** Updated to include the name of the third person arrested yesterday **

Idle No More supports the actions of Vanessa Gray, Sarah Scanlon and Stone Stewart , who were arrested on December 21st for shutting off a valve in efforts to stop Enbridge’s #‎Line9 across Anishinaabe territory.

We contend that the operation of Line 9 is in direct violation of Indigenous rights and self-determination as stated in the United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous People.  This pipeline carries 300,000 barrels of oil per day and crosses multiple rivers and major waterways.  These waterways include Lake Ontario and the St. Clair River which drains from Lake Huron into Lake St Clair and into other major Canadian and US waterways.  Enbridge’s Line 9 puts the health of millions of people at risk and further jeopardizes a delicate eco system.

We are aware that Line 9 is directly connected to Line 6B. Line 6B recently leaked over 1 million barrels of bitumen in Kalamazoo, Michigan, becoming one of the worst inland oil spills in North America.

Vanessa Gray’s  home community, Aamjiwnaang First Nation, is inundated with over 60 industrial facilities. Line 9 is one of them. This area has been dubbed  “Chemical Valley”. The chemicals released from these plants have impacted all aspects of community life– from the water they can no longer drink, to the the air they breathe, and to the land they can no longer safely grow food on. In addition, these toxic chemicals negatively impact the reproductive health of people in the territory.  

Vanessa Gray and Sarah Scanlon have taken a stand and  are calling on oil companies and the Canadian government to stop the tar sands destruction and end the desecration of Indigenous territories. We stand in solidarity with them.

Please join us  by supporting Vanessa and Sarah. If you would like to make an interac transfer donation to the legal defence fund please email stopline9@gmail.com and use the password: solidarity.

Idle No More

Idle No More Québec, Femme Autochtones du Québec, le Réseau de la stratégie urbaine autochtone à Montréal, le centre Native Montréal et Amnistie internationale Canada francophone en appellent au leadership politique des premiers ministres Trudeau et Couillard dans une lettre ouverte, afin de mettre un terme final à la violence que subissent les femmes autochtones au Québec et dans le reste du Canada.

Les révélations de l’émission Enquête ont mis en lumière des allégations de comportements inadmissibles de plusieurs agents de la Sureté du Québec (SQ) et ont ainsi montré au grand public l’ampleur de la détresse et la discrimination vécues par les femmes autochtones de Val d’Or.

MEDIA ADVISORY

“The story of Neeve Nutarariaq is heartwrenching. We cannot stand idly by – we have to take action on the issue of housing.” – Anna Lee-Popham, Idle No More organizer

Housing is a basic human right, one that should be readily available in a wealthy country such as Canada. However due to a series of past and present governmental policy decisions to move toward austerity rather than addressing the impacts of an ongoing housing crisis, federal and provincial governments have cut back on housing support, women’s shelters and other social programs that support families. As a result, Canada is experiencing a growing housing crisis that encompasses all people; it’s particularly affecting Indigenous women, two-spirit people and their families. Neeve Nutarariaq an Inuit woman is now living in a tent with her family in Igloolik, Nunavut, because the housing shortage is at crisis levels. This is only one example of this emergency situation.

“Two-spirit people and Aboriginal women bear the brunt of the intersections of systemic racism, sexism and trans/homophobia in Canada and have high rates of homelessness.  The current government isn’t going to do anything, so we are.” – Shawn Johnston, Couchiching First Nation

Idle No More is not waiting for the federal government to fulfill Treaty terms and promises; Indigenous children and their parents are in need of immediate housing repairs and houses. We will start by building or repairing one house. In time, we hope to grow so that we can reach all Nations.  

People can offer donations of time or money to support the One House Many Nations Campaign. To find out more information about how you can help take action on the housing crisis please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/one-house-many-nations/. 

For more information contact: Tori Cress, info@idlenomore.ca

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(Traducción en Español debajo)

Idle No More stands with our relations of the International Tribunal of Justice Abya Yala being organized in Guatemala from September 15-17, 2015.  We will continue to support the continental movement to implement Indigenous Self Determination and Nationhood. We will work together across borders to construct a long-term continental decolonization strategy, in the spirit of Self Determination of Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples.

We support the formation of a Continental Indigenous Commission  (North-Central-South Abya Yala – Turtle Island) to deliver the findings of the International Tribunal of Justice Abya Yala to the Lenape-Delaware territories of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September, when Pope Francis will be present.  It is our hope that this Commission will directly address the continued sanctification of the Colonial Doctrines of Discovery via the Papal Bulls Inter Caetera. The Indigenous Law Institute has recognized that “this Papal Bull has been, and continues to be, devastating to our religions, our cultures, and the survival of our populations”. In a Communiqué to the Vatican, the V Continental Summit Abya Yala held in the Cauca Territories of Colombia called for Pope Francis to publicly renounce the Doctrine of Discovery.

Our position is that the Vatican State and Pope Francis must take responsibility for the role that the Roman Catholic Church continues to play as intellectual author of the Doctrine of Discovery. The Doctrine of Discovery continues to marginalize Indigenous peoples and normalizes criminal human rights violations, such as the violations of the Right of Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and the Right of Self Determination of Indigenous Peoples.  

Idle No More endorses and supports the Continental Proclamation Abya Yala given at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues of the United Nations on May 18, 2006 which states:

That the Papal Bull Inter Caetera of Pope Alexander VI is hereby ANNULLED, as well as whatever Doctrine of Discovery proceeding from which that pretends to deform the relationship of Harmony, Justice, and Peace of we the Indigenous Peoples of Humanity in its entirety.

The Doctrine of Discovery has never had legal validity whatsoever and only serves to continue  the process of colonization and the violation of Indigenous peoples rights, through having granted title to Indigenous lands to colonizers and ignoring or invalidating Indigenous title to land.

We call on all Nations of Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island Abya Yala to join forces to stand up in a continental uprising based on our traditional ceremonies during the celebration of the Fall Equinox on September 23.  We call upon our coalitions and allies of Mother Earth to take this step with us as well in solidarity and commitment to dismantle the doctrine of discovery.

info@idlenomore.ca

www.nahuacalli.org

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DESMANTELAMIENTO de la DOCTRINA del DESCUBRIMIENTO
13 de agosto 2015

Como Movimiento Indígena del Norte de la Gran Isla Tortuga, Idle No More se solidariza con nuestras relaciones del Tribunal Internacional de Justicia de Abya Yala que se proyecta organizar una reunión preparativa en Guatemala del 15 a 17 septiembre de 2015. Seguiremos respaldando el Movimiento Indígena Continental en ejercer la Libre determinación de las Naciones Originarios y Pueblos Indígenas de Abya Yala. Determinamos a trabajar unidos sin ser divididos por las fronteras internacionales de los estados colonizadores de las Américas para construir una estrategia colectivo de descolonización continental a largo plazo, en el espíritu de la libre determinación de nuestras Naciones Originales de los Pueblos Indígenas.

Apoyamos la formación de una Comisión Continental Indígena (Norte-Centro-Sur Abya Yala – Isla Tortuga) para entregar las determinaciones apropiados del Tribunal Internacional de Justicia de Abya Yala a los territorios Lenape-Delaware de Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, en septiembre 2015 cuando el Papa Francisco estará presente. Tenemos la esperanza de que esta Comisión abordará directamente al tema de la santificación continua de las Doctrinas Coloniales de Descubrimiento a través de la Bulas Papales Inter Caetera 1493. El Instituto de Derecho Indígena ha reconocido que “esta bula papal ha sido, y continúa siendo, devastando a nuestras religiones, nuestras culturas, y la supervivencia de nuestras pueblos”. En un comunicado al Vaticano, la V Cumbre Continental Abya Yala realizado en los Territorios del Cauca de Colombia exigieron al Papa Francisco a renunciar públicamente la Doctrina del Descubrimiento.

Nuestra posición política es que el Estado Vaticano y el Papa Francisco debe asumir la responsabilidad por el papel que la Iglesia Católica Romana sigue desempeñando como autor intelectual de la Doctrina del Descubrimiento. La Doctrina del Descubrimiento continúa marginando a los Pueblos Indígenas y normaliza violaciones criminales de nuestros derechos humanos, tales como las violaciones del derecho de Consentimiento Libre, Previo e Informado, y el Derecho de Libre Determinación de los Pueblos Indígenas.

Idle No More respalda y endorsa la Proclamación Continental Abya Yala dado en el Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas de las Naciones Unidas el 18 de mayo de 2006, que establece lo siguiente:

Que la Bula Papal Inter Caetera de Papa Alejando Sexto 1493 es NULLIFICADO, también igual cualquier Doctrina de Descubrimiento procedente que pretende deformar la relación de Armonía, Justicia, y la Paz de Nuestros Pueblos Indígenas de la Humanidad Entera.

La Doctrina del Descubrimiento nunca ha tenido validez legal alguna y sólo sirve para continuar el proceso de colonización y la violación de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, a través de un sistema de títulos coloniales impuesto sobre territorios indígenas que ignora y intenta invalidar a los títulos de tierras indígenas.

Hacemos un llamado a todas las Naciones de los Pueblos Indígenas de la Gran Isla Tortuga Abya Yala a unir fuerzas para realizarse en un Levantamiento Continental basado en nuestras ceremonias tradicionales durante la celebración del Equinoccio de Otoño el 23 de septiembre Hacemos un llamado a nuestros coaliciones y aliados de la Madre Tierra a dar este paso con nosotros también en la solidaridad y el compromiso de Desmantelamiento de la Doctrina del Descubrimiento.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2015

Grassroots Indigenous People say they will be the ones to decide if Tarsands Oil can cross their Territories.

Kenora—Today is day 5 of the Anishinaabe Water Walk, and already more than 40 walkers have covered 100 km of the route that TransCanada wants to use for the Energy East Pipeline project that will pump tarsands bitumen through a 40 year old gas pipeline where it crosses and threatens more than a dozen waterways in Treaty 3 Territory. The Anishinaabe Water Walk, organized by Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence (GIWD), will pass through downtown Kenora today, and will be joined by supporters for a rally at Market Square at 3pm, and will then march through the streets of downtown Kenora to McLeod Park for a community meal, from which the Water Walkers will continue to their final destination at Shoal Lake 39 on Saturday.

Fawn Wapioke is Chief of Iskatewizaagegan (Shoal Lake 39) First Nation and a mother who has been one of the lead walkers since Sunday. “The bravery and the strength of our young people, Elders, men and women in collectively opposing the proposed Energy East project is admirable,” she says.

“The walk has created awareness, unity, and a stronger connection to one another as well as to the lands, waters, and to our responsibilities as the Anishinaabeg who are indigenous to this territory,” says Wapioke.

With the Federal election campaign having commenced, and with TransCanada pushing ‘divide and conquer’ “communication and engagement funding agreements” (CEFA)  on cash-strapped First Nations revealing a deeply flawed consultation framework, grassroots Indigenous voices that can hold government accountable to Treaties that affirm inherent Indigenous rights are positioned as a powerful voice against. Supporting those grassroots Indigenous voices right now is one of the most effective things the climate movement can do to challenge Canada’s environmentally destructive and backwards energy strategies.

“The CEFA consultation deals that TransCanada is using to manipulate First Nations Band Councils and Treaty advocacy groups exemplify the way that the Federal Government is devolving their fiduciary and legal obligations like the Duty to Consult with Indigenous Nations to giant corporations—the very people who stand to profit from these environmentally destructive projects,” says Clayton Thomas-Muller, Indigenous Climate Campaigner for 350.org, who has been on the Walk for its entirety.

“The Anishinaabe Water Walk in Treaty 3 Territory against the path of the Energy East Pipeline project is one of the most important grassroots initiatives to support in this major fight to protect our water, land and collective rights against the agenda of big oil and the Harper government,” says Thomas-Muller. “It will be up to those grassroots voices to decide whether or not this and other similar projects are actually allowed to be completed,” he says.

Today’s rally and march are organized by Transitions Initiative Kenora (TIK) in support of the Anishinaabe Water Walk.

“It is startlingly clear that we are at a breaking point environmentally; not only our water, but all it is connected to is at risk,” says Ashley Bennet, a member of TIK.

“The Indigenous Women who are leading the Water Walk are our teachers, our leaders, our inspiration; they are where my hope lies and my support lands,” says Bennet. “These women are forging a new path which they are challenging us all to follow; a path that calls us to change the direction of thinking in Canada,” she concludes.

Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence (GIWD) was founded in 2014 by Anishinaabe Women from Treaty 3 communities as a response to the threats posed by TransCanada’s Energy East Pipeline project. The fight against the pipeline and the initiative taken by GIWD is just one example of grassroots Indigenous People taking bold new actions to protect water and land from destructive industrial development, for future generations. 

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High Res Photos and B Roll available upon request

Contact:

Alex Hundert, Media Liaison, Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence,

807 407 2417, grassrootsindigenous2015@gmail.com

Clayton Thomas-Muller, Indigenous Climate Campaigner, 350.org, 613 297 7517