On August 2, 2015, nearly two dozen (or more) Anishinaabe Women and Men, Youth and Elders will be joined by supporters in a week-long walk against the Energy East Pipeline. The walk will cover more than 125 km of TransCanada’s proposed pipeline route where it crosses and threatens more than a dozen waterways in Treaty 3 Territory. The Anishinaabe Water Walk is organized by Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence (GIWD).

What:   The Anishinaabe Water Walk is a week-long walk along the route of the proposed TransCanada Energy East Pipeline project, to protect the waters of Treaty 3 Territories.

When:  Sunday August 2 to Saturday August 8, 2015.

Where: Highway 17, Eagle Lake to Shoal Lake, Ontario, Treaty 3. (see itinerary below for details)

Why:     The Energy East Pipeline would be the highest volume tarsands pipeline on the continent—tarsands growth representing one of the biggest threats to the planet’s changing climate—and given recent pipeline spills, amongst other concerns, constitutes an unacceptable risk to local waterways and the health of lands, wildlife and people in Treaty 3 Anishinaabe Territories.

Organizing against oil pipelines and other environmentally destructive resource extraction industries is just one example of how First Nations Peoples are positioned at the forefront of the contemporary environmental movement, and are engaged in an intertwined process of protecting lands and waters in their Territories while also forwarding political sovereignty and cultural resurgence.

Who:     Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence was founded in 2014 by Anishinaabe Women from Treaty 3 communities as a response to the threat posed by the Energy East pipeline.

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Contact:   Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence, Media Liaison @ GrassrootsIndigenous2015@gmail.com

Quotes

“The Love we hold for our children is the same we hold for the land, the water, the air and the future generations which depend on the decisions we make today. Water is life. Our Anishinaabe laws and values tell us everything we need to know about Energy East. That is why we say no.”

-Fawn Wapioke, Lead Water Walker, Shoal Lake #39 mother and Chief.

“It is very important that we as Anishinabek youth stand up and start acting and fighting for the water. We need to speak out to everybody and show them that the mistreatment of water needs to stop now. All people across Turtle Island, from all walks of life need to realize that our water is at risk from industry like this pipeline, and we need to start thinking about the future we are leaving for our children.”

-Edmond Jack, Lead Water Walker, Grassy Narrows Youth Organization.

“The Anishinaabe Water Walk in our home territory is to bring awareness to people of the threats to this very precious life giving source. The walk is meant to call attention to what is threatening the water—mercury in the English-Wabigoon River near Grassy Narrows, new mining near Wabaskang, the proposed Goliath Gold Mine near Wabigoon, and TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline which is going through the process of consultations to push the oil through these lands. These are the kind of serious water issues people need to look at in Kenora and Treaty 3 if they want to keep the water pristine for future generations—we need to be good ancestors. ”

-Judy Da Silva, Water Walk Organizer, Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence, Grassy Narrows mother and grandmother.

“First Nations are on the forefront of the fight against the impacts of climate change, as well as its primary drivers like the expansion of Canada’s tar sands and its pipeline infrastructure such as the TransCanada Energy East pipeline proposal. The Sacred Water Walk in Treaty 3 Territory against the path of the 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.”

–Clayton Thomas-Muller, Indigenous Climate Campaigner, 350.org.

Walk Itinerary

Evenings, at camp sites, will include daily traditional teachings and/or workshops presented by experienced facilitators, Elders, and others.

Saturday, August 1 – Opening Ceremony at Eagle Lake Pow Wow, 9-11am

• Pow Wow breakfast sponsored and served by GIWD

Sunday, August 2 – Start at Eagle Lake Pow Wow grounds to Eagle Lake Bypass. Distance 16 km. Camping at Eagle Lake Pow Wow Grounds.

• Youth Walk – Sunday morning, children will be leading the day’s portion of the Walk

Monday, August 3 – Eagle Lake Bypass to Km 30, Vermillion Bay. Distance 30 km. Camping at Eagle Lake.

Tuesday, August 4 – Start at Km 30 to Dixie Lake. Distance 30 km. Camping at Willard Lake.

Wednesday, August 5 – Dixie Lake to Kenora Bypass. Distance 30 km. Camping at Rushing River.

Thursday, August 6 – Kenora Bypass East to Kenora Bypass West.  Distance 30 km. Camping at Grand Council Treaty 3.

• Walk will be going through downtown Kenora.

Friday, August 7 – Kenora Bypass West to Shoal Lake Junction. Distance 30 km. Camping at Shoal Lake Pow wow Grounds.

Saturday, August 8 – Shoal Lake Junction to Shoal Lake Pow Wow Grounds. Distance 9 km. Camping at shoal Lake Pow Wow Grounds.

MORE DETAILS INCLUDING DAILY EVENTS AND START TIMES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

Idle No More & Defenders of the Land stand in solidarity with Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in their legal challenge against Enbridge’s Line 9 pipeline project.

Last April, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) filed with the Federal Court of Appeal to challenge the National Energy Board (NEB) approval of Line 9, saying that the federal Crown provided no consultation with COTTFN on the project, as is their right. Line 9 crosses through Chippewas of the Thames’ traditional and treaty territory, including the Thames River which provides a source of drinking water to the First Nation.

Line 9 crosses every major tributary that flows into Lake Ontario. A spill from Line 9 could threaten the drinking water of over 10 million people and devastate rivers with bitumen that cannot be cleaned up.

Despite the COTTFN court challenge and requests from several municipalities to conduct an environmental assessment, the NEB approved Enbridge’s request to reverse the flow of the line, increase its capacity, and use it to transport diluted bitumen and fracked oil. Bitumen has proved to be detrimental to public health and the environment as evidenced by the Michigan Kalamazoo River spill in 2010 and numerous other spills across North America. The serious toll of fracking on health and the environment is also increasingly coming to light as more fracked oil and contaminated wastewater spill.

Line 9 would also contribute to the expansion of the tar sands by providing another export route. The tar sands emit massive amounts of CO2 and are creating a toxic sacrifice zone in much of Alberta. Several communities near the tar sands, including Fort Chipewyan, have reported cancer clusters and massive ecological changes threatening wildlife populations and traditional food systems.

The NEB’s approval of Line 9 is a violation of COTTFN’s treaty rights, which are affirmed in Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. The Line 9 approval is also a direct violation of internationally recognized Indigenous rights, which include the right of free, prior, and informed consent, as stated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

For these reasons, we support Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in their legal challenge to Line 9 and urge the court to hold the NEB accountable to its treaty responsibilities as a body of the Canadian government.

May 21st, 2015 International #AntiChevron Day of Action

Toronto Solidarity Committee – Day of Action

On May 21st, 2015 the Canadian Solidarity Committee, Chevron’s Dirty Hand organized the second #AntiChevron International Day of Action outside of the R.B.C. in downtown Toronto. Allies from Six Nations of the Grand River, the migrant community, and labour movement reps joined in solidarity to raise awareness and support of the Black Hand campaign in Canada directly in the financial district of Toronto. We support the ongoing international fight to hold Chevron (formerly Texaco), accountable for one of the worst man made environmental disasters on the planet.

We are the land and violence against our territories is violence against our people. We are directly connected with our land and water, whether we live in North or South America our people are getting sick due to the poison and devastation left behind in the wake of “development” and progress. This has been going on since contact and together we will rise and lead the way to climate sustainability by making the right choices about what “development” happens in our territories. 

“We are here in solidarity from the Grand River. It is now time to fulfill the prophecy of the Condor and the Eagle. The struggle of the Indigenous people of South America is our struggle too, that’s why we are here standing in Solidarity with our brothers and sisters. It’s time to stop Chevron.” said Jagwadeth of Six Nations.

 Why This Matters in Canada?

With the Canadian Federal Government entering into agreements such as Canada-China FIPA, this matters because with corporations being accountable to no one in these agreements, we are now facing the same reckless disregard for water, land and people on our territories, while Canada can face multimillion dollar lawsuits for any laws that harm the corporate profits of outside investors.

Below is a key point analysis as reported by TeleSur on Dec. 12/14 in an article titled “10 Key Points on Ecuador’s Battle with Chevron“

1. Texaco, later Chevron, has been found guilty of causing one of the world’s greatest environmental disasters while drilling for oil in the Ecuadorean Amazon between 1954 and 1990.
2. Contamination in the Amazon over this period is estimated to involve 80 times the amount of oil spilled in the infamous 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.
   
3. Contamination in the Amazon over this period is estimated to involve 80 times the amount of oil spilled in the infamous 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.
4. Chevron is also accused of overseeing a fraudulent remediation in 1995, which encouraged residents to build homes on top of and near oil pits they thought had been cleaned by the company.
5. Challenging Chevron’s actions, 30,000 Ecuadoreans are engaged in private legal action to demand compensation.
6. Chevron fought for years to have the case moved to Ecuador, where many have said it believed it would get a favorable outcome.
7. In 2011, an independent Ecuadorean court ordered Chevron to pay billions in compensation and remediation.
8. In 2013 the Ecuadorean Supreme Court ratified that ruling and set the compensation to US$ 9.5 billion.
9. Chevron is accused of spending millions of dollars – more than it has paid for any clean-up – on lawyers and political lobbying in order to avoid paying. A spokesperson for Chevron famously said, “We’re going to fight this until hell freezes over. And then we’ll fight it out on the ice.”
10. As Chevron no longer has any assets in Ecuador and refuses to pay, the plaintiffs are seeking to seize Chevron’s assets internationally, including in Canada.
    

Background

Chevron, formerly known as Texaco, contaminated the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest for over 20 years, leaving pollution 30 times larger than the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska, becoming the probably largest oil-related environmental catastrophe in the world. This caused the destruction of great parts of the Amazon Rainforest and the death and sickness of thousands of people and generations. Health issues to the Indigenous peoples in the surrounding regions include cancer epidemics, miscarriages, deformations, skin problems, etc.

This is the reason why 30’000 affected people represented by the Frente de Defensa de la Amazonia, sued Chevron in a court in New York, USA. However Chevron fought to have the trial moved to Ecuador.

Finally, in 2011, after nearly 20 years of legal battle, the Ecuadorian court, ruled that Chevron had to pay for the destruction that it caused and to compensate the victims. On December 11, 2013 the Supreme Court of Ecuador ratified the ruling and set the final amount owed at $9.5 billion. 

Chevron has retracted their assets in Ecuador so as a result, the indigenous plaintiffs are now trying to gain justice in several Courts across the globe, including Canada. On December 17, 2013, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled that the Ecuadorian indigenous communities indeed have the right to pursue all of Chevron’s assets in Canada to enforce the $9.5 billion Ecuador judgment (Chevron’s assets in Canada are estimated to be worth $15 billion). Thus, the entirety of the Ecuador judgment can be collected in Canada if our communities prevail on their enforcement action. On December 11th, 2014 the Supreme Court of Canada’s (SCC) held a hearing relating to jurisdictional debates in the case 35682, Chevron Corporation, et al. v. Daniel Carlos Lusitande Yaiguaje, et al. A final ruling is expecting in the fall 2015.

The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa has also exposed Chevron’s pollution and corruption which they are eagerly trying to hide. Further, presidents, activist, political parties and social movements from across the world have shown their support for Correa’s calling for justice.

Given that the legal battle against Chevron now continues in Canada, several organizations and collectives in Toronto created the Canadian Committee in Solidarity with the affected communities by Chevron. Two of their members joined the Ecuadorian School of Good Living (Escuela del Buen Vivir) in a trip to the Amazon Rainforest where they witnessed the destruction left by the oil giant Chevron. 

The communities affected by Chevron deserve Justice! 

Together we can make this company accountable! 

Join the Canadian Solidarity Committee and stand with us, stand with the communities affected by Chevron in Ecuador. 

Follow us on Twitter, Chevron’s Dirty Hand.

Like us on Facebook, Chevron’s Dirty Hand.

Email us for more information, chevronsdirtyhand@gmail.com.

The Red Jam Slam Society exists to host events, celebrations, and annual festivals that promote and feature emerging and seasoned aboriginal artists and performers. We are creating a five day Radio festival celebrating Aboriginal Week airing live from five venues in Vancouver beautiful British Columbia and will be broadcasted from station-to-station and coast-to-coast in Canada.

The live show will also be available via podcast or Internet Stream. We’re raising funds to ensure quality of stage and broadcasts throughout the radio festival. The radio festival will run from June 17 till June 21. Click here to help Support the Festival’s crowdsourced funding.

The Impact

The Red Jam Slam Radio Festival will create an opportunity for listeners and audience members to hear expressions of healing and caring for mother earth and respect for our own cultural teachings while staying in tune with others living on mother earth.

Hello Red Jam Slam supporters! We are pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Red Jam Slam Radio Festival! This year’s festival is going to be so very very awesome. We have invited five venues:

June 17 – Musqeaum Cultural Centre, 4000 Musqueam Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. Detailed Updates on the Facebook Event Page Here

June 18 – Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre, 875 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC – Detailed Updates on the Facebook Event Page Here.

June 19 – Location in collaboration with the Vancouver School Board at the Strathcona School Auditorium – Detailed Updates on the Facebook Event Page Here.

June 20 – Gallery Gachet, 88 East Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC – Detailed Updates on the Facebook Event Page Here.

June 21 – The Bill Reid Gallery, 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC – Detailed Updates on the Facebook Event Page Here.

Each location will be accessible via location or by radio live-remote feed to these participating radio stations: 

CITR – http://citr.ca

CKXU – Lethbridge Radio – http://www.ckxu.com

CJSF – http://www.cjfs.ca

CKUW Winnipeg Radio – 95.9 FM – http://www.ckuw.ca

CHUO – Ottawa – http://chuo.fm

CKDU – Halifax – http://www.ckdu.ca

Our goal is to have region to region air time. Thanks to all venues and stations for participating in what will be our biggest annual event yet! Please stay tuned for the line up of each location and day!

Why do we walk?

1. To protect our community.

2. To oppose the tar sands and the Energy East pipeline

Because this 42-inch diameter export pipeline also implies a 150-hectare tank farm situated right in the middle of the rural community of Red Head, a 183-hectare marine terminal complex and some supertankers carrying 2.2 million barrels of oil crossing over the Bay of Fundy which threaten :

• The traditional lands of the Wolastoq (Maliseet) First Nations
• The 1500 residents of Red Head
• The Saint-John River, its tributaries and the drinking water of hundred thousand people
• The Bay of Fundy’s rich biodiversity and endangered species like the North Atlantic Right Whales
• Our climate

Photo by Trina Roache.

Over 500 people marched in Red Head, at the end of the proposed Energy East pipeline in Saint John, New Brunswick on Saturday May 30th. Community residents stood with First Nations to protest TransCanada’s proposed pipeline that would bring 1.1 million barrels of tar sands oil and build an oil tank terminal on the shore of the Bay of Fundy.

March to the #‎EndoftheLine Wolastoq Organizer & community leader, Ron Tremblay speaks about today’s ceremony and purpose

Clayton Thomas Mullers VLOG from ‘March 2 #EndoftheLine’ in Wolastoq Territory, Redhead NB 

Yinka Dine Alliance standing in solidarity with Wolastoq Nation against Energy East

You can stay up today on the fight to stop Energy East in New Brunswick on their website found HERE.