Unist’ot’en Solidarity Brigade 2.19.2020
As indicated below, calls for Wet’suwet’en solidarity actions continue. I was contacted by organizers in British Columbia who were aware of our vigil in Des Moines on Feb. 7 and invited us to be part of a network for future solidarity actions, which I accepted. If you are interested in joining us at a future solidarity action, send me a message.
https://www.facebook.com/messages/t/jeff.kisling.3
The story about our vigil can be found here: Rise Up With Us.
While Trudeau and Parliament held talks today about the ongoing rail blockades and Trudeau called for “dialogue” Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs made clear that for meaningful talks to take place the RCMP need to leave their territory. Chief Woos told CBC “We’re not going to talk with guns pointed at our heads.” A delegation of Wet’suwet’en Chiefs are on the road to Mohawk territory today to thank the communities holding down the rail blockades in solidarity with their demands.
Reconciliation is dead. The events of the past week on Wet’suwet’en territories have been an extreme demonstration of colonial violence, approved in contravention of Wet’suwet’en, Canadian and international law.
There is still an extreme RCMP presence on Wet’suwet’en land. We expect them to heavily guard and facilitate CGL access to unceded territories without Free, Prior and Informed consent from the Hereditary Chiefs. The eviction notice to CGL given on January 4th, 2020 still stands and will continue to be enforced with the full power and jurisdiction under Wet’suwet’en law.
We encourage all supporters to stand strong in solidarity with this struggle. It is far from over.
We, as Wet’suwet’en, have never ceded our sovereign title and rights over the 22,000 square kilometers of our land, waters, and resources within our Yintah. Our ‘Anuc niwh’it’ën (Wet’suwet’en law) and feast governance systems remain intact and continue to govern our people and our lands. We recognize the authority of these systems. The Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs are the Title Holders, and maintain the authority and jurisdiction to make decisions on unceded lands.
We have the strength of our ancestors within us. We have the solidarity of our Indigenous relatives and allies with us. We have the power of people shutting down railways, highways, ports, and government offices all around this country. Thank you to people all around this planet making our struggle your struggle. The flames of resistance and the resurgence of Indigenous land reclamation give us strength. We know our neighbours and relatives are with us. We know the two-leggeds and the four-leggeds are watching over us. These arrests don’t intimidate us. Police enforcement doesn’t intimidate us. Colonial court orders don’t intimidate us. Men in suits and their money don’t intimidate us. We are still here. We will always be there. This is not over.
Here is a list of solidarity actions around the world: https://www.facebook.com/events/594514121137249/
(From Gidimt’en Media Statement on Feb 12, 2020 and Unist’oten Media Statement on Feb 10, 2020)
* Wet’suwet’en Supporter Toolkit:
http://unistoten.camp/supportertoolkit2020/
* Movement Defense Legal Information:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JvbfEvay_RqOo3VAA-jsvDcATJq6e5iYuv1HqzzJi_M/edit?usp=sharing
#ShutDownCanada #WetsuwetenStrong
Yesterday Chief Woos, who’s territory is where the violent RCMP raid on the Gidemt’en Checkpoint took place, spoke to CBC about the current situation.
“the Minister is basically blowing air right now as far as were concerned. he put on his website that he was going to talk with the Wet’suwet’en chiefs in regards to Wiggus. on February 3ird and 4th he sent Scott Fraser to Smithers to talk to us. we were still open to that so we started talking to Scott, started to explain to him what Wiggus was and is and keeping in mind that we said Mr. Horgan you need to come and be part of this, instead he sent Scott Fraser with the stated attempt for us to agree to an access agreement for CGL which failed. We didn’t want that. With that CGL turned around and said to the police enforce the injunction and BC walked away.”
“We’re prepared to talk but we don’t want the RCMP in our territory.”
“As far as the economy and what is happening across the country… You see indigenous groups, the indigenous organizations out there. We’re facing third world situations all on account of your rule of law that is not being correctly handled by all governments.”
“If we’re going to be alongside the majority of Canadian’s as First Nations the first things that happens is Respect. Respect is the first thing that must happen.”
A protester stands between Mohawk Warrior Society flags at a rail blockade in Tyendinaga, near Belleville, Ont. on Sunday. The protest is in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed to the LNG pipeline in northern British Columbia. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press)
A trip east by four Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs to meet and thank the Mohawks of Tyendinaga behind a rail blockade in Ontario has thrown into doubt the timing of proposed talks with Ottawa and Victoria to settle the rail crisis.
The four Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs left B.C for Ontario Wednesday and there are plans for them to meet with the Mohawks of Tyendianga as early as tomorrow.
Hereditary Chief Na’moks told CBC News they will be landing in Montreal and stopping first in Kahnawake, a Mohawk community south of the city, before moving to Tyendinaga.
“It is only to thank them for their support, no more than that,” Hereditary Chief Na’moks told Radio-Canada in an email.
Wet’suwet’en chiefs’ planned meeting with Mohawk protesters could delay efforts to end rail crisis. The meeting could affect the timing of talks with federal, provincial ministers to settle the crisis by Jorge Barrera · CBC News · Posted: Feb 19, 2020
No Borders Media added 24 new photos to the album: When Justice Fails, Block the Rails! Photos from Tyendinaga, February 17 at 9:33 AM
Photos from #ShutDownCanada camps on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, on February 16, 2020.
No Borders Media was part of a small Montreal delegation that made a solidarity visit to Tyendinga yesterday to show support for the two camps beside the CN Railway tracks on their territory, effectively shutting down CN Rail operations in Eastern Canada, as well as VIA commuter rail service between Montreal/Ottawa and Toronto. Our delegation brought supplies of collected food, water, clothing and other important materials for people on the frontlines of #ShutDownCanada resistance at Tyendinaga, a disruption that has lasted 12 days, in defiance of a CN colonial civil court injunction.
Visitors from all over Ontario and Quebec have come to Tyendinaga to offer words of solidarity and support in person. During our visit, we met with people who visited from all over Southern Ontario, and as far as Manitoulin Island, in addition to people from Montreal and the Laurentians. Indigenous supporters have visited from all over Turtle Island.
Participants in the rail disruption at Tyendinaga remain well-organized and steadfast, an essential frontline in #ShutDownCanada efforts fighting for justice for Indigenous nations.
FRIDAYS FOR WET’SUWET’EN
SET UP MEETINGS WITH YOUR MLA UNTIL DEMANDS ARE MET
We need to use all the tactics at our disposal. In addition to office occupations we can fill up MLA’s meeting time and educate them on the Wet’suwete’n struggle until they take action.
MLA’s are open to meet with constituents on Fridays. Call them and book meetings every Friday until the demands of the Hereditary Chiefs are met.
Use this guide to set up your meeting and prepare to talk to your MLA.
While one MLA cannot remove the RCMP unilaterally they can all speak publicly and pressure their government to do the right thing!
Quakers, social justice and revolution 