[IPSM] October 12: Elizabeth Penashue walks in protest of the Lower Churchill Hydro Development Project]

[sarita at resist.ca]

** Innu Elder, Elizabeth Penashue: Walk in Defense of the Land **

On October 12, 2009, Elizabeth Penashue, Innu elder and activist, will be
leading a week-long walk to Gull Island from Happy Valley-Goose Bay,
Labrador (Canada). The route of the walk follows the Mitsa-Shipu
(Churchill River), and highlights the need to protect the land and her
people from the proposed Lower Churchill Hydro Project. This development
project would mean the construction of two hydroelectric dams on Innu
territory, causing vast environmental devastation, as well as irreparable
loss of Innu land, history and culture.

Elizabeth Penashue begins her walk on the day that thousands of indigenous
peoples across the continent stand together and register their opposition
to ongoing colonization and ecological destruction. This years’ IV
Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala (the Americas) has
called for a Global Mobilization entitled, “In defense of Mother Earth,
Her People, and against pollution, the commercialization of life, and the
criminalization of indigenous and social movements”, set to begin on
October 12, 2009. This marks the day Christopher Columbus first set foot
on Abya Yala, 518 years ago.

Elizabeth Penashue is an Innu woman living in Sheshatshui, Labrador. She
has committed her life to protecting the land and culture for the future
generations. In the last thirteen years, she has led a canoe trip and
spring snowshoe walk yearly to educate the people about the importance of
Mother Earth.

Elizabeth invites everyone to walk in solidarity with her and our
indigenous brothers and sisters. She encourages you to participate in
other actions in defense of Mother Earth. She tries to work hard to
protect the animals and river, but the government is very strong.  She
feels sad when she thinks about how powerful money is - that's what the
government has lots of and wants more of.

For more information about Elizabeth’s efforts to defend the land, visit:
http://elizabethpenashue.blogspot.com/







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