[Indigsol] ISPMO February 2012 newsletter

Wed Feb 8 05:36:52 PST 2012

Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa

February 2012 newsletter

Contents:

*1) Recommended Reading/viewing:*

   - “Indigenous Perspectives on Occupation” video & transcript of talk by
   Leanne Simpson to Occupy Toronto
   - “Framing the Intervention: How Canada Staged its Takeover of the
   Lubicon Lake Nation”

*2) Upcoming events*

   - Feb. 9: Development at Home: Critical Perspectives
   - Feb. 13-15: Court support throughout the Federal Court appeal on the
   child welfare case
   - Feb. 14: Have a Heart Day Rally
   - Feb. 14: Families of Sisters in Spirit 2nd Annual Day of Justice
   - March 1st: potluck feast in celebration of Algonquin resistance to
   assimilation
   - March 19: “Honouring indigenous women” campaign launch party

**************

*1)    RECOMMENDED READING/VIEWING:*

*“Indigenous Perspectives on Occupation”*
*Talk by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson to Occupy Toronto*

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfvRgx5uyQs
Read the transcript here:
http://leannesimpson.ca/2012/02/01/indigenous-perspectives-on-occupation-occupy-toronto-talks/

*“Framing the Intervention: How Canada Staged its Takeover of the Lubicon
Lake Nation”*
*Video by Dietlind Bork as part of her masters research on Canada's
imposition of third-party management on the Lubicon Lake First Nation.*

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3921683/Framing%20the%20intervention%20-%20June%202011.mp4

*****************

*2)    EVENTS*

*Development at Home - Critical Perspectives*
*Thursday, Feb. 9, 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm          *
*Morisset Hall, Room 256, University of Ottawa (Wheelchair accessible space)
*

OPIRG-GRIPO Ottawa presents, as part of International Development Week
(IDW) at the University of Ottawa: "Development at Home: Critical
Perspectives on Race, the Environment and Canadian Response"

Speakers:

   - Ben Powless (Indigenous Environmental Network)
   - Colin Stuart (Indigenous People's Solidarity Movement-Ottawa)
   - Brigette Depape (Climate Justice Ottawa & Canadian Youth Climate
   Coalition)
   - Chris Bisson (Ecological Justice Carleton)

This panel discussion will reposition traditional development discourse and
put the focus on “Development at Home”. We will be exploring the issues of
chronic underdevelopment within native communities across Canada and how
this connects with climate justice struggles. With recent media coverage of
the Attawapiskat crisis, we must remember that situations like Attawapiskat
are not isolated incidents, but a national systemic issue. Within a
colonialist, historical context, the undermining of First Nations
sovereignty by government policies and actions continues to be an obstacle
in improving conditions for First Nations communities. In addition, growing
reliance on corporate control of the environment is directly relevant to
the issues of chronic underdevelopment. We want to stimulate critical
thought on the very concept of development as only an “international”
concern and evaluate Canada’s role in perpetuating underdevelopment within
our own country. Our aim is to encourage students and the broader community
to think critically about dominant discourses on development and to reframe
this discussion.

https://www.facebook.com/events/342741365757728/

------------

*Be a Witness to a Historical Event – Supreme Court Appeal on First Nations
Human Rights Case*
*Feb. 13 to 15, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (10:30, 2:30 coffee break & noon-1pm
lunch break)*
*Supreme Court of Canada, 301 Wellington St.*

The appeal is open to the public and the First Nations Child and Family
Caring Society urges as many people as possible to learn more and take part
in this historic event.

The legal councils of Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Child and
Family Caring Society, Canadian Human Rights Commission, Chiefs of Ontario,
Amnesty International and Canada will present their arguments throughout
these 3 days.

The goal is to fill the courtroom with supporters for both the morning and
afternoon sessions of all three days.

To learn more and to sign up to attend as a court supporter, please see
http://ipsmo.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/be-a-witness-to-a-historical-event-the-federal-court-appeal-on-the-first-nations-human-rights-case/

-------------

*“Have a Heart” Day Rally*
*Tues., Feb. 14, 10:30 to 11:45 am*
*Parliament Hill, Algonquin Territory*

>From February 13th to 15th, the Federal Court will hear an appeal on a
human rights case that challenges Canada’s racially discriminatory
underfunding of children’s welfare services on First Nations reserves.
Timed to coincide with this hearing, the First Nations Child and Family
Caring Society of Canada has declared February 14th “Have a Heart Day for
First Nations children”.

Allies of First Nations children, led by the students of Lady Evelyn
Alternative School and Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School joined by
the other high school students in the local area, are organizing a rally on
Parliament Hill to show Canada we care about First Nations children!

For background, details, and schedule for the day, please see
http://ipsmo.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/in-the-spirit-of-reconciliation/

----------------

*Families of Sisters in Spirit 2nd Annual Day of Justice for missing and
murdered women*
*Tuesday February 14th, noon to 1 pm*
*Parliament Hill, Algonquin Territory*

Show your love for families of missing and murdered Aboriginal women/girls.
Bear witness to their stories of struggle and strength. Add your support to
families’ calls for action, justice, accountability, and an end to
violence. Confirmed speakers: Chief Gilbert Whiteduck of Kitigan Zibi, Pam
& Fred Fillier parents of Hilary Bonnell, Fred Fillier Jr., younger brother
of Hilary Bonnell.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/238609529542984/

---------------

*Potluck Feast in Celebration of Algonquin Resistance to Assimilation*
*Thursday, March 1, 6:00 to 9:00 pm*
*233 Gilmour Street (Public Service Alliance of Canada building), boardroom*
*
*
*W/ a talk by Michel Thusky, a spokesperson from the Algonquin community of
Barriere Lake, and musical performance by Three Little Birds*

Come share a meal and help support the longstanding resistance of
Mitchikanibikok Inik, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, to forced
assimilation and extinction. This event is a fundraiser to help cover the
community’s legal costs incurred in a costly court battle they've been
forced into by the Canadian government.

Michel Thusky, a spokesperson from the Algonquin community of Barriere
Lake, will talk about community identity in the context of his people’s
struggle to defend their land, their way of life, and their traditional
governance system against attacks by the colonial governments of Quebec and
Canada.

Please bring either a dish to share, or a suggested donation of $5 to 20 to
ensure the costs of this event are covered. Some extra food will be
prepared to make sure there is enough to feed everyone.

All proceeds (minus the costs of this event) will go towards the Barriere
Lake Legal Defense Fund.

For more info: www.ipsmo.org and www.threelittlebirdstheband.com

---------------

*“Honouring Indigenous Women” Campaign Launch Party!*
*To Celebrate the Power of Indigenous Women and their Special Relationship
to Water*
*Monday, March 19, 7 pm*
*Arts Court Studio, 2 Daly Ave.*

Mark your calendars to attend the launch of IPSMO’s upcoming “Honouring
Indigenous Women” campaign, which will address the themes explored in this
pamphlet:
http://ipsmo.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/hearts-of-nations-vol-11.pdf

Please stay tuned to the IPSMO website (www.ipsmo.org) for further details
about this event.

***********************

The Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement of Ottawa acknowledges that
the city of Ottawa exists on stolen Omàmìwinini (Algonquin) 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.

We welcome all announcements regarding indigenous struggles. If you have an
announcement, or want something included in the newsletter, contact us at:
ipsmo at riseup.net

In Solidarity,
IPSMO
on unceded Algonquin Territory
--

Web Site: http://www.ipsmo.org
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ipsmo
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