Kahnawake Warriors To Blockade In Protest Of Planned Dumping Into St. Lawrence River

Montreal mayor Denis Coderre holds up an email from Environment Canada at a press conference in Montreal Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 after Environment Canada gave their ruling on the city of Montreal’s plan to dump sewage into the St. Lawrence river. JOHN KENNEY / MONTREAL GAZETTE

Montreal Gazette, Oct 14, 2015

Mohawk Warriors plan to blockade a busy train line running through Kahnawake reserve.

Montreal will “follow the law” and respect a federal order to suspend the planned dumping of 8 billion litres of raw sewage into the St. Lawrence River to allow for crucial infrastructure repairs, Mayor Denis Coderre said Wednesday.

However, Coderre warned that the city will reach the “point of no return” as of Oct. 23 — five days after the scheduled dumping was to begin — when there might be breaks in the sewage system that could lead to significantly worse, long-term contamination of the river.

“I think it’s totally irresponsible for the Conservative government of Canada to take the decision the way they have,” Coderre told reporters, alluding to federal Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel’s announcement earlier in the day to suspend the repairs pending a study by an independent expert.

The mayor denounced the timing of Lebel’s announcement — made five days before Monday’s federal election — as “a political decision that was made on the backs of Montrealers.

Warrior Flag

Meanwhile, a group of Mohawk Warriors plans to light a bonfire and blockade a busy train line running through the Kahnawake reserve Thursday morning at 9 a.m. to protest against the city. The blockade will continue despite Lebel’s announcement, said Akohserake Deer, a spokesperson for the group, which includes members of the paramilitary Warrior Society.

“In our law, we’re supposed to protect the Earth, and we’re carrying out our responsibilities,” Deer said. “Whether the project is on or off doesn’t matter, it’s just another stalling tactic by the (federal) government.”

The protest, which was not authorized by the Mohawk band council, will take place at Adirondack Junction on a train line run by CP. Deer couldn’t say for how long the line will be blockaded but noted that both passenger and freight trains use it. The Agence métropolitaine de transport’s Candiac train line runs through Kahnawake.

Montreal confirmed late last month its plans to release sewage water over the space of a week starting Oct. 18, to permit repairs to a large collector pipe. The mayor hoped to complete the work by Nov. 15, before any major snowfalls.

At his news conference, Lebel said he was invoking Article 37 of the Fisheries Act — which serves to protect aquatic life — to suspend the sewage discharge.

Source: Montreal Gazette

See More at: http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/federal-government-to-respond-to-montreal-sewage-dump-wednesday

TransCanada Reports First Nations Pipeline Protestors To RCMP

Smithers Interior News, Posted Aug 27, 2015

TransCanada reported pipeline activists to the RCMP today after a convoy of their workers were refused access to Wet’suwet’en land by members of a Unist’ot’en clan blockade.

Four vehicles carrying Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project workers were turned away at a checkpoint on Chisholm Road south of Houston about 11 a.m. this morning.

The checkpoint is one of two camps blocking pipeline proponents from accessing the traditional territory of the Unis’tot’en clan, which is part of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation.

The TransCanada Coastal GasLink Pipeline was originally routed to cross south of the Morice River on its way from Dawson Creek to an LNG processing facility in Kitimat.

The company is considering an alternate route north of the river but both of the proposed routes cross Unist’ot’en territory.

Unist’ot’en member Freda Huson said her clan had a legal right to block access to its traditional territory, citing the 1997 Delgamuukw decision in which the Supreme Court of Canada determined that aboriginal title did exist.

“We just keep telling the same thing, you do not have consent because according even to all laws they must gain consent and have meaning[ful] consultation with my clan and they haven’t done that,” she said.

“We are not doing this because we want money we are doing this because we want our land.

“We don’t want our lands impacted by these projects.”

Coastal GasLink project planning and execution director Greg Cano said his workers were attempting to carry out environmental fieldwork for the proposed alternate route when they were turned away.

“This environmental fieldwork is necessary so that cultural and historical resources are identified, respected and protected, and so that the project can be designed, constructed and operated in a safe and environmentally responsible manner,” said Cano.

He said his company had made more than 90 attempts to contact hereditary chief Knedebeas of the Dark House, an Unist’ot’en house which operates the checkpoint were the workers were stopped.

“They have simply refused to discuss the project, even though they have a legal obligation to do so,” said Cano.

“As a result, we have unfortunately to date been unable to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution to accessing the Dark House territory.”

Huson said her chief would not negotiate with TransCanada after a bad experience with the company.

Today’s encounter was one of several between Coastal GasLink workers and members of the Unist’ot’en clan.

TransCanada said it contacted the police because it had been denied the ability to use a public road.

RCMP media relations officer Corporal Janelle Shoihet said police remained impartial in the ongoing dispute.

“Our efforts all along have been in keeping the peace, negotiations, and bringing the affected parties to the table for a fruitful discussion in the hopes of coming to a resolution,” said Shoihet.

“We will continue to work with all stakeholders and provide assistance as necessary in maintaining peace and keeping everyone safe.”

Both Cano and Huson said they planned to approach future encounters in a “peaceful” manner.

http://www.interior-news.com/breaking_news/323164841.html

New War In The Woods?

Camp ‘checkpoint’ in the Bulkley Valley; Freda Huson

Vancouver Observer

An escalating conflict in traditional wilderness territory is unfolding in near real time through YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, culminating this week in a July 30 rally in downtown Vancouver.

The powder keg that is the Unist’ot’en camp in the Bulkley Valley of B.C.’s Central Interior is the top issue behind a rally tonight (July 30) CBC Plaza, 700 Hamilton St., 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The event, organized by Rising Tide, will be in support for Unist’ot’en camp’s continued effort to turn away RCMP, security contractors and pipeline employees attempting to enter unceded territory, access necessary to connect oil to tankers on the West Coast near Prince Rupert.

“This event hopes to confront the police violence brought to people all over the world. This is not an isolated issue,” a press release from the Unist’ot’en camp states. “Join us to hear from those who have been to the camp and learn about how powerful life on the land has been.”

Freda Huson, spokesperson for the Unist’ot’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, has maintained a checkpoint at the bridge into her territory for the last six years.

“I am not demonstrating. I am not protesting,” she is quoted as saying in the Rising Tide call to action. “I am occupying our traditional homelands.”

Above, a video posted on YouTube by the Unist’ot’en Camp gives a summary of recent events leading up to this week’s rally.

The community is calling on the RCMP to hold police officers accountable for the violence they commit against frontline communities such as Unist’ot’en, and on the provincial and federal governments to respect indigenous sovereignty, states Rising Tide.

Speakers include: Vancouver artist/activist Audrey Siegl who recently joined a Greenpeace initiatve to intercept a Shell drilling rig on its way to its Alaska; Harsha Walia, and author of Undoing Border Imperialism; Neelam Khare, an emerging artist, community organizer, film-maker and student who has visited the camp; and Rita Wong, author of three books of poetry who recently visited the Unis’ot’en camp and wrote an article about the Unist’ot’en camp.

http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/new-war-woods

Quebec: Innu Nutashkuan Blockade Access To La Romaine Construction Site

A hundred Innu protesters block access to the path leading to construction, of the Romaine. They erected barricades with tires and fences in addition to a huge fire.

By Red Power Media, Staff

A group of protesters from the Nutashkuan Innu community have maintained a blockade since Wednesday, at the entrance by the La Romaine construction site, near Havre-Saint-Pierre Quebec, preventing vehicles from entering.

The gigantic Hydro-Québec project is now completely paralyzed by barricades erected by two Innu communities of the North Shore.

“It’s a total blockade. All emergency services may enter and who may want to get out, but there’s nothing coming in, “says the Journal Joel Malec, lumberman Innu and spokesman of the protesters.

A hundred Innu protesters block access to the path leading to construction, of the Romaine. They erected barricades with tires and fences in addition to a huge fire.

Claims

The Innu protest is against Hydro-Québec and the government that they believe violate their rights and endanger the environment.

The community accused Hydro-Quebec of not respecting the agreement signed in 2008, in line with their territorial rights. “Hydro-Québec decided to drown 50% of the tree population in the Romaine project basins and us, we are against that. It’s going to cause mercury to future generations ” denounced Chief Rodrigues Wapistan, in an interview with the Journal.

A hundred Innu protesters block access to the path leading to construction, of the Romaine. They erected barricades with tires and fences in addition to a huge fire.

The community says its economic autonomy is also threatened, while jobs were to be granted within the community to deforestation and thus contribute. “We want to get out of our misery and provide a better future for our children and grandchildren. But how, when our land and our resources are destroyed? And our rights are constantly ignored? “Said the leader in a statement issued later Wednesday.

“By flooding our territories without our consent, Hydro-Québec has not only harmed our aboriginal rights, but it has also undermined our economic and social development in addition to endangering the ecosystem,” says Chief Wapistan.

A hundred Innu protesters block access to the path leading to construction, of the Romaine. They erected barricades with tires and fences in addition to a huge fire.

The Oka spectrum

At odds with the government and Hydro-Quebec on this issue for months, the Innu did not randomly choose to act yesterday, it was for the 25th anniversary of the Oka crisis.

The Mohawk uprising that was also declared on the basis of ancestral land claims.

As the Mohawks before them, the Innu warn that if they do not get satisfaction, they will intensify their means of action.

Une cinquantaine d'Innus bloquent complètement l'entrée du chantier Romaine #blocusinnus http://t.co/BhyxiUDPlO—
Audrey Girard (@AudreyGirard04) July 15, 2015

The Premier of Québec, Philippe Couillard, pressed the Nutashkuan community to give priority to negotiation than confrontation, which is doomed to failure.  “One must choose in life. We choose the path of negotiation or the path of confrontation is chosen. The negotiation may succeed, that confrontation will not succeed “ , he has said on the sidelines of the Council of the Federation on Thursday afternoon.

Prime Minister Philippe Couillard Thursday. Photo: Andrew Vaughan Canadian Press

The Minister responsible for Native Affairs, Geoffrey Kelley, had asked earlier in the day Chief Wapistan to lift the barricade blocking access to the mega construction site. He called on the leader of the Innu community to “return to the table [of negotiations]. ” Nobody wants to relive the Oka crisis he stressed during a press conference.

Indigenous Activists Blockade Border For Inquiry Into Missing, Murdered Women

Vehicles were backed up for miles as activists blockaded the Ontario and Manitoba border. Photo: Red Power Media

By Red Power Media, Staff

Indigenous activists from Winnipeg had warned media that they planned to protest at the border with a blockade when the latest RCMP report was released.

Indigenous women continue to be most frequently killed by men they know, the RCMP said Friday as it released updated findings on missing and murdered indigenous women.

Another 32 Indigenous women have been murdered and 11 more have disappeared since the RCMP last reported on the issue.

Video: Group Blocks Motorists Who Refuse MMIW Flyer

In response activists set up a blockade and put a chokehold on the Trans-Canada Highway at the Ontario and Manitoba border. Then handed out 1,181 informational flyers ― the number of Indigenous women missing or murdered between 1980 and 2012 according to last year’s RCMP report.

They also informed the public of the violence taking place in their communities and the need for a national inquiry.

An activist from the Urban Warrior Alliance blocks a semi truck at the Ontario and Manitoba border. Photo: Red Power Media.

“First Nations do not appreciate the way the RCMP is handling this. Not at all. We have no respect for it at all,” said one organizer.

“We want a national inquiry. We want an inquiry into what’s happening in our communities, what’s happening not just with our women, but all of our community.”

Many have long been calling for an inquiry.

However, the Harper government has refused saying it would rather focus on preventing these cases in the first place.

Those holding rally say motorists shouldn't be bothered by minor inconvenience. "Try burying your mother or sister." http://t.co/kV09jKS4MD—
Dennis Ward (@DennisWardNews) June 19, 2015

The protest was predominantly peaceful, minus some racist comments fueling the passion of the protesters.

Each time a driver didn’t accept a flyer, the group rallied in front of the vehicle, then shut down both lanes of the highway for 10 to 15 minutes not allowing anyone through until the flyer was taken.

Some people sat in their vehicles refusing to take the information flyer. Shouting matches ensued. pic.twitter.com/XqKeZyYPrm

— Dennis Ward (@DennisWardNews) June 19, 2015

Both the OPP and RCMP were at the border to manage the slow stream of vehicles.

The OPP reported that the protesters stayed on the highway until they had handed out all of their flyers.

ROAD CLOSURE: #Hwy17 CLOSED EB/WB at Manitoba border: Reopening time unknown ^ea

— OPPCommunicationsNWR (@OPP_COMM_NWR) June 19, 2015

Members from the Urban Warrior Alliance in Winnipeg who organized the protest ended it at about 4 pm.