Support the Six Nations' Land Reclamation
Stop Canada's
Genocide!
Cross Canada Solidarity With Six Nations
Montreal, Vancouver,
Toronto, Saskatoon, Victoria
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Montreal Rally & Info Picket
Wednesday April 12th, 2:30pm
@ the Revenue
Canada Building
305 Rene Levesques West
corner Rue De Bleury, Metro Place
des Arts
For Information: ipsm@resist.ca
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Under
the direction of the Clan Mothers at the Six Nations Territory, a series of actions
are being organized in solidarity with the with the Six Nations clan mothers and
in support of their demands for an immediate
cessation of all construction
by Henco Industries on Six Nations territory and for resolution to the current
standoff to be conducted on a nation-to-nation basis. Jamie Jamieson from the
Six Nations community
states " I hope for a resolution. It would involve
having the whole issue of title and jurisdiction resolved, and it would mean for
the federal government to take accountability and responsibility for their actions
in regard to this land."
The racist colonial legacy of Canada continues
to devastate the lands and lives of indigenous peoples and standing in support
of the Six Nations community is a tangible way to stop the settler government's
interventions in the continued illegal expropriation and exploitation of indigenous
lands and territories.
To increase the pressure on April 11-12, the Six
Nations Clan mothers are also asking that people contact Michaelle Jean, Governor
General of Canada, and Michael Bryant, Attorney General of Ontario to express
their support of the demands of the clan mothers and call for resolution to the
standoff through political means, rather than policing.
* Michaelle Jean,
Governor General:
Phone: (613) 993-8200, Toll Free: 1-800-465-6890, Fax: (613)
998-1664, Email: info@gg.ca
* Michael Bryant, Ontario Attorney General
Phone:
(416) 326-2220 or (416) 326-2210, Toll Free: 1-800-518-790, Fax: (416) 326-4007
Email:
www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/comments.asp
*** BACKGROUND
****
On March 3rd, 2006, members of Rotinoshon'non:we (Iroquois) people set
up camp on the Haldimand Tract, located at the entrance to Douglas Creek Estates,
a 71-lot subdivision under construction by Henco Industries Ltd. on Six Nations
territory.
This land has at no point been surrendered to Canada, and was
formally recognized by the Crown as Six Nations territory as part of the 1784
Haldimand Deed. The Plank Road Tract was subsequently registered as a land claim
with the federal government in 1987. The Six Nations band council, in its submissions
to Ottawa, claimed the reserve was never properly compensated for land sold to
non-natives and land that was taken to build the Hamilton to Port Dover Plank
Road. The Six Nations reserve now covers less than 5 per cent of the original
tract of six miles each side of the Grand River from the mouth to the source.
Meanwhile, the province of Ontario passed legislation allowing this tract of land
to be developed as part of a scheme to draw 4 million settlers into the Golden
Horseshoe area.
Henco Industries successfully obtained a court injunction
last month to have members of Six Nations who are camped out on the territory
forcibly removed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). A revised injunction
issued by an Ontario Supreme Court Judge on March 28th states that those who refuse
to vacate the property are guilty of criminal and civil contempt, and will be
fingerprinted and photographed as part of a probation order. In delivering his
judgment, Provincial Court Judge David Marshall said this to the Clan Mothers:
"What's the matter with you people? Why don't you forget all about the past
and listen to me?"
On the evacuation deadline date issued by Justice
Marshall, there were roughly 300-500 people lined up at the road in support of
the Six Nations. The Clan Mothers held an action that had 50 women blocking the
construction
crews from building. In the face of mounting police presence at Six Nations -
including two dozen marked and unmarked police vehicles parked outside a nearby
elementary school currently being used as a command post, a number of police cruisers
scattered throughout the neighbouring town of Caledonia, and scores of undercover
officers around the periphery of the Six Nations reserve - and a mobilization
of the state reminiscent of the lead-up to the murder of Dudley George by the
OPP at Ipperwash in 1995, the Clan Mothers and Six Nations community have requested
solidarity in their struggle to affirm their inherent right to self-determination
and sovereignty on the land. "Canada must stop using guns to resolve its
legal disputes with the indigenous people," states Jacqueline House.
The
clan mothers have put forward the following statement:
The Women, being
Title Holders to all lands of Turtle Island, assert our constitutional jurisdiction
over the Haldimand Tract. We have never and cannot ever give up our land or our
sovereignty.
1. The Six Nations are distinct original nations. We are to
be dealt with on a nation-to-nation basis by the Crown and all other nations.
2.
The Crown must respect our original relationship as set out in the Two Row Wampum,
our jurisdiction as provided in our constitution, the Kaiannereh'ko:wa, and as
respected by Sections 109 and 132 of the BNA Act, 1867 and according to international
covenants that Canada has signed.
3. We are to be dealt with on a nation-to-nation
basis, as was the custom before Canada separated from the British Empire. Respect
for the independent international status of the Six Nations by Canada was established
before Canada achieved recognition as a state or gained the ability to sign treaties
on its own. The independent international identity of the Six Nations identity
has never been legally extinguished.
4. The band councils were established
with procedures that violated international law. They continue to function as
colonizing institutions. We have never consented to their establishment nor their
representing us.
5. Canada and all its politicians, bureaucrats, agents,
assignees and appointees should cease and desist immediately their attempt to
criminalize and apprehend our people for defending what is rightfully ours, the
land to which we hold title. Any further action by Canada, Ontario and their agents
shall be viewed as being a direct violation of the Two Row Wampum, the constitutional
accord between the Ratino'shon:ni and Canada and international law.
6.
The claims of Canada and the province of Ontario to have a right to legislate
for the Rotino'shon:ni Six Nations and to grant private title to our land has
no foundation in law.