[Indigsol] Press Release - Casseroles demonstration in support of Algonquins of Barriere Lake, today at 11:30, Montreal

[ipsm ottawa]

PRESS RELEASE - For immediate release
**

* *

*Hundreds to do casseroles protest against forestry company as Algonquins
attempt to blockade logging*


*Supporters, including spokespeople of CLASSE, to demonstrate against
Resolute Forest Products and Charest government*

July 18, Montreal, QC / – Today, a casseroles demonstration will take place
at 11:30 am in front of the downtown Montreal offices of Resolute Forest
Products (111 Duke street, between Wellington and Ottawa), as members of
the Algonquins of Barriere Lake continue to try to blockade logging allowed
by the Charest government.

Hundreds of protestors, including CLASSE co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau
Dubois, will then march to the Premier Charest's office at Mcgill and
Sherbrooke.

During a two-week stand-off with Resolute Forest Products (formerly known
as Abitibi-Bowater) on their traditional territory four hours north of
Montreal, the Algonquin community has created a protest camp site close to
logging operations to prevent the further destruction of the community's
sacred sites and moose habitat. Quebec police, including a riot squad from
Montreal, have escorted the loggers and maintained a large presence,
issuing threats of arrest to community members.

The multi-national company's operations have been licensed by the Charest
government without the Algonquin community's consent or consultation, and
in violation of the Trilateral Agreement the Quebec government signed with
Barriere Lake in 1991.

"The Charest government has acted in bad faith, giving this company the
go-ahead to log while they ignore their signed agreements with our
community," said Norman Matchewan, a community spokesperson.  "The
overwhelming majority of community members are opposed to what is
happening. It has left us with no choice but to try to stop forestry
operations. We have been waiting 20 years for the Quebec government to
honour their agreements."

"Indigenous communities like Barriere Lake who are courageously protecting
their lands from ecological destruction by multinational companies are
fighting on behalf of us all," said Beatriz Muñoz, a representative of the
social struggle committee of CLASSE. "Support for Indigenous rights is
central to our broader struggle for the common good."

Barriere Lake wants Quebec to honour the Trilateral agreement, a landmark
sustainable development agreement praised by the United Nations. The
Charest government has also ignored the formal recommendations of two
former Quebec Liberal Cabinet Ministers, Quebec representative John Ciaccia
and Barriere Lake representative Clifford Lincoln, that the agreement be
implemented. The agreement is intended to allow logging to continue while
protecting the Algonquins' way of life and giving them a $1.5 million share
of the $100 million in resource revenue that comes out of their territory
every year.

-30-

 *Contact:* Community spokesperson, Norman Matchewan: 819-435-2171,
819-527-0414

(Montreal) Molly Churchill - 514-692-8220

barrierelakesolidarity at gmail.com
www.barrierelakesolidarity.org

*
ACTION ALERT: SUPPORT THE BARRIERE LAKE LAND DEFENCE CAMP TODAY*
http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/2012/07/action-alert-support-barriere-lake-land.html

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In Solidarity,
IPSMO
on unceded Algonquin Territory
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Web Site: http://www.ipsmo.org
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ipsmo
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