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Grassy Narrows Gathering in July

There is a crisis in Canada's Boreal forest, of which most people are unaware. Most of the Boreal's timber lands have been allocated to logging companies by various provincial governments, and almost all of it is clear-cutting.

In December of 2002, the Indigenous youth of Grassy Narrows lay down in the path of industrial logging trucks, blocking access to their traditional lands. This has sparked the longest standing Indigenous blockade in Canada.

To raise awareness and understanding of this important issue, the Rainforest ActionNetwork (RAN) and Forest Ethics invite all people concerned about the environment to wonderful, informative summer workshops, training, campfires and events at the Grassy Narrows blockade, near Kenora, Ontario.

Background details and further information are provided in the article below, and I will be posting more info as I it becomes available to me.

Earth Justice Gathering
At the Grassy Narrows Blockade
July 10-16, 2006


The crisis in Ontario’s Boreal Forests is heating up. While much of the
world is aware of the devastating destruction occurring in the Amazon
rainforests, many don't realize the other important remaining intact
forest ecosystem left on earth is the Canadian Boreal forest. Not only
is this vast mosaic of forests, river, wetlands and lakes a breeding
ground for billions of birds and home to the endangered woodland
caribou, but it stores more carbon than any other terrestrial
ecosystem, making it one of our first lines of defense against global warming,
and provides more freshwater than any other place on earth. The various
provincial governments in Canada have already allocated most of the
Boreal's productive timber lands to logging companies and almost all
logging is done through clearcuts - some as large as 20,000 acres.

Logging and mining are moving further north threatening this vital
forest ecosystem and the traditional territory of many First Nations in
Ontario.

On December 2nd 2002, the indigenous youth of Grassy Narrows lay down
in the path of industrial logging trucks – blocking access to their
traditional lands and sparking what is now the longest standing
indigenous blockade in Canada.

This summer the Rainforest Action Network and Forest Ethics invite you
to a week of workshops, trainings, stories, campfires, feasting, music
and action at the Grassy Narrows blockade. Let’s join together to
support this visionary action, deepen our understanding of the issues,
and build the bonds between indigenous land struggles and the
environmental movement.

Although the blockade still stands strong, logging companies
Weyerhaeuser and Abitibi are still destroying parts of Grassy Narrows’
traditional lands, and the McGuinty government refuses to address the
growing crisis of unresolved native land rights conflicts and habitat
destruction in the great northern Boreal forest.

We are working closely with community leaders from Grassy Narrows who
have invited supporters of social, economic, and ecological justice to
support their blockade and to bring the action into the stores where
this wood is sold, the legislatures where the laws are passed, the
board rooms where the decisions are made, and to broad public attention in
the media. Let’s answer their call.

Transportation is being arranged from key regions to Grassy Narrows
(near Kenora Ontario, Canada). Gas subsidies will be provided to people
who bring a full vehicle.

Please Contact:
Northern First Nations: Jocelyn Cheechoo - jocelyncheechoo@ran.org

Toronto and Southern Ontario: Kim Fry –
kimf@forestethics.org/416-452-4199

Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario: Damien Lee -
connectwithdamien@gmail.com

Winnipeg and Manitoba: Shelagh – cuban_cigarra@hotmail.com
Wisconsin and Minnisota: Bob Poeschl - carpepax@riseup.net

Unions, Student Unions, activist groups, etc. are encouraged
to sponsor
a vehicle or contribute to the cost of a bus. Contact Kim Fry at
kimf@forestethics.org

Expected Workshops:
Nonviolent Direct Action
Decolonization
Native Land Rights
Activist Legal Defence
Traditional Stories
Boreal Ecology
Tree Climbing
Media Activism
Creative Resistance
Radical Cheerleading
Forest Defence Tactics and Strategies

Accommodation will be vehicle access tenting. Some meals will be
communal, however people are encouraged to be self-sufficient. More
details to come.

For more information, logistical details and updates check out
www.freegrassy.org and
forestethics.ca

Tags for this entry: Grassy Narrows, Kenora, First Nations.

posted by Annamarie at 1:56 AM