This is Coast Salish Territory

On Monday April 28th, 2008 Indigenous Warriors on Coast Salish Territory blocked a vital intersection used for commercial shipping to the United States. The action was done in solidarity with the Tyendinaga Mohawk community. Five Warriors from Tyendinaga had been arrested and attacked by the OPP days before. SWAT teams and paramilitary units were on Tyendinaga Territory surrounding dozens of other unarmed Warriors who were peacefully occupying a rock quarry claimed to be on their territory.

Solidarity actions also happened in Six Nations and Guelph. With the mounting pressure from coast to coast, and steadfast position of the Tyendinaga Mohawks the SWAT teams and paramilitary units left Tyendinaga Territory without additional attacks.

Since their arrest, three of the five Warriors have been released on strict bail conditions. Two Warriors, Clint Brant and Shawn Brant are still in state custody.

For more information;

mostlywater.org
friendsofgrassynarrows.com
ottawa.indymedia.ca

FIRST NATIONS ACTIVISTS TAKE OVER PART OF KITSILANO BEACH ON BC DAY

VANCOUVER, BC, PRESS RELEASE--(Marketwire - Aug. 6, 2007) - Indigenous and community activists and will be taking over part of Kitsilano Beach today at 2:00 to identify B.C Day as Before Colonization Day. There will be an opening prayer, drumming and singing and speakers. The meeting place: Cornwall and Arbutus Streets. There will be a raising of a flag to simulate the claiming of the land as Indigenous soil.

"The root cause of indigenous peoples' spiritual, emotional, mental and prevailing poverty is colonization. The legacy of colonization lies in the enduring ramifications of the reservation and residential school system, systemic governmental, educational, judicial and societal racism.

Under colonial rule, our ancestors were persecuted, imprisoned, and hanged for not subjugating themselves or the rights to our lands. They were persecuted for being in the way of progress.

The legacy of colonization, lies in the prisons, skid rows, mental health wards, on the highway of tears, in addictions, alcoholism, those of our people living and working on the streets, and in our children being taken away from their homes, the legacy of colonization lies in the suicidal hearts of our youth.

The legacy of colonization lies in the destruction of our earth due to globalization, ensuing pollution and physical destruction, clearcutting, pollution of our waters killing our ecosystem and creatures.

It's time for us to recognize our rights as indigenous people. Our rights to our land and our rights to protect it's resources. Our very survival has been an uphill battle as we are still a marginalized race.

Yet the legacy of colonization has been unsuccessful because we are still here! Still marginalized but we are working hard to show the beauty and strength of a beautiful culture. Our reality is very different from what we learned as children in school but we are a testament to the strength of our great-great grandparents.

In terms of reconciliation and treaties, the government will only treaty when their best interests are in hand, not at heart. The government will only settle when it serves them for the future." (Kat Norris, Coast Salish, Indigenous Action Movement)

ONCE THE MONEY IS GONE, IT'S GONE. ONCE THE LAND IS GONE, IT'S GONE.

This land belongs to our people, the indigenous people, we will never ever forget that. And we are going to ensure that our children know what their rights are."

To all my relations..

IN: POLITICS

For more information, please contact
Kat Norris
Primary Phone: 604-682-3269 ext. 7718
E-mail: indigenousactionmovement@yahoo.com

INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE-Anti Kkknada Day

NDIGENOUS DAY OF ACTION AND RESISTANCE


INDIGENOUS ANTI-CANADA DAY


On July 1st 2007, over 200 Indigenous women, children, Elders and men
(and non-native supporters) took the streets and the train tracks on a
march and blockade to mark their resistance to Canada as an oppressive
force against their people. The march began at Grandview Park and
proceeded down Commercial Drive to Venables Street where the CN rail
lines were occupied and blocked for over an hour.

During the blockade a Canadian flag was burned on the tracks by an
Indigenous person, and several other Canadian souvenir flags that had
been painted with the words “No Justice on Stolen Native Land” were
burned by about 40 Indigenous people at the action.

The group stayed strong throughout the blockade in a show of force to
let the Canadian government know that Indigenous people will not take
state oppression any longer.

The march returned to Grandview park, again blocking traffic on the
roads and intersections. The police presence was small, consisting of
mostly bicycle units, and efforts to direct traffic were non-existent
for at least an hour.

Actions of this nature will continue to happen, not only at every
Anti-Canada Day but also at other events in the true spirit of
Indigenous resistance!

U-Tube Video on its way!

photos of Anti-Canada Day in vancouver:
http://harrietspirit.blogspot.com/

photos of Anti-Canada Day in montreal:
http://photos.cmaq.net/v/anti-canada-day/

more photos & reports of continental actions:
http://wiinimkiikaa.wordpress.com

other links:
http://no2010.com
http://ourfreedom.wordpress.com

Philanthropist's envision their property as a retreat for First Nations artists

Kim Westad, Times Colonist

Friday, March 30, 2007

Quiet philanthropists Bruce and Marion Cumming gave further details
yesterday of their vision for the million-dollar Oak Bay property they've
donated to a First Nations society.

The 1921 house on almost an acre of prime real estate could be used as a
First Nations artists' retreat, the couple suggested, a use they say should
fit in nicely with their Oak Bay neighbourhood.

The couple made front page news earlier this week when they willed their
home, on almost an acre of lovingly landscaped land tucked into Gonzales
Hill, to a First Nations society.

"It's important to us that the use keep harmony with the neighbours and we
certainly think a retreat should do that," said Marion Cumming. She and her
husband Bruce, who has cancer in his bone marrow, initially thought of
donating the property with its extensive garden to The Land Conservancy. But
a chance conversation with a neighbour, who told them that Gonzales Hill was
traditionally sacred to the Coast Salish, gave them another idea.

"It's their traditional land, yet you don't see native people around Oak Bay
at all," Marion Cumming said. "We thought it would be more logical, helpful
and interesting over the long term for it to be a retreat for the Salish
people."

According to the 2001 census, Oak Bay has 120 First Nations people, the
fewest of any municipality in the region.

The retreat would provide a place for artists and scholars to study and
mentor in a quiet environment. One person would live at the home
permanently, while others could stay for varying periods of time.

The home will be given to the Sacred Land Society, set up with directors to
oversee the project. The home isn't to be bought, sold or traded, and is to
be maintained in a way consistent with indigenous values. It's not to be
used for a commercial purpose and can't be subdivided, something neighbours
feared, given the large lot size.

Single-family residential zoning does allow for some different uses, said
Oak Bay director of building and planning Nigel Beattie. He'd need specific
details on whether the intended retreat use does fit in with the current
zoning, but sees that it could.

Dave Paulson lives next door to the Cummings and said yesterday that he's
happy the Cummings have found a good purpose for their home.

The Cummings said most neighbours, like Paulson, have been supportive as
long as the use fits the zoning and is not disruptive to the quiet Sunny
Lane neighbourhood. One neighbour did have some concerns.

"It's a natural human emotion for people to fear the unknown, to [go on the]
offensive when they're not sure what's going on," said Bruce Cumming, an
81-year-old retired botany professor. "I don't want to sound Pollyannaish,
but our view is that this is a learning experience on both sides."

Taiaiake Alfred, director of UVic's Indigenous Governancy Program, helped
set up the Sacred Land Society with the couple. Alfred, a Mohawk from
Kahnawake, said the retreat could easily have non-native scholars and
artists as well. "There are twin objectives: cultural regeneration, and
education of the non-native public on the history of the land."

In the end, Alfred said, it comes down to individuals to try to heal rifts
governments aren't resolving. "Relationships between people are the only way
to resolve the issues we're facing. This is completely outside of government
process."

And what of the fact that the move is coming from a relatively affluent part
of the community? "It shows there can be selflessness and not selfishness."

C Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007