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SUPPORT SIX NATIONS

Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has been invited to debate the topic of "Native Self Government". In the words of the Hart House Debates Committee: "The debate will look at the question of how much autonomy and what rights should be granted to aboriginal governments."

Could the colonial mindset be any more obvious?

RALLY AGAINST COLONIALISM!

6:30pm, Friday April 28th

Kings College Circle (in the field surrounded by U of T buildings, north west of the College & University intersection.)

Bring your drums!

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The Coalition in support of Indigenous Sovereignty and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty have called for a Rally against Colonialism and in Support of Six Nations

Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has been invited to debate the topic of "Native Self Government" in Toronto on Friday April 28, 2006. In the words of the Hart House Debates Committee: "The debate will look at the question of how much autonomy and what rights should be granted to aboriginal governments."

One has to wonder if Jim Prentice or the Debates Committee even know the definition of the words “self government” or “autonomy”. Nations are either autonomous and self-governing or they are not. No nation can “grant” autonomy to another. The assumption that Canada has the inherent right to govern and legislate the lives of First Nations peoples is colonial and racist. The time has come for this colonial mentality to end.

In 1876 Canada passed the Indian Act which negated existing treaties (nation-to-nation agreements), stopped the treaty negotiation process (which is why many nations out west have no treaties), deposed the traditional democratic governments of First Nations and imposed the band council system. Since that time Canada has controlled the activities of band councils through legislation and funding. Under this system the most well-intentioned band leader is more accountable to Ottawa than to their own community.

Successive amendments to the Indian Act made it possible for Canada, the provinces and even municipalities to seize First Nations treaty lands for all sorts of purposes including the expansion of the city of Edmonton, the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the establishment of a military base-turned-Ipperwash Provincial Park. Out west many nations who never the opportunity to make treaties have no rights to land as far as the federal government is concerned. Many lands and/or resource rights were sold and leased to private corporations and the resulting profits never accrued to First Nations communities.

While First Nations children were being physically, sexually and emotionally abused in residential schools and foster care, the colonizers were reaping huge profits exploiting the resources of First Nations territories. While First Nations people were being jailed for hunting and fishing without a license or for working off their reserves without a pass from the Indian agent, the settlers were accumulating wealth that did not belong to them. While band councils negotiated with the federal government for job creation, housing and economic development programs for their communities, Canadians griped about freeloaders who didn’t have to pay taxes.

SIX NATIONS

In early March the community of the Six Nations Rotinoshoni Confederacy peacefully took possession of a tract of land that is theirs under the Haldimand Treaty signed in 1789. Despite the fact that this tract was part of a land claim filed by Six Nations in 1987, the province had previously sold this land to an American company, Henco, which proceeded to build a residential complex on the site. This was done in violation of federal legislation that prohibits the sale or leasing of territories cited in land claims.

In an historic move the Six Nations band council formerly recognized the authority of the Confederacy (traditional leaders) in negotiating with the federal government over land issues. Until April 21 the federal government was unwilling to meet with any Clan Mother or Confederacy leader.

Early in the morning on Thursday April 21 the OPP armed with automatic weapons raided the Six Nations encampment beating, kicking, using tasers on and pepper-spraying the occupants which included women, children and clan mothers. The Six Nations community mobilized in response and, WITHOUT automatic weapons, tasers or pepper spray, drove the OPP out and subsequently blockaded all roads leading into that territory.

At the time of this writing negotiations between the federal government and Confederacy are ongoing. It is worth noting that the current boundaries of Six Nations as recognized by the federal government comprise less than 5% of what was originally allocated in the treaty; 95% of Six Nation’s territory has been seized and “developed” over the years.

SUPPORT SIX NATIONS; RALLY AGAINST COLONIALISM

No First Nations leader authorized Jim Prentice to speak about “aboriginal self-government”. Why would they? Clearly, no representative of the Canadian government knows anything about the topic. On the other hand, Jim Prentice, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and many other Canadian officials have been repeatedly asked to uphold the treaties and respect the legitimate leadership among First Nations people. Until he does that there is nothing Jim Prentice can say on Friday that is worth listening to.

For more information: Coalition in support of Indigenous Sovereignty http://www.ocap.ca/ or http://www.urgentcalltoaction.com/

posted by Annamarie at 1:17 PM