[IPSM] TODAY! Solidarity with Six Nations Fundraising Party

[nora butler burke]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[sixnationssol] TODAY! Solidarity with Six Nations Fundraising 
Party
From: 	<bronwyndl at mts.net>



*****
!!TODAY!!
*****

SOLIDARITY WITH SIX NATIONS DANCE PARTY
a part of McGill's Social Justice Days.  For more Social Justice Days events: http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/socialjusticedays

Wednesday, January 24th
Gerts' Bar, SSMU building, 3480 McTavish st. METRO MCGILL
8.30 pm; Admission $5-$10 sliding scale
This event is wheelchair accessible.

Featuring a report back from Six Nations land reclamation site in Ontario
with speakers activist Kahn-tineta and independant journalist Fiona
Becker, a short video, and a late night dance party with live bands
Celebration, Florida! + DJ Leila P + DJ I Hate Politicians


THIS EVENT IS A CALLOUT FOR MUCH NEEDED SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS FOR THE
RECLAMATION SITE. This could include:
-warm clothes
-blankets, sleeping bags
-coats
-personal hygiene products (toothpaste, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc)
-non perishable food
-tools (hammers, nails, etc.)
PLEASE BE AS GENEROUS AS YOU ARE ABLE


Endorsed by Block the Empire, No One Is Illegal, Grassroots Association for Student Power

***
Background:
On February 28, 2006 members of the Six Nations of the Grand River community
reclaimed a tract of land near Caledonia, Ontario since. This property had
been illegally sold by the province to the Henco Corporation for the
purpose of building a residential complex. On June 16, 2006 the Ontario
government bought out the Douglas Estates developers and offered a
substantial amount of money to Caledonia-area businesses that had alleged
that they been negatively impacted by the road barricades.

Inversely, Six Nations have been mostly dealt with repression and lack of
serious commitment to negotiate. On April 20, 2006 the OPP attacked the
camp, armed with tasers, pepper spray and automatic weapons. A lot of
people were injured and a few were arrested. Astonishingly, the community
was able to peacefully re-establish the camp renaming the site
Kanenhstaton (the Protected Place). They subsequently blocked all roads
leading into the tract of land in an act of self-defence. Eventually, and
in the interest of peaceful negotiations, the barricades started to came
down on May 23, 2006. Nonetheless, the Caledonia residents have continued
to engage in acts of
provocation, to harass First Nations people and to invade the territory.
As a result of some of these incidents, a number of First Nations people
have been charged and arrested, and one continues to be held in jail.

As of November 10, 2006 the government position has been to continue to
deny Six Nations the rightful ownership of the land. In fact, the
Provincial government and the Federal government have been publicly
arguing with each other over their responsibility, which only shows that
the Canadian government is quite reluctant to negotiate in good faith. In
addition, the appointment of Julian Fantino as the newly minted OPP
commissioner on October 31, 2006, only heightens the fear that a military
response is still a possibility.

At this moment, negotiations between the Six Nations Confederacy (legitimate
government of the Grand River Community) and both levels of government can
only take place once per month because that is the only time the federal
representatives are available. At the time of this writing, the camp at
Kanenhstaton is preparing for winter and is in vital need of funds and
supplies.