier Resources has begun line-cutting in
preparation for mining exploration on their unceded Ab- original lands.
According to their website, the mining company claims that their “100%
owned” land base of 439 square kilometers boasts rich copper deposits ripe
for exploitation.

The so-called “Rivière Doré Project” was undertaken without obtaining
the community’s free, prior, and informed consent – the minimum standards
set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
People (UNDRIP), which Canada has endorsed in words but not in action. The
mining project also violates the community’s own environmental protection
regime, the Trilateral Agreement, which was signed in 1991 by Barriere
Lake, Quebec, and Canada and has yet to be honoured.

The workers on site, predominantly Crees from the Mistassini and
Oujebougamou First Nations, agreed to leave when the Algonquins traveled
to the proposed mine location and explained their opposition to the
development. The larger battle with the Cartier Resources, however, looms
ahead.

Barriere Lake community members will return to maintain a presence at the
proposed mining site and stop all further developments. Please stay tuned
for further developments and action call-outs.


2. REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INDIAN ACT BAND COUNCIL

The community remains largely in the dark concerning the activities of the
band council. Illegitimate in the eyes of most people in the community,
this band council rose to power through the imposition of an Indian Act
provision (Section 74) that gives the Minister of Indian Affairs
discretion to overthrow Indigenous customary government systems.

One thing is clear, though: Barriere Lake is open for business now. Mining
companies, logging companies, and costly Hydro electrification and reserve
housing development have all been green-lighted by the band council.

While investments in reserve infrastructure are badly needed, they are
coming at the price of burying the larger issue of land management of the
whole territory.


3. REPORT ON SECTION 74 LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN
BARRIERE LAKE SOLIDARITY FORENSIC DECODER OF THE GOVERNMENT’S OFFICIAL STORY

Hundreds of letters have been sent through the Barriere Lake Solidarity
website to Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan in protest of the forced
imposition of Section 74 on the Algonquins of Barriere Lake (see
http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/2008/03/donations.html). The
Department has recently sent out replies to these letters which are
telling of Canada’s communications strategy to contain the threat of
public awareness on the issue.

Responding to these letters is Pierre Nepton, the Director General of the
Quebec Region of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Nepton
outlines the “official” story in his response letter: INAC had no choice
but to reluctantly impose Section 74 due to internal conflicts over
governance, which the community failed to resolve themselves.

But it’s cool. Barriere Lake Solidarity has prepared a forensic decoder of
the government’s official story. We’ve drawn up a chart for easy
comparison.  Please click http://bit.ly/dRTjOA to see the chart.


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

Web site: http://www.ipsmo.org
IPSMO's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ipsmo



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