Sunday, May 22, 2011 – In the spirit of our ancestors, honoring the memory of all those Youth who have died unjustly and in respect to all our relations, We the Six Nations Youth Movement are TAKING ACTION and RECLAIMING the old Police Station as the temporary site of the Onkwehon:we Youth Centre. This action declares: NO ONE SPEAKS FOR THE YOUTH BUT THE YOUTH, no matter their level of education or claim to knowledge, the wisdom and voice of the Youth can only be found in the Youth. We declare that the Band Council superstructure (including its services) cannot handpick our representatives nor determine the direction of the Six Nations Youth Movement. WE are the Six Nations Youth Movement, ALL of us together – not any one group or any one person alone.

By reclaiming this site, we reclaim ourselves. This is not a violent delinquent or illegal act. We are reclaiming this site in the same spirit of the old council house, kanata, kanonhstaton. We are transforming this building from a site of oppression and colonization to one of empowerment and healing. We reject the idea of private property, which contradicts the principle of our stewardship to the land.

By reclaiming this site, we are calling attention to the fact that still, after twenty years of campaigning, asking, pleading, there is NO YOUTH CENTRE on Six Nations , even after many attempts to work with Band Council. That process has taught us that to work with Band Council is to work under Band Council, and the Youth (and our Youth Centre) will no longer be controlled by that colonial system. We are creating a Youth Centre FOR the people and BY the people. We are not interested in collaborating with any colonial structures: Band Council, Police, CAS or corporations.

We recognize the effects of colonization: trauma, suicide, abuse and violence against our people. We, the Youth, will no longer be tools of oppression against ourselves and our people: merely victims and statistics. From this day on, we will take up our responsibilities, move forward and carry on this struggle. We will not be silenced!

We are reclaiming this site for a Women’s and Youth Sacred Fire, started from ashes collected from sites of struggles and ceremony all over Turtle Island. These ashes hold the memory and spirit of Site 41, Grassy Narrows, and many Full Moon Ceremonies; Sacred Fires which were lit and kept by Women. This fire is our strength and our healing. We are using these medicines to call YOU to the Sacred Fire. You, the Youth tired of waiting, whose voices have been silenced, Youth sick of pointless meetings, Youth with that warrior spirit living inside you. Whatever nation or territory, whether on-reserve or not, raised in our traditions or not, Handsome Lake or Great Law, down-below or upper-end WE NEED YOU!

So after school, when you get off the bus, during lunch, on the weekends, whenever you can – come join us and SPREAD THE WORD! Join us as we finally take a stand as youth and show our nations, our people where the true power lies: within each and every one of us. Let us UNITE to start the process of fulfilling the PEACEMAKERS prophecy: for the Youth to stand up the Tree of Peace. To all Youth in all territories: TAKE ACTION, raise your voices and stand with us.

We invite supporters of the Youth, adult allies, Elders, holders of our traditions and ceremonies and all of our people to the Sacred Fire. Come with your songs, drums, dances, teachings, food, wood, medicines. We need your support. We will be hosting socials, film screenings, concerts, speakers, etc. while at this site, so if you have any ideas or have nothing to do come down and be empowered. All are welcome.

ALL POWER TO THE YOUTH! ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!
for more information/updates: sixnationsyouthmovement@gmail.com
or find us on facebook: Six Nations Youth Reclamation

Contact Numbers:
Melissa Elliott (text only) 519 717 9403
Kahsenniyo Wilson: (text during the day or call after 7pm EST) 226 388 9831

*Thursday, May 12th, 2011 6:30 to 8:00 PM*
*J.A. de Sève Theatre, *
*1400 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montreal*

A panel discussion with Dan Doreen (Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), Marylynn Poucachiche (Barriere Lake Algonquin First Nation), and Matt Morgan-Brown (Ottawa Movement Defense).

The Canadian state consistently responds to defense of the land and movements for self-determination with police and military repression, criminalization, and incarceration. The police, courts and prisons are the institutions that make this repression possible, and resisting them is an important part of anti-colonial struggles. The speakers on this panel will speak based on their experiences with this kind of repression, and resistance.

A panel discussion with Daniel “Amikwabe” Bernard (Ottawa, urban Algonquin firekeeper, beaver clan), Lindsay Ganohsanohwe Bomberry (Women’s Council) and Sean Toulouse (Men’s Fire) of Six Nations (Onandaga, Eel clan), and a participant in the Hanlon Creek occupation (Guelph). All across Turtle Island, urban sprawl continues to develop unabated,
attacking Indigenous lands and communities. Investors and real estate
developers make huge profits through building business parks, big box
stores, and subdivisions, irreversibly destroying ecosystems and ways of
life  in the process. The speakers on this panel have all been involved
in land defense struggles resisting urban sprawl.

Les terrains que Niocan veut exploiter à Oka sont sur le territoire revendiqué par les Mohawks de Kanehsatake. Dès le début des années 2000, ces derniers ont exprimé clairement leur rejet du projet au gouvernement du Québec. Un front commun regroupant une forte majorité des citoyens d’Oka, l’UPA Outaouais-Laurentides et les Mohawks s’est constitué pour bloquer le projet. Suite au dépôt d’une pétition de presque 6 000 noms, à la fin du mois de novembre 2010, le front commun a obtenu que la Commission de l’agriculture, des pêcheries, de l’énergie et des ressources naturelles recommande au ministre du Développement durable qu’il confie au BAPE une commission sur «l’acceptabilité sociale» du projet. La réponse se fait toujours attendre.

Suite à des tentatives d’achat des actions de Niocan, leur valeur a doublé. Mais toujours sans certificat d’autorisation d’exploitation, les dirigeants de Niocan étudient les avenues les plus intéressantes pour faire avancer leurs intérêts. Vu la demande grandissante et l’augmentation du prix du niobium, le projet peut rebondir à tout moment. Il faut maintenir la vigilance et la mobilisation. Afin de faire connaître la lutte des Mohawks de Kanehsatake et de développer le mouvement de solidarité, nous vous invitons  à participer à une conférence d’appui à la lutte des Mohawks de Kanehsatake contre l’exploitation d’une mine de niobium sur leur territoire.

Conférence  / Public lecture

• Ellen Gabriel, Mohawk de Kaneshatake
• Ramsey Hart, Mines alerte Canada
• Vidéo : Lutte contre les minières; Kaneshatake

Informations
Jeudi le 14 avril 2011 à 18h30
Salle A-M050, pavillon Hubert Aquin de l’UQAM
Métro Berri-UQAM

Garderie sur place (il faut réserver 48 heures d’avance)

/ Free child care (upon reservation 48 hours before)
Traduction simultanée / Simultaneous translation

(français ci-dessous)

Repression and Solidarity:  Strengthening Anarchist Struggle
(a speaking event)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMEBER 17TH at 6:30 pm
2365 rue Grand Trunk                        (metro Charlevoix)

A speaking event featuring a presentation and update on the case of Indigenous political prisoner John Graham, an overview and analysis of state repression against social struggles more broadly (COINTELPRO, the green scare, current conspiracy charges against G20 arrestees) and a critical discussion of solidarity and strategies against repression in the context of building an anarchist struggle.

*supported by the Indigenous Solidarity Committee of Montreal*

-avec traduction vers le francais
-free

******************************

We, the Youth of the Haudenosaunee, on this 20th anniversary of Oka, declare our right to voice our concerns within our Nations, to be heard as equal counterparts, and to make an impact. We owe it to ourselves to continue on the path the Creator has laid before us. Just as they did at Oka, our ancestors sacrificed their lives for us – they survived the government’s assimilation tactics. They believed that we, the next seven generations, are worth fighting for. This blood runs through our veins too. The issues that surfaced 20 years ago across our Haudenosaunee territories are the same we face now and are not easily solved, but our strength will persevere. History shows us this.

We find peace in the fact that we are all descendants of Sky Woman. We can remind ourselves of our intentions by taking action. We must remain humble, listen to our instincts and teach each other how to return to the traditional teachings. We must have the courage and patience to learn from our Elders before it is too late. We recognize how substantial all these connections are to hold on to, as well as to teach, live, and breathe.

We remember as our Great Law of Peace says that in every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation. This means we have a responsibility to continue on what was fought for at Oka. We remember and acknowledge the integral guidance and direction from our women during this time, and the sacred relationships women have with Mother Earth, as well as to make the decisions in our communities. We do not take this lightly. We remember and acknowledge that our children are closer to the Spirit world. As such, our children not only have an essential role to play in the leadership of our communities, but to ensure there is a future to fight for.  This is how it must always be.

It has been 20 years since the Oka crisis at Kanesatà:ke and we are not only here today because of this, but  because of many centuries of warriors who had the courage to speak the truth, and the conviction to act from the heart. We know the manifestation of over 500 years of colonization and genocide has brought us to where we are now, but we will continue to resist every attempt to silence and oppress us.  We declare today in unison that our rights are worth protecting and that we are committed to leading a new generation of youth to carry this on.

Drafted by Sarah Konwahahawi Herne and Jessica Yee, endorsed by youth from the Haudenosaunee nations, July 11th 2010

KANESATAKE, QC, June 9 /CNW Telbec/ – The Mohawk Council of Kanesatake made public today that it categorically rejects the project of the company Niocan Inc., which plans to exploit a resource of niobium on land forming part of the Seigneury of Lake of Two-Mountains, on which Mohawks of Kanesatake have title as well as Aboriginal and treaty rights. “Our position is clear. We will never allow our land to be used without our consent and in a way that is harmful to the environment,” says Grand Chief SohenrisePaul Nicholas.

This opposition of the Mohawk Council was forwarded to the Quebec Government, which is expected to rule shortly on the request for a Certificate of Authorization made by Niocan to the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs (MDDEP).

The Council of Kanesatake wishes to remind those concerned that the entire Seigneury of Lake of Two-Mountains, including the area chosen for the mining project, is currently the subject of territorial dispute. Therefore, until an agreement has been reached, the governments should impose a moratorium on any development project that could have a negative impact on the rights of Mohawks.

The Council also wishes to stress that serious concerns have been raised by numerous experts regarding the long-term health and environmental hazards that the proposed mine will create. The many pollutants, the radiation emitted by the mine, the gases, the noise, the dust and the possibility of significant impact on the natural hydrographic network could have disastrous consequences for the environment and the health of families living in the vicinity.

For all these reasons, the Mohawk Council says ‘no’ to Niocan’s project. “The Mohawks of Kanesatake have never consented to this project, have never been seriously consulted and continue to strongly oppose it,” indicates Grand Chief Nicholas.

Between November 12-14, 2008, the historic Defenders of the Land gathering took place in Winnipeg. The gathering brought together dozens of grassroots activists, elders, youth, women and men from Indigenous communities across “Canada” who are in active struggle to defend their land and assert self-determination. The second Defenders of the Land gathering was recently held in Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories, in November 2009.

Members of No One Is Illegal-Montreal have recently uploaded thirteen interviews with participants from the 2008 Defenders of the Land Gathering in Winnipeg. The interviews are now available for viewing and download on the IsumaTV website. IsumaTV is an independent interactive network of Inuit and Indigenous multimedia.

–> The Defenders of the Land channel, with all thirteen interviews, is accessible here: http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/ <–

The individual links to each interview are also included below. Collectively, the interviews provide a frontline perspective on diverse and linked struggles for land, freedom and self-determination on Turtle Island, as well as reflections on the Defenders of the Land gathering itself.

1. Arthur Manuel, spokesperson for Defenders of the Land (17:28)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/arthur-manuel

2. Russell Diabo, spokesperson for Defenders of the Land (5:33)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/russell-diabo

3. Reta Blind, Carol Martin & Phillipa Ryan, Downtown Eastside Vancouver (15:46)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/reta-blind-carol-martin-phillipa-ryan

4. Lionel Lepine & Jada Voyageur, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (7:26)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/jada-voyageur-and-lionel-lepine

5. Milton Bornwithatooth, Peigan Lonefighter’s Society (9:28)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/milton-bornwithatooth

6. Kimlee Wong, Sagkeeng First Nation (7:29)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/kimlee-wong

7. Judy DaSilva, Grassy Narrows (10:30)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/judy-dasilva

8. Joseph Dore, Anishnabe Nation (7:48)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/joseph-dore

9. Jacqueline House, Six Nations (11:23)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/jacqueline-house

10. Mireille Lapointe, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (8:32)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/mireille-lapointe

11. Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake (8:11)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/marylynn-poucachiche

12. Terry Sappier, Maliseet Nation of Tobique (7:47)
http://www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land/terry-sappier

(Interviews conducted between November 12-14, 2008 at the Defenders of the Land Gathering in Winnipeg. Interview with Arthur Manuel conducted at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on November 5, 2008.)

DVD copies of the 2008 Defenders of the Land interviews can also be ordered from No One Is Illegal-Montreal for $5/copy (plus shipping). Please contact nooneisillegal@gmail.com to arrange to get DVD copies mailed to you.

For more information:
www.defendersoftheland.org
www.isuma.tv/hi/en/defenders-land
www.nooneisillegal.org
www.indigenoussolidaritymontreal.net