UPDATES: Indian Affairs announces election date; SQ harassment escalates; Canadian spies visit Barriere Lake solidarity activist

a) The Department of Indian Affairs has circulated a notice in Barriere
Lake announcing they intend to hold section 74 Indian Action band
elections on August 19, 2010, and nomination meetings for a Chief and six
Counselors on July 8th. The community has every intention of resisting
Indian Affairs' attempts to abolish their traditional governance system.


b) There has been an escalation in harassment by the Quebec Police, known
as the Surete du Quebec (SQ), who have been policing Barriere Lake's
reserve since April 1, 2010. Community members have been regularly pulled
over on the highway and on the access road to their reserve. Some women
have recounted being pulled over by an SQ officer and being made the
subject of sexist remarks. "What have you got there in back seat? Got
something for me?" they were asked. The officer then followed them home in
his cruiser after telling them, "I'm going to come over and sleep with you
guys."

The escalation is an indication that the Canadian and Quebec governments
may attempt to use the Quebec police to impose their political dictates,
as they've done in the past. Barriere Lake's supporters will need to be
vigilant and hold their governments to account, lest they attempt to push
through section 74 Indian Act elections with brute force.


c) Read a description of how CSIS agents visited and harassed a member of
the Barriere Lake solidarity collective in Montreal, an indication of the
lengths the federal government is willing to go to to undermine the
community's struggle for their rights :
http://www.mediacoop.ca/blog/martin-lukacs/3622


d) The Green Party of Canada issued a press release on June 9th endorsing
Barriere Lake's struggle to protect their traditional governance system:
http://greenparty.ca/media-release/2010-06-09/algonquins-barriere-lake-trying-protect-governance-system


.....AND PLEASE remember to support the Algonquins of Barriere by writing
a letter to relevant politicians, or attending the upcoming event and
demonstration in Ottawa on June 14 & 15.


EVERYWHERE: Write/call/fax Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl and
Indian Affairs Quebec Regional Director Pierre Nepton:
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html

OTTAWA: JOIN Barriere Lake community members in Ottawa on June 14 and 15 2010

June 14: Feast and Celebration of Customary Government:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125575680806297

6:30PM, Monday, June 14, 2010
Mac Hall, Bronson Centre at 211 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, ALGONQUIN
TERRITORY

June 15: Demonstration: Stop Harper and Strahl’s Elimination of Algonquin
Customary Government:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128467113839884

11:30AM, Tuesday, June 15, 2010
In front of Indian Affair’s Minister Chuck Strahl’s office
Bank St and Wellington St, Ottawa, ALGONQUIN TERRITORY


FOR MORE INFORMATION : http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com,
http://www.ipsmo.org