Barriere Lake Solidarity

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2011-09-28T11:05:00.000-04:00

Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund

2011-08-22T23:28:00.000-04:00

PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY.

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake have been forced into a costly legal battle with Canada to protect their land rights.

They cannot succeed without your support.

The community has been fighting for years to ensure Canada and Quebec honour the Trilateral Agreement, a landmark resource co-management agreement signed in 1991.

The governments are determined to quash the agreement and are now trying to seize sensitive community documents supporting the fight for the Trilateral Agreement. These documents include research on traditional land use & occupancy, wildlife habitat studies, and land claims research.

Barriere Lake is being forced to take costly legal action to protect themselves against the actions of the Canadian government, and its proxy, an illegitimate band council that doesn’t represent the community. The band council was put in place last summer by INAC with only a dozen nominations; most community members boycotted the process, defending their customary government system.

Monthly legal costs that the Algonquins of Barriere Lake must incur will rise into the tens of thousands of dollars by the end of the year, amounting to approximately $30,000 by December 2011. The community’s next legal bill – due at the end of August – will total over $6,000 alone.

If the community loses their case to keep possession of the Trilateral documents, they will launch a constitutional challenge against Canada and the imposition of SECTION 74 of the INDIAN ACT. Section 74 allows the Minister of Indian Affairs to impose band council elections on a customary government, which is a violation of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, protected in Section 35 of the Constitution. This legal challenge will cost more than $100,000 dollars over time.

To read about the 3 MAJOR CONSEQUENCES to this legal case, please see our website: http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/2011/08/barriere-lake-legal-defense-fund.html

Everything counts. Please give what you can. To Donate online, please click one of the buttons below:

Cheques can be mailed to:

OPIRG-GRIPO Ottawa

631 King Edward Ave. (3rd floor / 3ieme étage)

Ottawa, ON K1N 7N8

** Please make checks out to “Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa” with “Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund” in the memo line **

For more information on Section 74 or to find out how you can reach the community directly for support, please contact us. For a good background video on Section 74 and the Barriere Lake struggle, please see this short 3-minute film: http://vimeo.com/23103527

BARRIERE LAKE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND : The Challenge to Section 74

2011-08-10T12:12:00.010-04:00

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake are mounting a constitutional challenge against Canada for the imposition of “Section 74” of the Indian Act onto their community. This arcane section of the Indian Act gives the Minister of Indian Affairs the arbitrary authority to abolish the customary government of an Indian band and impose band council elections.

Up until August 2010, when Section 74 was imposed, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake governed themselves by their ancestral constitution, the Mitchikanibikok Anishnabe Onakinakewin – a customary code that connects them to the land, to the animals, to each other, and to everything that grows. They have been using this code of governance since time immemorial.

Indian Affairs claims this drastic measure of imposing the band council election system was taken in attempt to “restore order” to the community, which had been undergoing internal conflicts exacerbated by government interference. But the community was in the process of a serious reconciliation process when the government intervened last August.

There are 3 major consequences to this legal case that we want to bring to the public’s attention:

1. In 1991, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake fought for and won a co-management agreement that would give them a decisive say over 10,000 sq km of their traditional territory. This “Trilateral Agreement” was signed with Canada and Quebec, but both levels of government have failed to honour their agreements. In Canada, the only way for Indigenous peoples to settle land claims is by agreeing to give up 95 percent of their lands and to extinguish their rights and title to these lands. This is called the Comprehensive Land Claims (CLC) process, and it is vigorously contested by First Nations across Canada. Barriere Lake’s Trilateral Agreement offers a viable and path-breaking alternative to surrender and secession that respects the right of Indigenous peoples to manage their lands. The government does not want bands to pursue alternatives to the CLC and they are trying to make an example of Barriere Lake for any other communities contemplating action or agreements outside of the federal policy.

2. There are only a handful of Indian bands left in Canada who have maintained an unbroken line to their customary governance system and who have never been governed under the Indian Act band council provisions. Until August 2010, Barriere Lake was among those communities. If the Minister’s legislative authority to impose band council elections on customary governments is not legally opposed and the decision is not reversed, all customary governments across Canada must be considered to be endangered. The destruction of customary governments is an abrogation of Aboriginal rights as protected in Section 35 of the Constitution and that right must be defended.

3. There are strong links between Barriere Lake’s customary government and the fact that Algonquin is the first language spoken in the community; that the community maintains a strong hunting, fishing, trapping, and harvesting way of life; and that the traditional distribution of families territories and traplines remains intact. Barriere Lake’s jurisdiction over their lands is governed by their Mitchikanibikok Anishnabe Onakinakewin. The government is attempting to sever the Algonquins’ connection to the land by obliterating their traditional governance codes. The amount of traditional ecological knowledge that the Algonquins of Barriere Lake carry in their language, laws, and ways of life are now at risk and therefore pose a risk to all Algonquin and non-Algonquin communities affected by the extensive waterways and land base of their territory. Once this encyclopedic knowledge is lost, it can never be regained.

Please commit whatever you can to keeping this struggle alive. Barriere Lake’s customary government receives no monies from the government and have fought courageously and tenaciously for over 20 years to protect their vision of environmentally sustainable development on their lands.

Legal expenses are expected to rise into the tens of thousands of dollars this year.

FOR RECURRING DONATIONS USING PAYPAL:

FOR ONE TIME DONATIONS USING PAY PAL:

Checks can be mailed to:
OPIRG-GRIPO Ottawa,
631 King Edward Ave. (3rd floor / 3ieme étage),
Ottawa, ON, K1N 7N8.

Please make checks out to “Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa” with “Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund” in the memo line.

Please contact us for information on direct deposit: ipsmo@riseup.net or barrierelakesolidaritytoronto@gmail.com.

For more information on Section 74 or to find out how you can reach the community directly for support, please contact us.

For a good background video on Section 74 and the Barriere Lake struggle, please see this short 3-minute film: http://vimeo.com/23103527

Barriere Lake celebrate's mining company's retreat!

2011-07-22T10:12:00.002-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, July 22, 2011

Barriere Lake Algonquins celebrate mining company’s decision to suspend exploration in their territory: Charest’s turn to act, community says

Kitiganik, Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / – The Algonquin First Nation of Barriere Lake is celebrating the recent decision of Cartier Resources Inc. to suspend the Rivière Doré copper mining project in their traditional territory in north-western Quebec, after the community expressed their overwhelming opposition to exploration activities and a potential mine these activities could lead to.

“The community applauds Cartier Resources for respecting our wishes that no mining exploration and drilling proceed. The company is setting an important precedent by not moving ahead without the free, prior and informed consent of the community, a right recognized by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said Norman Matchewan, a community spokesperson for Barriere Lake.

President and CEO of Cartier Resources Philippe Cloutier stated in a release that the suspension shows the company’s “respect for stakeholders in this area.” [1] Cartier's Rivière Doré exploration project is within an area already covered by an agreement signed between Quebec and Canada and the First Nation in 1991. This Trilateral Agreement – a sustainable development plan for 10,000 square kilometres of Barriere Lake’s traditional territory – has been praised by the United Nations, but both Quebec and Canada have refused to implement it.

Mining exploration was halted in March, when contract workers complied with requests by community members to leave the exploration site. In May, Barriere Lake’s Elders Council issued a letter to the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and the CEO of Cartier Resources pledging that the community would peacefully block any resource extraction like mining on their traditional territory until the Trilateral Agreement is implemented. Community members then travelled to Montreal to speak at the company's annual general meeting, where they reiterated their opposition to the mine. In June, community members camped out on the exploration site to stop test drilling from proceeding. On the company's request Quebec has now suspended the term of Cartier Resource's 1,052 mineral claims in the territory until July 3rd 2013. No exploration activity can take place on the claims during this time.

“We call on the Quebec government to follow Cartier Resources’ lead by withdrawing any mineral claims in the entire area of the Trilateral Agreement until they have implemented the Trilateral Agreement. If Premier Jean Charest is committed to sustainable development and a just relationship with First Nations, this should be his natural next step,” said Matchewan.

"Cartier Resources is to be congratulated on its decision to respect the right of the Algonquin to consent to activities in their territory," added Ramsey Hart of MiningWatch Canada. "This, however, was a voluntary decision by the company that points out Quebec's failure to work with the Algonquin and other First Nations such as the Innu and Mohawk to develop a protocol for consultation and consent of mining activities in their territories.”

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Media contacts:

Norman Matchewan, community spokesperson: 819-215-0741

Michel Thusky, community spokesperson: 819-435-2171

Ramsey Hart, Canada Program Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada: 613-569-3439

[1] http://www.ressourcescartier.com/en/Communique.aspx?ResourceId=606527df-2180-495e-a23f-f8f5f9e32f65

JUNE 21st & 22nd - Aboriginal Day Celebrations: 8-Hour Radio-a-thon, Mini Pow Wow, Art Expo, and Native Friendship Centre Montreal’s Grand Re-Opening

2011-06-15T00:25:00.002-04:00

Barriere Lake Solidarity is co-sponsoring:

The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal (NFCM), the Inter-Tribal Youth Centre (ITYC), and Radio CKUT, 90.3FM to celebrate Aboriginal peoples, the summer solstice, and the grand re-opening of the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal after months of massive renovation.

Tuesday, June 21st, 11-7pm
Location: Empty lot beside DIRA, anarchist bookstore, St Laurent (between Ontario and Sherbrooke)
Native Friendship Centre Montreal, 2001 St. Laurent (metro St. Laurent)

11-7pm VOICES OF OUR NATIONS, 3rd annual, 8-hour Radio Broadcast, featuring live guests and performances by indigenous artists, musicians and community members, as well as exploring issues that affect indigenous communities in Canada (listen live on 90.3fm or ckut.ca)
*LAUNCH of Native youth hip hop and rap musical productions. Over the last six months, youth at the ITYC have produced a repertoire of songs as part of the their monthly radio program, Native Solidarity News on CKUT, that will be performed and played during the Voices of Our Nations broadcast.
*FEATURING: Odaya, Ti: ohtiake Drum Group, Chelsea Vowel, Moe Clark, Iqi Balam, Beatrice Deer, Pachuco, Michelle Smith of Ota Nda Yanaan, Marco on flutes & drum, Open Mic
COMMUNITY LUNCH, free!
2-5 PM OPEN AIR STONE CARVING, by local artists and the Mikinak stone carving cooperative project of the ITYC, plus arts and traditional crafts exhibition
5-7pm COMMUNITY FEAST, share in traditional foods prepared for the community, free!

**********

Wednesday, June 22nd, 10-7pm

Location: Native Friendship Centre Montreal, 2001 St. Laurent (metro St. Laurent)

10am - NFCM Grand Re-Opening begins
12pm - GRAND ENTRY
12pm-5pm - MINI POW-WOW (dancers, drummers, vendors all welcome)
ART EXPO & AUCTION, including stone carvings done by local artists and native youth
6pm - COMMUNITY FEAST

Co-Sponsors:
DIRA, anarchist lending library, QPIRG Concordia, QPIRG McGill, 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy, Projects Autochtones du Quebec (PAQ), First People's House McGill, KANATA, Missing Justice, Frigo Vert, People's Potato, Barriere Lake Solidarity

------------

For more info: www.ckut.ca

Contact: Ashanti Rosado, 514 499 1854 x2229 (youth.coordinator@nfcm.org)
Courtney Kirkby, CKUT Radio, 514 448 4041 x6788 (news@ckut.ca)

MINING OPPOSITION

2011-05-20T10:28:00.000-04:00

Friday, May 20, 2011

Barriere Lake Algonquin affirm opposition to mine during Montreal company meeting: threat of mining on their land exposes failure of Quebec’s Mining Act

Montreal /– Today, community members from the Algonquin First Nation of Barriere Lake traveled to Montreal to attend the annual general meeting of Val-D'Or-based Cartier Resources Inc., where they affirmed that the overwhelming majority of their First Nation is opposed to the company’s Rivière Doré copper mining project moving forward on their traditional territory. A solidarity demonstration will happen outside of the shareholders meeting at 11:30 am at Dorchester Square, the corner of Peel and Rene-Levesque.

“The Charest government’s planned amendments to Quebec’s Mining Act do nothing to address the basic human rights violation at its core: the fact that no communities, including First Nations, have the right to give their free, prior and informed consent to a mining project,” said Norman Matchewan, a community spokesperson for Barriere Lake.

The right to free, prior and informed consent to any development is enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which has been endorsed by the Canadian government.

In March, Barriere Lake community members discovered copper exploration activities on their traditional territory, south-east of Val D’Or, Quebec. The land has never been ceded by the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, who hold constitutionally-protected Aboriginal title and rights at the site of the potential mine.

The land is also already covered by an agreement signed between Quebec and Canada and the First Nation in 1991. This Trilateral Agreement – a sustainable development plan for 10,000 square kilometres of Barriere Lake’s traditional territory – has been praised by the United Nations, but both Quebec and Canada have refused to implement it.

The Elders Council of Barriere Lake issued a letter to the Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife on May 2 declaring that the community will not allow any resource extraction like mining on their traditional territory until the Trilateral Agreement is implemented.

“Charest’s claim that the Mining Act amendments fit the ‘principles of sustainable development’ is totally hollow,” said Matchewan."If the Quebec government were concerned about sustainable development, they would not allow a mining company to explore and open a mine against the wishes of a community, to engage in activities that will have negative impacts on the land, water, animals and plants that we depend on. We will not allow this mine to be built.”

The mineral exploration activities have currently stopped, after community members went to the potential mine site to request that the workers leave. The workers respected the community’s wishes.

SOLIDARITY UPDATE ON THE ALGONQUINS OF BARRIERE LAKE

2011-03-23T18:32:00.009-04:00

Dear friends and supporters of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake,

Since the great outpouring of support at the Ottawa demonstration in December against the imposition of the Indian Act on their community, a great many of things have transpired on Barriere Lake’s territory. Stronger than ever, the community is ready to fight back and needs your help.

Please read the update posted below and stay tuned for ways to get involved.

In sol,

Barriere Lake Solidarity

1. MINING ALERT ON ALGONQUIN TERRITORY

2. REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INDIAN ACT BAND COUNCIL

3. REPORT ON SECTION 74 LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN

1. MINING ALERT ON ALGONQUIN TERRITORY

Barriere Lake Algonquins say “No” to mining exploration on their land, Cree workers agree to leave site

RAPID LAKE, QC – Last week, Barriere Lake community members discovered that Val D' Or based Cartier Resources has begun line-cutting in preparation for mining exploration on their unceded Aboriginal lands. According to their website, the mining company claims that their “100% owned” land base of 439 square kilometers boasts rich copper deposits ripe for exploitation.

The so-called “Rivière Doré Project” was undertaken without obtaining the community’s free, prior, and informed consent – the minimum standards set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), which Canada has endorsed in words but not in action. The mining project also violates the community’s own environmental protection regime, the Trilateral Agreement, which was signed in 1991 by Barriere Lake, Quebec, and Canada and has yet to be honoured.

The workers on site, predominantly Crees from the Mistassini and Oujebougamou First Nations, agreed to leave when the Algonquins traveled to the proposed mine location and explained their opposition to the development. The larger battle with the Cartier Resources, however, looms ahead.

Barriere Lake community members will return to maintain a presence at the proposed mining site and stop all further developments. Please stay tuned for further developments and action call-outs.

2. REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INDIAN ACT BAND COUNCIL

The community remains largely in the dark concerning the activities of the band council. Illegitimate in the eyes of most people in the community, this band council rose to power through the imposition of an Indian Act provision (Section 74) that gives the Minister of Indian Affairs discretion to overthrow Indigenous customary government systems.

One thing is clear, though: Barriere Lake is open for business now. Mining companies, logging companies, and costly Hydro electrification and reserve housing development have all been green-lighted by the band council.

While investments in reserve infrastructure are badly needed, they are coming at the price of burying the larger issue of land management of the whole territory.

3. REPORT ON SECTION 74 LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN

Hundred of letters have been sent through the Barriere Lake Solidarity website to Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan in protest of the forced imposition of Section 74 on the Algonquins of Barriere Lake (see http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/2008/03/donations.html). The Department has recently sent out replies to these letters which are telling of Canada’s communications strategy to contain the threat of public awareness on the issue.

Responding to these letters is Pierre Nepton, the Director General of the Quebec Region of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Nepton outlines the “official” story in his response letter: INAC had no choice but to reluctantly impose Section 74 due to internal conflicts over governance, which the community failed to resolve themselves.

But it’s cool. Barriere Lake Solidarity has prepared a forensic decoder of the government’s official story. Click on the below picture to see it in full.

Voice your support for the struggle of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake:

2011-03-22T15:57:00.013-04:00

Modify or simply send the message below to Stephen Harper and to the cabinet members assigned to Indian and Northern Affairs

Dear Prime Minister Harper and Minister Duncan,
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Algonquins of Barriere Lake Say NO to Section 74 in Ottawa

2010-12-16T02:15:00.007-05:00

Ottawa, Dec. 13

A mass demonstration by members of Barrere Lake First Nation and their supporters on Parliament Hill this afternoon was met by silence from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan.

Members of the First Nation presented copies of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the community’s resolution against the government’s imposition of Indian Act elections to the offices of Harper and Duncan. No one from Mr. Harper’s office would accept the document.

“We are here today because we don’t recognize the council that was imposed on us,” said Tony Wawatie, Barriere Lake community spokesperson, at the morning press conference. “The government used section 74 of the Indian Act to depose our customary government.”

Below find articles and news reports about the demonstration, press releases and photos, including Barriere Lake youth Norman Matchewan, shown directly below holding a copy of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Joseph Boyden, Giller Book Prize winner, writes op-ed in Globe and Mail. "Why We Try to Protect Our Land: Lessons from Barriere Lake", published Dec 13, 2010

Media links:

- CTV News video report

Ottawa Citizen

- Ottawa Metro News

- CBC: Ottawa Morning

- Canada.com article

- Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network News

Press Releases:

- NDP press release

- Assembly of First Nations press release

DAY OF ACTION TO SUPPORT THE ALGONQUINS OF BARRIERE LAKE

2010-11-26T00:31:00.006-05:00

DEMAND THAT CANADA RESPECT BARRIERE LAKE'S TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT AND TRAILBLAZING ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS

MONDAY DECEMBER 13, NOON, PARLIAMENT HILL

DOWNLOAD FLYERS AND HELP MOBILIZE FOR THE DECEMBER 13 ACTION!: Front and Back
DOWNLOAD EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLET: HERE

FACEBOOK EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168050586559745&num_event_invites=0#!/event.php?eid=168050586559745

::TRANSPORT FROM MONTREAL::
For those in Montreal, hop on a free bus to the Ottawa rally!
Leaving 9am from the corner of Mackay and Maisonneuve (Metro Guy-Concordia)
Returning to Montreal in the late afternoon or early evening.
TO BOOK A SPOT, email barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com with your name and phone number.

What if a foreign regime was destroying your system of government, so it could then steal your resources and prevent you from environmentally protecting your homeland? This is what the Harper Government and federal bureaucrats are doing to the First Nation of Barriere Lake.

For more than two decades, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have been demonstrating environmental leadership to the rest of Canada, campaigning to stop destructive clear-cut logging and to implement a sustainable development plan in their homeland in north-western Quebec.

But multi-national forestry corporations and government bureaucrats have refused to honour any of the agreements signed with Barriere Lake. They have tried at every turn to undermine the small community, one of the poorest in the country, and prevent them from implementing and realizing their vision for the protection and stewardship of the forests.

The David-vs-Goliath story now has a dark new twist: the Conservative government and bureaucrats in Indian and Northern Affairs Canada are interfering in Barriere Lake’s internal affairs, using section 74 of the Indian Act to forcibly assimilate and destroy the community's traditional government -- a traditional government the community has used for countless generations and which maintains their hunting way of life and respect for the environment.

Led by Barriere Lake youth, the overwhelming majority of the community are struggling to preserve their traditional government, so they can continue protecting the watersheds, forests, wildlife and lands for all future generations, Native and non-Native.

The Harper government is violating the Canadian Constitution, which protects the Aboriginal right to self-government. They are violating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, even though they have now endorsed it.

Join the Algonquins of Barriere Lake on Parliament Hill as they demand the Harper government and federal bureaucrats reject the use of section 74 and respect the community's traditional government and vision for environmental protection!

For more info: www.barrierelakesolidarity.org

:: BACKGROUND: HOW IS THE GOVERNMENT DESTROYING BARRIERE LAKE'S TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT? AND WHY? ::

The government has used an archaic section of the Indian Act – section 74 – to unilaterally impose a different system of government on Barriere Lake.

Barriere Lake’s traditional government – open to community members who have connection to the land, and in which Elders guide potential leaders and safeguard their customs – ensures that community members maintain their sacred bond to the land and their hunting way of life. The band council electoral system the Harper government has imposed destroys the sacred governance bond the community has with the land. By breaking Barriere Lake's connection to the land, the Canadian and Quebec governments hope to get away with violating trailblazing environmental agreements and with illegally clear-cutting in Barriere Lake's traditional territory.

The overwhelming majority of community members want to protect their traditional governance system, but the bureaucrats in Indian and Northern Affairs Canada are spreading the misinformation that they are only a small group.

Through the summer, the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada bureaucracy ran an illegal process, imposed by the Quebec police, to bring the new system into the community. Fewer than a dozen ballots were sent in to nominate candidates for an Indian Act Chief and Council, who where then seated by acclamation. Meanwhile, almost 200 community members had signed a resolution rejecting this process! That represents a majority of community members who are eligible to participate in their political process.

Even the acclaimed Chief resigned in protest, refusing to break ranks with the community's majority. But four rogue band councillors with no community support have been illegally making decisions on behalf of Barriere Lake ever since. Shuttled to secret meetings with forestry companies and government officials, these councilors are being usined by the government to derail Barriere Lake's precedent-setting environmental agreements and to facilitate illegal clear-cut logging.

Youth in the community are leading the movement to protect their traditional government and to heal and overcome the community divisions created by the internal meddling of government bureaucrats.

They are demanding the Harper Government cancel the imposition on Barriere Lake of the section 74 Indian Act band council system and respect their right to select leaders according to their traditional system of government.

Volunteer, Endorse, Call, Write a Letter, Donate...

2010-09-27T16:20:00.019-04:00

Volunteer or start a Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective in your City

Montreal: To join an existing group, email: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com and come out to upcoming meetings in Montreal.
Toronto: email barrierelakesolidaritytoronto@gmail.com to contact Toronto organizers at OPIRG Toronto
Ottawa: contact ipsmo@riseup.net to get in touch with Ottawa organizers. IPSMO also has a website at www.ipsmo.org
To start your own group, email barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com for support.

Endorse Barriere Lake's List of Demands
We are looking for groups and organizations to endorse the list of demands. If you wish to do so, please email barrierelakesolidarity @gmail.com.

Phone, Fax & Letter Campaign
Click here, for a more comprehensive list of political representatives responsible to Barriere Lake Algonquins and a sample letter.

TO SEND A LETTER DIRECTLY FROM OUR WEBSITE, click here

John Duncan, Minister of Indian Affairs
600 Confederation Buiding
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-2503/ Fax: (613) 996-3306

Lawrence Cannon, Local Member of Parliament, Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Phone: (613) 992-2940/Fax: (613) 944-9376

* The government must REVERSE the imposition of band council elections on Barriere Lake's customary government!

* The government should immediately cease the use of police repression in lieu of negotiators

* The Federal and Provincial government should honor the agreements they've signed with Barriere Lake

* The federal government should immediately stop interfering in Barriere Lake's internal affairs

Donate
Legal expenses are expected to rise into the tens of thousands of dollars this year. To read more about the reasons for this, click here to read our fundraising letter.

PAY PAL
One Time Donation option
MAIL US A CHECK!
Checks can be mailed to:
OPIRG-GRIPO Ottawa,
631 King Edward Ave. (3rd floor / 3ieme étage),
Ottawa, ON, K1N 7N8.

Please make checks out to “Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa” with “Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund” in the memo line.

DIRECT DEPOSIT
Please contact us for information on direct deposit: ipsmo@riseup.net or barrierelakesolidaritytoronto@gmail.com.

Thankyou

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Say NO to Canada's armed-imposition of an unconstitutional regime!

2010-09-27T15:21:00.000-04:00

Spend 5 minutes to support the Barriere Lake Algonquins as they take action to protect their inherent right to govern themselves according to their customs!

On August 12, the Canadian and Quebec Governments are using the Quebec police to impose the Indian Act election process. The Algonquins of Barriere Lake are boycotting!

Send an online letter to the new Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan and Indian Affairs Quebec Regional Director Pierre Nepton here: http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html

Call Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan: 1-800-667-280, 613-992-2503,

---> If you can DONATE to or ENDORSE Barriere Lake's campaign, please contact us:barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

For BACKGROUND: http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/2010/06/harper-strahl-erasing-algonquin.html

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Barriere Lake Algonquins mount boycott of government-imposed election poll in face of threats of arrest by Quebec police

Kitiganik, Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - On August 12, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake will protest and boycott a nomination poll for Indian Act band elections that the Department of Indian Affairs is unilaterally forcing on their community.

The Quebec Police, the Sûreté du Québec, will be guarding the polling stations in the community’s territory and have threatened to arrest anyone who tries to interfere or set up blockades.

After community members peacefully blockaded a federal government electoral officer from entering the reserve on July 22, the Department of Indian Affairs rescheduled the nomination poll for August 12.

“The Canadian and Quebec Governments are shamefully treating our community like criminals for peacefully protecting our inherent right to govern ourselves according to our customs,” says Tony Wawatie community spokesperson. “The Canadian government is attempting to unconstitutionally abolish our traditional leadership selection. They claim imposing this regime is a democratic move, but the overwhelming majority of our community members are opposed and want instead to maintain our own system of government.”

The government officer is seeking nominations for a Chief and Council that would be voted for in an election the Department of Indian Affairs has planned for September 26, 2010. Barriere Lake is one of the few First Nations in the country who have never been under the Indian Act’s electoral system, continuing instead to operate under a Customary Governance Code that they have used for generations.

During the July 22nd nomination meeting only 4 nominations were sent by mail-in-ballot – and all from individuals who have never lived within Barriere Lake's traditional territory.

“The Canadian government claims they are imposing Indian Act elections because our traditional system doesn’t work, but it's in fact the government's interference in our internal affairs that has destabilized our governance,” says Marylynn Poucachiche, another community spokesperson. “The real reason they are imposing band elections is to sever our connection to the land, which is maintained by our traditional political system. They don’t want to deal with a strong leadership and a community that demands the governments honour signed agreements regarding the exploitation of our lands and resources.”

Barriere Lake’s inherent right to customary self-government is protected by section 35 of the Canadian Constitution and is enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. A May, 2010 report by the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples affirmed that First Nations have the right to maintain control over their internal affairs and be free to pursue their vision of customary government.

The Assembly of First Nations has passed a unanimously-backed resolution condemning the government and demanding that the Minister of Indian Affairs rescind the band elections, imposed through section 74 of the Indian Act.

Under Barriere Lake’s customary governance code, participation in leadership selections is open only to those band members who live in the traditional territory and have knowledge of and connection to the land.

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Media contacts:

Tony Wawatie, community spokesperson: 819 – 860-4121

Marylynn Poucachiche, community spokesperson: 819-441-4923

To arrange interviews you can also email : barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

Barriere Lake stages peaceful blockade to stop unconstitutional attack on their customary government

2010-07-22T13:16:00.003-04:00

Spend 5 minutes to support the Barriere Lake Algonquins as they take action to protect their inherent right to govern themselves according to their customs!

Send an online letter to Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan and Indian Affairs Quebec Regional Director Pierre Nepton here: http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html

Call Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan: 613-992-2503, 1-800-667-2808

---> If you can DONATE to or ENDORSE Barriere Lake's campaign, please contact us: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com
For more information: www.barrierelakesolidarity.org

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Barriere Lake Algonquins set up peaceful blockade to stop unconstitutional attack on their customary government; AFN passes emergency resolution condemning Minister Strahl (who at the time was Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development).

Kitiganik, Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - This morning Barriere Lake community members set up a peaceful blockade on the access road to their reserve to prevent an electoral officer from conducting a nomination meeting for Indian Act band elections.

The electoral officer aims to implement the federal government’s plan to abolish Barriere Lake’s traditional leadership selection system by holding nomination meetings in the community for a band election imposed through section 74 of the Indian Act. Barriere Lake is one of the few First Nations in the country who have never been under the Indian Act’s electoral system, continuing instead to operate under a Customary Governance Code that they have used since time immemorial.

At its General Assembly in Winnipeg on Wednesday, the Assembly of First Nations passed an emergency resolution condemning Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl and demanding that he rescind the section 74 order to impose Indian Act band elections.

“We reject the Minister’s unconstitutional attempt to assimilate our leadership selection customs by imposing a foreign regime on us. The community is unanimously in favour of continuing to be governed by our customs,” says Marylynn Poucachiche, a community spokesperson. “Because the government has not heeded its constitutional obligations or our community’s wishes, we are turning to peaceful direct action. We will be preventing the nomination meeting from proceeding and are demanding the federal government immediately cease and desist in their attempt to abolish our customs. The government is breaking the law, but through our actions we are protecting it.”

Barriere Lake’s inherent right to customary self-government is protected by section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. A May, 2010 report by the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples affirmed that First Nations have the right to maintain control over their internal affairs and be free to pursue their vision of customary government.

“The Canadian government is trying to forcibly assimilate our customs so they can sever our connection to the land, which is at the heart of our governance system,” says Tony Wawatie, another community spokesperson. “They don’t want to deal with a strong leadership, selected by community members who live on the land, that demands that the federal and Quebec governments implement the outstanding agreements regarding the exploitation of our lands and resources.”

Under Barriere Lake’s customary governance code, participation in leadership selections is open only to those band members who live in the traditional territory and have knowledge of and connection to the land. This ensures that people who have a stake in the land and it’s health select leaders. But Indian Act band elections would open voting to individuals on the band registry list who do not live in the community’s territory.

The federal government has slightly delayed the date for the Indian Act band elections, announcing they will try to hold them on September 8, 2010.

-30-

Media contacts:

Tony Wawatie, community spokesperson: 819 – 860-4121

Marylynn Poucachiche, community spokesperson: 819-441-4923

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

2010-06-13T13:11:00.005-04:00

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

Minister Strahl attempts to forcibly assimilate the Barriere Lake Algonquin’s Customary Government in order to quash historic resource agreements

2010-06-10T12:22:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Kitiganik, Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - Barriere Lake community
members are uniting to oppose Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl’s
attempt to unilaterally abolish Barriere Lake’s customary governance
system. A large number of Barriere Lake youth and other community members
will hold demonstrations in Ottawa on June 15.

Barriere Lake is one of the few First Nations in the country who have
never been under the Indian Act’s electoral system, continuing instead to
operate under a Customary Governance Code.

Indian Affairs has announced they will try to convene Indian Act band
elections in the community on August 19, 2010.

“The Minister’s attempt to forcibly assimilate our customs using section
74 of the Indian Act is a violation of our Inherent, Aboriginal and Treaty
rights, which are protected by the Canadian constitution, and is a
violation of numerous articles of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Prime Minister Harper claims the
Canadian government will endorse,” says Norman Matchewan, a Barriere Lake
community spokesperson.

The Minister’s decision also contradicts a recent Federal Court decision
concerning Barriere Lake’s leadership. On February 17, 2010, Federal Court
Judge Robert Mainville concluded in the case of Ratt v. Matchewan that
Barriere Lake can “select their leadership in accordance with their
customs unimpeded by any conditions or requirements which the Minister may
deem appropriate.” In line with the Judge’s recommendations, the
community members of Barriere Lake are creating an internal working group
to reconcile differences, and to review their Customary Governance Code.

“The Canadian government is trying to forcibly assimilate our customs so
they can sever our connection to the land, which is at the heart of our
governance system,” says Tony Wawatie, a Barriere Lake community
spokesperson. “They don’t want to deal with a strong leadership, selected
by community members who live on the land, that demands that the federal
and Quebec governments implement agreements regarding the exploitation of
our lands and resources.”

Canada and Quebec are refusing to implement binding agreements dating back
to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development
agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on
Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the Agreement since 2001.
Quebec is violating the agreement by refusing to implement the 2006 joint
recommendations of two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special
representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative
Clifford Lincoln. The 2006 recommendations include giving Barriere Lake a
$1.5 million share of the $100 million in resource revenue that comes out
of their territory annually, and forest plans to harmonize logging
operations with the Algonquin's land use.

Quebec has just issued cutting permits to logging companies in Barriere
Lake's traditional territory, while refusing to respect the terms of the
Trilateral Agreement.

" Quebec is taking advantage of the leadership situation to break signed
agreements and illegally allow forestry companies to log on our
territory,” said Tony Wawatie. “But community members and youth plan to
defend our rights forthe sake of our generation and the generations to
come.”

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Tony Wawatie, community spokesperson : 819-860-4121

Harper, Strahl Erasing Algonquin Traditional Government by Imposing Indian Act, Sect 74

2010-06-05T03:04:00.007-04:00

ANNOUNCING A CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT THE ALGONQUINS OF BARRIERE LAKE
OPPOSE SECTION 74 of the INDIAN ACT:
HARPER, STRAHL TO WIPE OUT THE BARRIERE LAKE ALGONQUINS’ CUSTOMARY GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

Feast and Celebration of Customary Governance

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

Demonstration: Stop Harper’s Elimination of Algonquin Traditional Government

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

Everyone is Welcome!

The Canadian government is forcibly assimilating Barriere Lake’s customary governance system using an archaic and rarely invoked piece of Indian Act legislation – Section 74. This strategy is a draconian, last ditch attempt to sever the community’s connection to the land, which is at the heart of their governance system. By breaking their connection to the land, the Canadian and Quebec governments hope to get away with violating resource-use agreements and illegally clear-cutting in their traditional territory.

Section 74 hasn’t been forcibly imposed on a community since 1924, when the Canadian government unilaterally deposed the traditional government of Six Nations, padlocking shut the Haudenasaunee Confederacy lodge.

Barriere Lake is one of only two dozen Native communities still operating with their traditional governance system. They attribute the strength of their community, language, knowledge and protection of the land to its endurance. The impacts of losing their customary government would have devastating consequences on their way of life.

There is a broad consensus in Barriere Lake in favour of retaining their customs and against a Section 74 order erasing their Customary government.

Take a stand today!
Support the Barriere Lake Algonquins and their inherent right to govern themselves according to their customs:

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

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

TORONTO: Come MARCH with community members at the Indigenous Day of Action Against the G8/G20 on June 24th in Toronto: http://www.defendersoftheland.org/story/179

June 24: Day of Action for Indigenous Rights!
11:00AM, March start point: Queen’s Park, South Lawn
To arrange a bus ride from Ottawa to Toronto for June 24, please send your request at http://g20.torontomobilize.org/ottawatranspo

---> For more info, to donate, or to endorse the campaign: please email barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com, www.ipsmo.org

:::: BACKGROUND ::::

Barriere Lake Algonquins live on their unceded territory 300 kilometers north of Ottawa, in Quebec. They govern themselves by a customary system, the Mitchikanibikok Anishinabe Onakinakewin. Unlike most First Nations, they have never had band elections imposed on them by the federal government through the Indian Act.

Section 74 of the Indian Act states that the Minister of Indian Affairs can impose an electoral system on First Nations with customary leadership selection processes:

“Whenever he deems it advisable for the good government of a band, the Minister may declare by order that after a day to be named therein the council of the band, consisting of a chief and councillors, shall be selected by elections to be held in accordance with this Act.”

On April 8, 2010, Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl signed off an order to invoke section 74, initiating the process to impose Indian Act band elections on Barriere Lake. The federal government has already hired an electoral officer to oversee this process, meaning elections could take place within a matter of months.

Despite its inclusion in the Indian Act, section 74-imposed band elections would be a violation of Barriere Lake’s Indigenous customs, a draconian interference in their internal affairs, a breach of their constitutionally-protected Aboriginal right to a customary system of government, and a violation of the minimum standards included in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is an attempt to politically weaken the community, by destroying the way they have governed themselves since time immemorial.

The affirmation of Aboriginal and Treaty rights in Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution in 1982 guarantees Barriere Lake’s right to maintain their customary system of government. There has been absolutely no case-law since 1982 that would indicate that the Minister has the power to infringe on Barriere Lake’s rights.

The Government move also contradicts a recent Federal Court decision concerning Barriere Lake’s leadership. On February 17, 2010, Federal Court Judge Robert Mainville concluded in the case of Ratt v. Matchewan that Barriere Lake can “select their leadership in accordance with their customs unimpeded by any conditions or requirements which the Minister may deem appropriate.”

But the Canadian government, even if they had Canadian law on their side, would have no authority to interfere with Barriere Lake’s inherent jurisdiction over their lands, which precedes Canadian sovereignty claims by thousands of years. Barriere Lake has never ceded their lands by treaty or agreement and continue to exercise their jurisdiction over their lands by responsibly managing the territory.

Barriere Lake’s customary government is tied to their use of the land – hunting, fishing, trapping, harvesting over their vast traditional territories. Only those band members who live within their territories and have knowledge and connection to the land can participate in their customary system of government. The position of Chief is based on hereditary entitlement, but other factors are equally or more important, including leadership abilities, knowledge of the land, and community support. Elders have a key role in the leadership selection process, ensuring the customs are respected. They oversee a blazing ceremony, nominating potential leadership candidates who are then approved or rejected by community members in public assemblies. Leadership requires the consent of the governed. Leaders can be removed at any time. Such a directly democratic form of government accords well with the community’s decentralized organization.

For the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, their governance system is one of the sources of their political strength and assertiveness: eligible community members have a stake in the land, and they will select leaders who ensure its protection and responsible management.

But if the Canadian government can impose section 74 Indian Act band elections, this will change. Elders will lose customary responsibility for cultivating leaders and for shepherding leadership selections. Voting by secret ballot would undermine the consensus-based, directly democratic process. Fixed terms for elections would destroy the hereditary elements of their system. Indian Act elections would open eligibility for selecting leaders to people on the band registry list, not just those who live and use the traditional territory. As in many First Nations across the country, off-reserve band members who have no stake in the land’s protection but a say in elections or referendums concerning agreements or modern treaties will likely vote for cash deals that may extinguish Inherent, Aboriginal, or Treaty rights to the land.

The federal government’s attack on the community’s inherent right to a customary governance system has served the ends of the Quebec government, which has been allowing forestry companies to illegally log in Barriere Lake’s traditional territory, without consulting and in areas that are supposed to be off-bounds under the terms of the 1991 Trilateral agreement.

—->Please take a moment to support a community that has protected their territory from extractive industries for decades at great expense and sacrifice to their lives.

DEMAND THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPECT BARRIERE LAKE’S CUSTOMARY GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

SEND AN EMAIL VIA THE BARRIERE LAKE SOLIDARITY WEBSITE: http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2007/10/blog-post.html

Collectif de Solidarité Lac Barrière
*******************************************
www.solidaritelacbarriere.blogspot.com
barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com
514.398.7432

Barriere Lake Solidarity: Emergency Teach-In & Open Meeting

2009-11-05T14:51:00.004-05:00

Canada to unconstitutionally abolish Algonquin's customary government to avoid honouring agreements and recognizing legitimate leadership

On Friday, October 30, 2009, Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl sent notice to the Algonquins of Barriere Lake that he will not recognize their legitimate leadership, but instead impose elections on the community in April, 2010 by invoking a section of the Indian Act that would abolish the customary method they use to select their leaders.

The attempt at assimilation would be a violation of Barriere Lake's constitutionally-protected Aboriginal right to their customary system of government.

Join us at Concordia's School of Community and Public Affairs this WEDNESDAY, November 11th at 6:30pm for an Emergency Teach-In about Section 74 and Open Meeting.

Snacks provided. For more info: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

Medias release : Algonquins place bodies in front of logging machines: prevent logging until Quebec and Canada respect agreements and leadership

2009-09-01T16:14:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release

September 1, 2009

Algonquins place bodies in front of logging machines: prevent logging until Quebec and Canada respect agreements and leadership

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory /– This afternoon members of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake will peacefully block the machines of Abitibi-Bowater forestry workers, preventing logging in their territory until Quebec implements agreements covering forestry on Barriere Lake's lands, and the Quebec and Canadian government’s recognize the First Nation’s legitimate leadership.

“Our community has decided there will be no forestry activities or any new developments in our Trilateral Agreement Territory until the status of our leadership and the agreements we signed are resolved to our community's satisfaction,” says Jean Maurice Matchewan, Customary Chief of Barriere Lake. “The Quebec government has acted in bad faith, giving companies the go-ahead to log while they ignore their legal obligations, leaving us with no choice but to stop forestry operations until Quebec complies with the agreement. We have waited more than 3 years for Quebec to implement it."

Matchewan received no response to a letter he sent to Manager Paul Grondin of Abitibi-Bowater's Maniwaki mill on August 25, requesting that the company suspend logging operations until the governments follow through on their obligations.

“Our plan is to peacefully put our bodies in front of their machines until we get some results. We expect they may use the police, because we are used to such tactics. This is our territory and they can't push us off our lands," says Matchewan.

Canada and Quebec have refused to acknowledge the results of a June 24, 2009 leadership selection process that reselected Jean Maurice Matchewan as the legitimate Customary Chief of Barriere Lake. National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations, however, met with Chief Matchewan on August 19, to discuss the Trilateral agreement and other community concerns. The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, a Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, also recently reiterated their support for Chief Matchewan.

“Instead of acting honourably and cooperating with our Customary Council to implement these signed agreements, the federal and provincial governments have been working in unison to try and install a minority faction whom they can use to sign off on the cutting of our forest,” says Matchewan.

Barriere Lake wants Canada and Quebec to uphold signed agreements dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the agreement since 2001. Quebec signed a complementary Bilateral Agreement in 1998, but has stalled despite the 2006 recommendations of two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative Clifford Lincoln, that the agreement be implemented. The agreement is intended to allow logging to continue while protecting the Algonquin’s’ traditional way of life and giving them a $1.5 million share of the $100 million in resource revenue that comes out of their territory every year.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Chief Jean Maurice Matchewan - 819-435- 2136

To arrange interviews in case the line is busy : 514-398-7432

Collectif de Solidarité Lac Barrière

Housing Conditions

2009-07-07T14:25:00.000-04:00

2009-06-08T22:25:00.002-04:00

Beats for Barriere Lake
rhythms for Algonquin resistance

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

THURSDAY JUNE 11th 20h00
tickets: $10-12, sliding scale
Petit Café Campus
57, rue Prince-Arthur est
Montréal, Québec
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

A night of solidarity for the ongoing struggle of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, featuring groundbreaking native artists from Quebec.
The concert takes place on June 11th, the one-year anniversary of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apology for the residential schools system – an apology that many survivors in Barriere Lake believe will take on real meaning only when the government ensures just relations with Indigenous peoples.

((performances from))

* Samian: celebrated Algonquin hip-hop artist with members of Nomadic Massive and Sola y las Lolas

Samian is a celebrated Algonquin hip-hop artist who is the first to perform in French and Algonquin within the Quebec musical universe.

Born in the community of Pikogan in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Samian Samuel Tremblay, speaks of youth tales, particularly that of the plight and struggle of First Nations.

((opening acts))

* CerAmony: Cree eclectic musical duo

CerAmony hail from the James Bay Region, have played live from
the CBC's True North Concert series, and the Canadian Aboriginal Awards

in both 2003 and 2004. They have strong roots in their indigenous spiritual beliefs,
and the band is socially and politically driven. http://www.myspace.com/ceramony

* Cheri Maracle, Mohawk singer/songwriter from Six Nations

with Marc Nadjiwan, Ojibway singer/songwriter

Cheri Maracle has been performing across Canada and abroad for over a decade. Maracle is inspired by her Mohawk/Irish culture and nomadic upbringing across Canada. Her debut cd, Closer to Home, was nominated for Best New Artist & Best Songwriter at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music

Awards, in Winnipeg Manitoba in 2007, and for Best Female Artist at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
http://www.myspace.com/cherimaracle

Ojibway singer/songwriter, Marc Nadjiwan, has released multiple albums, including Brother(1995),nominated for a Native American Music Award, and Awake (2002) which was nominated for a Canadian Aboriginal Music Award as well as a Native American Music Award.

http://www.myspace.com/nadjiwan

* screening of Blockade on the 117, by filmmaker Martha Stiegman

co-presented by: Barriere Lake Solidarity, CKUT radio, Production
Multi-Monde, Tadamon! Montreal and the National Campus and Community

Radio Conference (NCRC)

* information:
email: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

phone: 514.398.7432

Minister's Memo Exposes Motives for Removing Algonquin Chief

2009-04-03T14:20:00.000-04:00

Minister's Memo Exposes Motives for Removing Algonquin Chief
INAC expected collaboration with new Chief but feared legal repercussions and perception of government sponsorship

by Martin Lukacs

The Dominion - http://www.dominionpaper.ca

MONTREAL–A secret document obtained by The Dominion reveals Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) decided to replace the leadership of Barriere Lake First Nation, which officials considered "dogmatized," with a chief and council offering “improved collaboration."

The memo sent to Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl recommends recognizing leadership claimant Casey Ratt in place of Chief Benjamin Nottaway, but predicts such a move will lead to community violence, erection of barricades, legal challenges and "media pressure" based on the "perception of a council sponsored by INAC.”

Strahl signed off on the memo on March 3, 2008. In an April letter to the Ottawa Citizen he maintains that INAC was following the wishes of the community and was not "backing one group over another."

Ratt's ascent to power in the northern Quebec Algonquin community of 450 has been fiercely contested by Nottaway's supporters, who allege INAC ousted an assertive leadership and empowered a group that violated customary leadership protocols.

The Barriere Lake Algonquins select their leadership not by ballot, but by a strict Customary Governance Code that involves the nomination of candidates by elders and their approval in community assemblies. As Strahl states in his public letter, INAC's "role is to simply acknowledge the outcome and register the results."

But the Elder's Council in Barriere Lake quickly launched a judicial review of Strahl's move, arguing INAC went beyond their legal bounds in deciding who should be in power. In April, INAC motioned to dismiss the Elder's case, maintaining INAC did not make a “decision” reviewable by the courts.
A minor is arrested in early March 2008, for refusing to allow INAC-recognized Chief Casey Ratt into the reserve. Photo: Marylynn Poucachiche

The February 18 memo demonstrates that decisions were in fact made. Instead of carefully assessing whether a leadership selection conducted by Ratt's supporters in late January 2008 accorded with the Customary Governance Code, it focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of three possible INAC responses: recognizing Ratt, maintaining relations with Nottaway, or withdrawing recognition for Nottaway and mediating or imposing an electoral system on the community.

According to the memo, keeping ties with Nottaway would entail "continuity of tensed [sic] relations between INAC and the Band Council, considering its claims." For nearly two decades, Nottaway's supporters have been locked in a battle with INAC and Quebec over the implementation of a landmark Trilateral agreement that would give the First Nation say over resource use on 10,000 square kilometres of their traditional territory.

Despite Nottaway's council's "claim to its legitimacy," the memo expresses preference for a band council headed by Casey Ratt, detailing "positive impacts" that include “improved collaboration of the new council with INAC,” a “new council less dogmatized," and a "new environment more favourable to the development of the community" and a "healing process."

A 2006 attempt by Ratt’s supporters to select a chief and council was dismissed after mediation in 2007 by Quebec Superior Court Judge Réjean Paul, who called the group a “small minority” whose selection process “did not follow the Customary Governance Code." Over that year INAC withdrew recognition from Nottaway's customary predecessor, Chief Jean-Maurice Matchewan, until Judge Paul issued the report affirming his legitimacy.

The secret memo acknowledges Judge Paul’s "approach" and admits INAC "does not have all the information" regarding Ratt's recent selection, but states an independent observer "partly related the process' compliance with custom requirements."

When INAC cited this local court worker's report in a March 10 letter notifying Nottaway he was no longer Chief, officials refused to release it to the community. The Elder Council's lawyers obtained it through court months later and discovered that the observer had in fact stated he "couldn’t guarantee” Ratt had followed the Customary Governance Code.

The memo also dismisses taking advantage of the "shaky situation" in the community to impose an Indian Act election system, because its "major impacts" would require further analysis. Inside observers say such a move, which would unilaterally discard the community's customary selection by a Minister's order, could risk being deemed unconstitutional.

Strahl has come under fire recently after documents leaked to the Globe & Mail revealed that INAC secretly plans to revive the Liberals' First Nations Governance Act, which includes challenging "flawed" or "outdated" customary selections of First Nation leaders.

The memo mentions the possibility of “barricades” and suggests informing the Quebec police to "ensure the supervision of the community in the days following the announcement of the new Council." Community members tried to bar Ratt from returning to the reserve in March, dragging trees along the reserve's access road. Ratt required escort by police, who arrested a dozen people and maintained a heavy presence in the community for two weeks, preventing Nottaway's council from accessing any administrative buildings.

While these earlier incidents received little attention, Barriere Lake acquired a higher profile after Nottaway's supporters blockaded a major Quebec highway in October and November 2008, rallying to the demand that INAC implement the Trilateral Agreement and appoint an observer to witness and respect the outcome of a new leadership selection. Nottaway was arrested and jailed for two months in the winter for his participation, arousing condemnation of the Conservative government from Green Party leader Elizabeth May, the NDP, and major unions.

Ratt issued a press release after the blockades stating the former council "focused too much of their attention on the trilateral agreement" and that it was time the "First Nation moves forward." INAC pulled out of the agreement in 2001.

The secret memo was released by the Ministry of Justice on March 13, almost a year after a request filed by lawyers for the Elder's Council was initially denied because INAC maintained they had not made a “decision” about leadership.

Withholding the document, INAC won a dismissal of the Elder's Council judicial review in August but then lost an appeal before a federal court in January. The Judge concluded that a reviewable "decision" had been made and emphasized that the legal status of the Ratt Council remained uncertain, despite recognition from Strahl. After another request for documents, a privacy commissioner green-lighted the memo's release. The court case over leadership will proceed this summer.

Martin Lukacs is a writer and activist, and a member of the Barriere Lake solidarity collective in Montreal.

Native Rights Under Lock & Key

2009-01-12T12:03:00.004-05:00

Demonstrators rallied in Ottawa at Indian Affairs and in Montreal at Premier Jean Charest's office to denounce the jailing of Barriere Lake's Customary Chief, Benjamin Nottaway and Quebec and Canada's refusal to honour signed agreements with the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

In Ottawa (Jan 7, 2009)

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party

In Montreal, audio from speeches (Jan 8, 2009)

Luc Tailleur, Public Service Alliance of Canada (7 mins)

Sonny Papatie, youth community member jailed for peaceful protest alongside Chief Nottaway (2 mins)

Martin Lukacs, Barriere Lake Solidarity member (2 mins)

For media coverage of the event, click here!

Rally for Algonquin Chief Jailed for Asserting Land Rights: Elizabeth May, NDP, Major Unions, Chiefs Call on Canadian government to Honour Landmark Ag

2009-01-07T16:38:00.006-05:00

Ottawa, January 7, 2009/ - A broad network of political parties, unions, human rights and Indigenous groups will rally today to support the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, demanding that the Government of Canada respect a landmark agreement and Barriere Lake's right to decide who serves as their Customary Chief and Council.

The groups will hold a rally on January 7 at noon in front of the Headquarters of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, in support of Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway, jailed for two months for joining community members while they peacefully asserted land rights to Barriere Lake's traditional territories in Western Quebec. Community spokespeople will then travel to Montreal for a demonstration on Thursday in front of Premier Jean Charest's office.

"The Algonquin of Barriere Lake have shown extraordinary patience in the face of governmental interference and foot-dragging," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party. "It is a scandal that Chief Nottaway spent Christmas in jail for peaceful civil disobedience to demand governments live up to their responsibilities, with barely a murmur of notice from the media and with stony silence from our government."

Barriere Lake wants Canada to uphold signed agreements, dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a groundbreaking sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada pulled out of the binding agreement in 2001.

"Barriere Lake is one of the most impoverished communities in Canada. Indian Affairs has meddled in this community, undermined land negotiations and walked away on signed agreements," said NDP Parliamentarian Charlie Angus. "It's time the government showed some leadership and helped this community on the path to healing."

The Government of Canada stopped recognizing Acting Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway on March 10, 2008, and caused great leadership uncertainty by recognizing individuals whom Barriere Lake's Elder's Council says did not follow their Customary Governance Code, which the community uses to select their leadership. Community members have demanded that the federal government appoint an observer to witness and abide by the results of a new leadership selection, but the government of Canada has to date refused. When families from the community peacefully protested on a highway outside their reserve in October and November, the government of Canada remained silent while the Quebec government sent in riot police, which tear-gassed people of all ages and made numerous arrests.

"This is another example of the federal and provincial governments collaborating with each other to criminalize a Chief who has demanded that both orders of government honour signed agreements regarding co-management of land and resource revenue sharing," said Grand Chief Norman Young of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat, Barriere Lake's Tribal Council, which continues to recognize and work with Benjamin Nottaway and his Council.

On Tuesday, the Federal Court of Appeal contradicted the arguments of lawyers for the Department Indian Affairs, ruling in favour of the Barriere Lake's Elder's Council, who will now proceed with their motion to review Indian Affairs' decision to stop recognizing Acting Chief Nottaway. The Court decision casts doubt on the legitimacy of Canada's recognition of the "Ratt Council" and gives weight to the Elder's Council position that Indian Affairs violated their Customary Governance Code.

"The federal government has caused enough suffering in our community. It is time that they respect our leadership customs and negotiate the implementation of agreements that will secure our future," said Marlynn Poucachiche, a community spokesperson and mother of five who was targeted for arrest by the Quebec police after participating in the peaceful blockade.

"We believe the roadblocks erected on highways that pass through First Nations' traditional territories will come down when government roadblocks to self-determination, self-government and land entitlements are eliminated," said National Vice-President Patty Ducharme of the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

- 30 -

Events:

Rally at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, GATINEAU
WEDNESDAY, January 7th, 2008, NOON
Corner of Wellington & Montcalm

Rally in front of Jean Charest's office, Montreal THURSDAY, January 8, 2008, NOON corner of McGill College & Sherbrooke

For further information:

For interviews contact: Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 613 - 265-6739; Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader:(c) 613-614-4916; Charlie Angus, NDP parliamentarian; Algonquin Nation Secretariat Grand Chief Norman Young, (819) 627-6869; PSAC National Vice-President Patty Ducharme: (613) 329-3706; CUPW National President Denis Lemelin, 613-236-7230 ex 7900;
Contact for Montreal rally: Courtney Kirkby: 514-893-8283; Luc Tailleur, National aboriginal equal opportunities committee representative for PSAC, 514-917-8946

2009-01-04T20:56:00.006-05:00

Video: Blockade on the 117 (2008, 12 mins)

Oct 6 2008: The community peacefully blockades highway 117, three hours north of Ottawa. Their demands: that Canada and Quebec honour signed agreements and respect their traditional government.

Action Alert

2008-12-25T01:06:00.002-05:00

NATIVE RIGHTS UNDER LOCK & KEY: Rallies to support the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and jailed Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway

OTTAWA
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEDNESDAY, January 7th, 2008, NOON
WHERE: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Corner of Wellington and Montcalm in GATINEAU
MARCH to the Gatineau Detention Centre, 75 Rue St. Francois
Click HERE FOR A MAP
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

MONTREAL
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

THURSDAY, January 8, 2008, NOON
In front of Jean Charest's office
corner of McGill College & Sherbrooke
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

* Bring banners, signs, placards, noise-makers...
**Hot chocolate and snacks will be served at both rallies.

For more information, click here

Send a letter to Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway

2008-12-21T13:31:00.002-05:00

Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway is being held in jail for 45 days, not counting 2 weeks in pre-trial detention, for peacefully protesting on highway 117 in attempts to have Barriere Lake's signed agreements honoured and for the Canadian government to respect Barriere Lake's Customary Governance.

This is part of a larger and disturbing trend in Canada, where indigenous leadership are being jailed for standing up for their constitutionally-recognized Aboriginal rights. In Ontario, both KI6 and Bob Lovelace were jailed for peaceful protest for several months. A decision that was overturned in the court of appeal.

To send Benjamin a letter of support:

Benjamin Nottaway
Hull Detention Centre
P-6, D-3
75 Rue St. Francois
Hull, Quebec J9A 1B4

Blockade leader says he's a 'political prisoner'

2008-12-16T16:28:00.000-05:00

JOE FRIESEN
GLOBE AND MAIL
December 15, 2008
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081215.NATIVES15/TPStory/National

Speaking from a jail cell, deposed native leader Benjamin Nottaway says he is a political prisoner, targeted for his outspoken opposition to the
governments of Canada and Quebec.

He is the latest casualty of a power struggle that has included
allegations of a political coup, fire bombings and several interventions
by riot police.

It reads like a tale ripped from the headlines of a war-torn dictatorship.
Instead, it's the story of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, a Quebec
community of 450 people three hours north of Ottawa.

Mr. Nottaway, imprisoned for 45 days for leading a highway blockade, says that although he misses his children, he is being treated with respect in jail, where fellow inmates refer to him deferentially as the "chief." But
the question of who actually is the chief of Barriere Lake is far from
clear.

Mr. Nottaway alleges that he was deposed by an ambitious group of plotters led by Casey Ratt, who launched what Nottaway supporters call an "administrative coup d'état" this year and installed themselves as the
band government.

He calls Mr. Ratt a "puppet" and a "government agent," propped up by
officials in Ottawa and Quebec City who see him as a soft touch when it
comes to defending aboriginal land title and resource rights.

Mr. Ratt laughs at these suggestions, and says there is no leadership
crisis in Barriere Lake, save for the grumblings of those who have lost
their grip on power and have enlisted non-native activists to push their
case in the news media.

He says he came to power in January after a three-month leadership review, which he launched because he was upset that Mr. Nottaway's group had closed the band school, a move he perceived as motivated by their own political aims.

"It's no good for our kids to use them as political pawns," Mr. Ratt says.
"A lot of people didn't agree with those tactics."

After Mr. Ratt was declared chief, his opponents said he had hijacked the
traditional selection process and tried to push him off the reserve. His
house burned down in suspicious circumstances, he says, as did the band
office.

"But I'm still in the community," he says. "It's a steady struggle."

Barriere Lake does not elect leaders according to the one-member, one-vote system set out in the Indian Act, but instead uses a selection system led by a council of elders. The federal government says it has no role in adjudicating that system, but has acknowledged the election of Mr. Ratt's group and says it will conduct business with his council.

After several escalating protests against Mr. Ratt's government, the
Nottaway group blockaded Highway 117 twice in recent months. In October,
riot police were sent in by the provincial police force and were accused
of using violent tactics to disperse the protesters. In November, Mr.
Nottaway and four other prominent political opponents of Mr. Ratt were
arrested by riot police for staging another highway blockade, which they
called a tactic of last resort. They were asking the federal government to
appoint an independent observer to oversee a new leadership selection.

"When I was in court my lawyer told me, 'The Crown wants you to suffer,
they want you to feel the pain.' They asked for 12 months, but I got 45
days," Mr. Nottaway says. "I'm a political prisoner, and they know that.
It's all politically motivated."

The people of Barriere Lake have never signed a treaty with Canada, and
they say they have never received a fair share, or had a say, in the
resource revenue extracted from their traditional territory, which they
estimate at $100-million a year. For its part, the community suffers
crippling unemployment and is not connected to the power grid, so it runs
on diesel generators.

Mr. Ratt says he wants to put the power struggle behind him and work
toward finding both short- and long-term solutions for his community.

Mr. Nottaway says he can't allow the band to be led by a chief he
considers illegitimate. His goal is to see a 1991 trilateral agreement on
resource management honoured by the province and the federal government.

"The government imposed a minority faction on our community," he says.
"That's not what we want and we're never going to accept it. Even though
I'm in here, we're not going to stop fighting."

Quebec judge imprisons Algonquin Chief for two months for peaceful protest: Crown asks for one year to send "clear message" to impoverished community

2008-12-12T13:22:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Quebec judge imprisons Algonquin Chief for two months for peaceful protest: Crown asks for one year to send "clear message" to impoverished community

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - On Thursday December 4th a Quebec judge sentenced Barriere Lake Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway to forty-five days in jail, in addition to fifteen already served in pre-trial detention, for participating in peaceful blockades intended to draw attention to violations of Barriere Lake's rights by the Canadian and Quebec governments.

Barriere Lake has been demanding that Canada and Quebec honour signed agreements and that Canada appoint an observer to witness and respect the outcome of a new leadership selection in accordance with Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code.

"It's shameful that the government of Quebec would rather throw me in jail than fulfill their legal obligations by implementing signed agreements," said Acting Chief Nottaway, a father of six who passed his twenty-eighth birthday in jail last Thursday. "Meanwhile, the Government of Canada continues to interfere in our internal affairs while trying to wash its hands of responsibility for this situation."

Nottaway was charged with three counts of mischief and breach of conditions stemming from March blockades on Barriere Lake's access road and a November blockade on highway 117 outside the community's reserve in Northern Quebec. Another blockade in October was violently dismantled by Quebec riot police, who used tear-gas on a crowd that included Elders, youth, and children. More than 40 members of the community of 450 have been charged for these actions.

"Quebec has now joined the company of Ontario, which put the leaders of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation and Ardoch Algonquin First Nation behind bars for peaceful protest. It seems like the provinces' preferred method for dealing with our rights is to use the police and the courts to punish us until we forget about them," said Marylynn Poucachiche, a community spokesperson who was arrested during the November blockade.

Crown Attorney France Deschamps asked Judge Jules Barriere for a sentence of 12 months, saying a "clear message" was required "to make sure Nottaway has no desire to do this again, and to discourage the group – because his supporters are waiting to hear what happens here." Judge Barriere noted that the Crown's request was "partly illegal," as 6 months is the maximum possible sentence for summary convictions. But he agreed with Deschamps that a prison sentence was necessary, saying it was "important to pass a clear message to the community."

"The only message the Canadian and Quebec governments are sending is that they are willing to criminalize our community and split apart our families in order to avoid implementing precedent-setting agreements and respecting our leadership customs," added Nottaway.

Barriere Lake wants Canada and Quebec to uphold signed agreements, dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the agreement since 2001. Quebec signed a complementary Bilateral agreement in 1998, but has stalled despite the 2006 recommendations of two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative Clifford Lincoln, that the agreement be implemented.

On March 10th, 2008, the Canadian government rescinded recognition of Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council and recognized individuals from a minority faction whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council says were not selected in accordance with their Customary Governance Code. On March 2nd and 3rd, community members had set up blockades on their access road to prevent members of this minority faction from entering the reservation, anticipating the Canadian government would try to illegally interfere in Barriere Lake's internal customary governance for the third time in 12 years.

In 2007, Quebec Superior Court Judge Rejean Paul issued a report that concluded that the current faction recognized by the federal government was a "small minority" that "didn't respect the Customary Governance Code" in an alleged leadership selection in 2006 [1]. The federal government recognized this minority faction after they conducted another alleged leadership selection in January 2008, even though an observer's report the government relied on stated there was no "guarantee" that the Customary Governance Code was respected [2].

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, the Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, continues to recognize and work with Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 – 435 – 2171

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 435 - 2113

Notes

[1] http://web.resist.ca/~barrierelakesolidarity/resources/Rapport_du_Juge_Paul-versionANGLAISEcomplete.doc, pg 26-27

[2] http://web.resist.ca/~barrierelakesolidarity/resources/Riel_Translation_Letter_2.doc , pg 2

MEDIA ADVISORY: CHIEFS OF ONTARIO EXPRESS DISAPROVAL OF QUEBEC IMPRISONMENT OF BARRIERE LAKE LEADER

2008-12-12T13:14:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2008

CHIEFS OF ONTARIO EXPRESS DISAPROVAL OF QUEBEC IMPRISONMENT OF BARRIERE LAKE LEADER

OTTAWA— Earlier this fall Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, on behalf of First Nations in Ontario, communicated by letter to Premier Jean Charest and Prime Minister Stephen Harper that the use of force against peaceful civil protestors was contrary to the goal of reconciliation between First Nations peoples and federal and provincial governments. In addition, at a gathering of the Chiefs in Assembly in November, First Nations leadership again expressed their concern regarding the use of force against the same protestors.

On the same day that the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal of a decision earlier this year by the Ontario Court of Appeal concerning the ordered release of aboriginal leaders from jail for their actions in asserting their rights, it was reported that a First Nation leader from Barrier Lake was sentenced to a 45 day jail term for his actions for asserting the rights of his people.

"All Ontarians know that the use of force and imprisonment against First Nations people involved in the assertion of constitutional rights situations is unacceptable," says Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. "We have learned this through the Ipperwash Inquiry and its recommendations and through the court proceedings involving aboriginal leadership in Ontario. The Ontario government learned this and it appears the federal and Quebec governments must also learn this."

Regional Chief Toulouse is calling on the government of Quebec to initiate proceedings leading to the release of jailed Barriere Lake leader Benjamin Nottaway. "All governments in Canada must understand that when First Nations communities assert their rights they are acting in accordance with the Rule of Law and the application of violence and imprisonment against people trying to assert their constitutional rights is contrary to the Rule of Law," says Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse.

The Chiefs in Ontario, comprising the 133 First Nations in Ontario, is a political forum and secretariat for collective decision-making, action and advocacy.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Harmony Rice
Communications
Chiefs of Ontario

1-877-517-6527
416-576-9718
harmony@coo.org

2008-12-09T11:16:00.000-05:00

Marylynn Poucachiche takes on Assistant Regional Director of Indian Affairs, Pierre Nepton, on Radio Canada International's The Link (Dec 8 2008). The interview starts half way through the file and lasts for 10 minutes.
Click here to listen.

Green Party supports Mitchikanibikok Inik

2008-11-24T10:11:00.001-05:00

Green Party of Canada is calling for an investigation into the infringement of the rights of the Mitchikanibikok Inik, also known as the Algonquin of Barriere Lake, particularly their right to peaceful assembly.

2008-11-22T11:05:00.002-05:00

Release: SQ riot squad arrest 5 Algonquins, including Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway

2008-11-19T19:00:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

SQ riot squad arrest 5 Algonquins, including Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - SQ officers and a Riot Squad arrested five Barriere Lake Algonquins, including a targeted arrest of Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway, after forcing community members off highway 117, during their fourth in a series of blockades over a period of seven hours.

"Chief Nottaway sent a letter to Premier Charest on Monday requesting that the government resolve political issues through negotiations rather than police violence," said community spokesperson Norman Matchewan."Blockades are a tactic of last resort. For two decades now all we've asked is that Quebec and Canada honour signed agreements but they prefer to play with our lives."

As the community was pushed off the highway for the last time at 2:30 pm, riot police broke out of formation to chase and arrest Acting Chief Nottaway. His was the second targeted arrest of the day. Community youth spokesperson Marylynn Poucachiche, mother of five and organizer of the community school, was arrested at one of the morning blockades after being reassured by police that no arrests would be made since protesters had agreed to leave peacefully.

One community member was pushed to the ground and kicked by several SQ officers before being arrested.

"The police dragged him with his head on the ground all the way to the police car," said one community member.

Another woman from the community fell while being pushed back onto the access road leading to the Barriere Lake reserve, and hit her head. She was subsequently arrested.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 – 435 – 2171, 514 - 831 - 6902

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 514 - 893 - 8283, 819 - 860 - 3860

Norman Young, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat: 819 - 627 - 6869

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - The Barriere Lake Algonquins have blocked highway 117 by gathering in the middle of the road, after Quebec police dismantled their log blockades earlier in the day, and have now been put on notice that the Riot Police will arrive momentarily.

Community spokesperson Marylynn Poucachiche has been arrested for obstruction and mischief and is currently detained.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 – 435 – 2171, 514 - 831 - 6902,

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson:514 - 893 - 8283, 819 - 860 - 3860

Norman Young, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat: 819 - 627 - 6869

7AM - Algonquins BLOCKADE HWY 117 for a second time

2008-11-18T23:33:00.001-05:00

Brief description: After exhausting all political avenues, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and many non-native supporters have just blockaded highway 117 for a second time. Last time the community, including Elders, youth and children, were met with a brutal police response. Riot cops used tear gas and pain compliance, instead of negotiators. The police response has drawn criticism from international human rights groups, the Chiefs of Ontario, and the Christian Peacemaker Team. [ http://blip.tv/file/1391794 ]

They will maintain the peaceful blockade until both the Canadian and Quebec governments honour their signed agreements that would allow co-management of their traditional territory and resource revenue sharing, and until Canada respects their leadership customs by appointing an observer to witness a leadership selection in accordance with their Customary Governance Code, and in good faith recognize the outcome.

*On this page you will find: a link to photos of the action, quotes, media contacts, background resources, and the press release

Up-to-date photos of the blockade are available HERE

Quotes from Barriere Lake Algonquin Spokespeople:

Norman Matchewan, community youth spokesperson: "Instead of doing the dirty work of the federal government, Quebec should implement its agreements and immediately lobby the federal government to deal fairly with our community. Charest's brutal treatment of our community shows his government has absolutely no respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples, which should be an urgent matter of debate during the provincial election."

Marylynn Poucachiche, community spokesperson: "The federal government pretends this is simply an internal issue, but we can only resolve the situation if the federal government appoints an observer to witness a new leadership selection that is truly in accordance with our Customary Governance Code, promises to respect the outcome, and then stops interfering in our internal affairs."

Michel Thusky, community spokesperson: "To avoid their obligations, the federal government has deliberately violated our leadership customs by ousting our Customary Chief and Council. In what amounts to a coup d'etat, they are recognizing a Chief and Council rejected by a community majority. The Quebec government is cooperating with the federal government too because they are using the leadership issue as an excuse to bury the 1991 and 1998 Agreements they signed with our First Nation."

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, a community teacher and part-time police officer who was racially slurred two weeks ago by the assistant of Conservative Minister Lawrence Cannon, the representative in Barriere Lake's riding of Pontiac: 819.435.2171 or 514.831.6902 (c)

Marylynn Poucaciche, community educator and youth representative for Barriere Lake on the Algonquin Tribal Council: 819.860.3860 (c) or 514.893.8283 (c)

Norman Young, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat: 819.627.6869

Barriere Lake Algonquins' Demands

Resources:

Laurier Riel Report, part I - Riel witnessed the alleged leadership selection, whose result was recognized by Indian Affairs on March 10, 2008

Laurier Riel Report, part II

Federal MP, Lawrence Cannon's Message to the Community in Le Droit (22 September 2008)

Norman Matchewan's Response to Lawrence Cannon in Le Droit (26 September 2008)

Trilateral Agreement - discussed in the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP)

2007 leadership report by Quebec Superior Court Rhejean Paul

Legal challenge of Federal Government's deposition of Barriere Lake's Customary Chief and Council

Assembly of First Nations briefing note - January 2008

************************************

PRESS ADVISORY: Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117 second time: demand Quebec and Canada respect agreements and Canada stop propping up illegitimate leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Barriere Lake Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117 in Northern Quebec a second time: despite fears of more police violence, community wants Quebec and Canada to respect agreements and Canada to end interference in leadership selection

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - This morning at 7:30am, Barriere Lake community members of all ages and their supporters once again peacefully blockaded highway 117 outside their reserve, demanding that Quebec and Canada send in negotiators rather than resort to police violence. During the Algonquin's first blockade on October 6^th, 2008, Quebec police used tear gas and "pain compliance" techniques against a peaceful crowd that included Elders, youth, and children, arrested nine people, and hospitalized a Customary Councillor after hitting him in the chest with a tear-gas canister, drawing criticism from international human rights groups, the Chiefs of Ontario, and the Christian Peacemakers Team. [ http://blip.tv/file/1391794 ]

The Algonquins promise to maintain the blockade until Canada and Quebec commit in writing to honour their agreements and Canada appoints an observer to witness and respect the outcome of a new leadership selection in Barriere Lake in accordance with their Customary Governance Code.

"Instead of doing the dirty work of the federal government, Quebec should implement its agreements and immediately lobby the federal government to deal fairly with our community," said Norman Matchewan, a community spokesperson on-site at the blockade. "Charest's brutal treatment of our community shows his government has absolutely no respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples, which should be an urgent matter of debate during the provincial election."

Barriere Lake wants Canada and Quebec to uphold signed agreements, dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the agreement since 2001. Quebec signed a complementary Bilateral agreement in 1998, but has stalled since two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative Clifford Lincoln, made recommendations for the agreement's implementation in 2006.

"To avoid their obligations, the federal government has deliberately violated our leadership customs by ousting our Customary Chief and Council," said Matchewan. "In what amounts to a coup d'etat, they are recognizing a Chief and Council rejected by a community majority. The Quebec government is cooperating with the federal government because they are using the leadership issue as an excuse to bury the 1991 and 1998 Agreements they signed with our First Nation."

In November 2007 the legitimate leadership of Barriere Lake had issued a ban on new forestry operations in the Trilateral Territory until Quebec implemented their agreements, but the province and forestry companies have used the leadership change as an opportunity to cut new logging roads [in preparation for logging operations] without permission from the legitimate Barriere Lake representatives.

On March 10th, 2008, for the third time in 12 years, the Government of Canada interfered in Barriere Lake's internal customary governance. They rescinded recognition of the Customary Chief and Council and recognized individuals whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council says were not selected in accordance with their Customary Governance Code.

"The federal government pretends this is simply an internal issue," says Marylynn Poucachiche, another Barriere Lake spokesperson on-site. "But we can only resolve the situation if the federal government appoints an observer to witness a new leadership selection that is truly in accordance with our Customary Governance Code, promises to respect the outcome, and then stops interfering in our internal affairs."

In 2007, Quebec Superior Court Judge Rejean Paul issued a report that concluded that the current faction recognized by the federal government was a "small minority" that "didn't respect the Customary Governance Code" in an alleged leadership selection in 2006 [2]. The federal government recognized this minority faction after they conducted another alleged leadership selection in January 2008, even though an observer's report the government relied on stated there was no "guarantee" that the Customary Governance Code was respected [3].

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, the Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, continues to recognize and work with Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council.

In Montreal at noon, supporters of Barriere Lake will rally in front of the office of Premier Jean Charest's at the southeast corner of McGill College and Sherbrooke.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 – 435 – 2171 or 514 - 831 - 6902

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 860 - 3860 or 514 - 893 - 8283

Norman Young, Grand Chief of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat: 819 - 627 - 6869

DEMONSTRATION IN SOLIDARITY WITH BARRIERE LAKE A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT!

2008-11-18T02:28:00.000-05:00

**************************************
WEDNESDAY, NOV 19, 2008, NOON
In front of Jean Charest's office
corner of McGill College & Sherbrooke
************************************
* bring banners, signs, placards, noise-makers...

Join Barriere Lake Solidarity in a demonstration to call on Premier Charest to STOP using riot police, tear gas and pain compliance and START honouring signed agreements with Barriere Lake Algonquins.

In early October, as a method of last resort, families from the Algonquin community of Barriere Lake blockaded highway 117 in northern Quebec, demanding that the Federal and Quebec governments uphold the agreements they signed with the community, and stop imposing illegitimate leadership on the community in order to avoid their responsibilities.

Norman Matchewan, community youth spokesperson says, "Both the federal and provincial governments have treated us with contempt, refusing to respect the agreements they've signed with us. We've exhausted all our political options, but they've ignored or dismissed our community, leaving us with no choice but to peacefully blockade the highway to force the government to deal fairly with us."

Instead of sending in negotiators, honouring signed agreements and sending an observer for their leadership re-selection, dozens of riot cops overran the families who were peacefully demonstrating. Riot cops surrounded the area, and launched tear gas canisters, one of which hit a disabled community member in the chest. Nine people, including an elder, a pregnant woman, and two minors, were arrested. Eight demonstrators remained locked down to concrete-filled barrels, but police used "pain compliance"--roughly, torture--to force them to let go, and be arrested.

There have been many outcries against the actions taken by Charest's government. Angus Toulouse, Ontario Regional Chief, in a letter to Charest on October 10th wrote, "the leadership of the First Nations of Ontario are very concerned regarding the approach taken by the SQ against the ABL…Resorting to aggressive police action is clearly regrettable and further does not address the root causes of this situation." Several European human rights organizations recently supported Barriere Lake's demands and condemned police actions taken against the community.

Barriere Lake's List of Demands:

1. That the Government of Canada agree to respect the outcome of a new leadership re-selection process, with outside observers, recognize the resulting Customary Chief and Council, and cease all interference in the internal governance of Barriere Lake.

2. That the Government of Canada agree to the immediate incorporation of an Algonquin language and culture program into the primary school curriculum.

3. That the Government of Canada honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the Trilateral, the Memorandum of Mutual Intent, and the Special Provisions, all of which it has illegally terminated.

4. That the Government of Canada revoke Third Party Management, which was imposed unjustly on Barriere Lake.

5. That the Province of Quebec honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the 1991 Trilateral and 1998 Bilateral agreements, and adopt for implementation the Lincoln-Ciaccia joint recommendations, including $1.5 million in resource-revenue sharing.

6. That the Government of Canada and the Province of Quebec initiate a judicial inquiry into the Quebec Regional Office of the Department of Indian Affairs' treatment of Barriere Lake and other First Nations who may request to be included.

7. That the Government of Quebec, in consultation with First Nations, conduct a review of the recommendations of the Ontario Ipperwash Commission for guidance towards improving Quebec-First Nation relations and the SQ's procedures during policing of First Nation communities.

Upcoming Events!

2008-11-14T17:43:00.001-05:00

Taking Back the Airwaves: Support Community Radio!

*WHEN: Saturday, November 29th
*WHERE: Centre for Media Alternatives - 2033 St. Laurent
*COST: $5-10 or bring a RADIO

7pm - Film Screening: A Little Bit of So Much Truth (93 minutes, 2006)

9pm - Dance Party: featuring DJ Aaron Maiden & DJ Medja

Click HERE for more info.

DEFENDERS OF THE LAND GATHERING

2008-11-12T11:19:00.000-05:00

For Immediate Release: November 12, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY

WINNIPEG— Spokespeople from Indigenous communities involved in land struggles across Canada will issue a national challenge to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government's policies when Harper attends the Conservative Convention in Winnipeg this week, delivering a letter to Harper on Thursday at 6pm, and following up with a press conference on Friday at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

Indigenous organizers, leaders and membership will be meeting in Winnipeg for the Defenders of the Land Gathering from November 12-14th, 2008 to share strategies and solutions for achieving land rights and self-determination.

The Defenders of the Land Gathering will feature special presentations by members from the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, Six Nations, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Secwepemc First Nation, while many others will be in attendance.

The Defenders of the Land Gathering will focus on several key principles including recognition and respect for Inherent, Aboriginal and Treaty rights; opposition to arbitrary, one-sided federal and provincial legislation, policies and practices that negatively affect Indigenous Peoples; stopping the environmental degradation of Indigenous lands; a fair and just interpretation of section 35 of Canada's constitution, including the elimination of the racist, outdated concepts of the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius; and the application of the Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

The Press Conference will be held:
Date: Friday November 14, 2008
Location: Winnipeg Convention Centre
Time: TBA

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For more information, please contact:
Courtney Kirkby 514.893.8283 (c)
Harmony Rice: 204.510.9899 (c)

2008-11-04T23:44:00.008-05:00

Click here to listen to Canada: A Pariah State?, a lecture by Arthur Manuel at McGill University, November 3rd, 2008.

At the Defenders of the Land, on November 4th, community spokespeople, Marylynn Poucachiche and Norman Matchewan, Russell Diabo, policy advisor for Barriere Lake for the past two decades, and Arthur Manuel all spoke at the Native Friendship Centre in Montreal. Along with the presentation, a 12 minute film of the recent October blockade of highway 117, made by Martha Stiegman, was screened. It was an informative and emotional event for everyone, bringing both Marylynn and audience members to tears.

The speeches from the event are available here -- just click on the name of the speaker and download the file.

Russell Diabo (35 minutes)
Marylynn Poucachiche and Norman Matchewan (20 minutes)

Martha Stiegman's film:
Click HERE to view

Barriere Lake T-Shirts

2008-11-01T04:10:00.000-04:00

Barriere Lake Radio T-Shirts
Cost: $15-25
*Proceeds support Barriere Lake.

The image on the t-shirt is the sound wave file produced by someone saying: "Mitchikinabiko'inik Nodaktcigen", which translates roughly into "Radio Barriere Lake".

To order a shirt, email: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

KINGSTON: Rolling Back a Coup d'Etat on Barriere Lake Algonquin Territory

2008-10-28T00:42:00.000-04:00

Where: Watson Rm 217, Queen's University campus

When: 5:30pm on Thursday, December 4th

What: Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake community spokesperson, and Suzanne Decoursay, a volunteer teacher from Barriere Lake, speaking in Kingston in both Algonquin and English.
Film screening: Blockade on the 117 (12 mins, 2008) [http://blip.tv/file/1391794]
* Donations encourgaed. Food and drinks available

For more information click here

KINGSTON: Rolling Back a Coup d'Etat on Barriere Lake Algonquin Territory

2008-10-28T00:40:00.000-04:00

Where: Watson Rm 217 on Queen's University campus
When: 5:30pm on Thursday, December 4th
What: Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake community spokesperson, and Suzanne Decoursay, a volunteer teacher from Barriere Lake, speaking in Kingston in both Algonquin and English.
Film screening: Blockade on the 117 (12 mins, 2008) [http://blip.tv/file/1391794]
* Donations encourgaed. Food and drinks available

After exhausting all political avenues, on October 6th and recently on November 19th the Algonquins of Barriere Lake blockaded Highway 117 in northern Quebec. They were demanding the Canadian and Quebec governments honour their signed agreements, for co-management of their traditional territory and resource revenue sharing, and that Canada undo the coup d'etat by sending in an observer to oversee their Customary governance selection process. Both times, the community, including Elders, youth and children, were met with a brutal police responsee -- riot cops kicked, pushed, drew a handgun and used tear gas and pain compliance -- instead of negotiators. [ http://blip.tv/file/1391794 ]

On December 4th a caravan of community members and a few Montreal supporters will be hitting the road to visit First Nations communities facing similar struggles: sovereignty, Aboriginal rights and title, and defending their lands from excessive resource extraction. Kingston will be the first stop. Come join us!

OTTAWA & MONTREAL RALLIES

2008-10-25T00:55:00.002-04:00

*ACTION ALERT*

NATIVE RIGHTS UNDER LOCK & KEY: Rallies to support the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and jailed Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway

OTTAWA
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
WEDNESDAY, January 7th, 2008, NOON
WHERE: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Corner of Wellington and Montcalm in GATINEAU
MARCH to the Gatineau Detention Centre, 75 Rue St. Francois
Click HERE FOR A MAP
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

MONTREAL
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

THURSDAY, January 8, 2008, NOON
In front of Jean Charest's office
corner of McGill College & Sherbrooke
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

WED, JAN 7th: Join us in Ottawa in front of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for speeches by Barriere Lake spokespeople, Elizabeth May of the Green Party, NDP parliamentarians, representatives from the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, formerly jailed leadership from Ardoch First Nation, and others. Then march to the Hull Detention Centre, where Benjamin Nottaway, the 28-year old Acting Chief of Barriere Lake and father of six, will be spending the holidays.

THURS, JAN 8th: Join us in Montreal in front of Jean Charest's office.

* Bring banners, signs, placards, noise-makers...
**Hot chocolate and snacks will be served at both rallies.

Benjamin Nottaway, the 28-year old Customary Chief of Barriere Lake and father of six, will be spending the holidays in jail. He is a political prisoner of the governments of Quebec and Canada, who would rather jail an Indigenous leader for peaceful protest than honour landmark agreements and respect a community's customary leadership selection process.

BACKGROUND:

Nottaway's imprisonment for two months is only the latest chapter in the long and difficult struggle of Barriere Lake, a small Algonquin community three hours north of Ottawa in Northern Quebec. Seeing their forests devastated by clear-cut logging, they compelled Canada and Quebec to sign an internationally praised sustainable development agreement in 1991. The agreement was intended to give them joint management of 10,000 square kilometres of their traditional territory and benefits from the resource extraction on their land – $100 million is taken annually in logging, hydro-electricity, recreational hunting and tourism, and they have never received a cent.

But the Canadian government pulled out of the binding agreement in 2001, and Quebec has stalled on its implementation since 2006, despite recommendations issued by provincial and community negotiators. To avoid their obligations under these agreements, the federal Department of Indian Affairs has repeatedly interfered in the internal governance of the community, which selects their leaders according to a customary method. In March, the Canadian government ousted Chief Nottaway and his Council and recognized a faction not supported by the community's majority and whom the Elder's Council says were not legitimately selected. Since then, Barriere Lake has mounted a campaign to have the Quebec and Canadians governments honour their agreements and for the federal government to resolve the leadership crisis by appointing an observer to witness and respect the outcome of a legitimate leadership re-selection.

Their political appeals ignored or dismissed, community members of all ages peacefully blockaded highway 117 outside their reserve in October and November. They asked for federal and provincial negotiators, but on both occasions the Canadian government washed its hands of responsibility while Quebec sent in riot squads, which brutally dismantled the blockades. In October they used tear-gas on a crowd that included Elders, youth, and children, and hospitalized a band councilor with tear-gas neck burns, and the following month they made targeted arrests of community spokespeople and Customary Chief Nottaway. More than 40 people in the community of 450 have received serious criminal charges for the peaceful political protest. (To view the video, click here.)

In court in early December, the Crown asked the provincial Judge "to send a clear message to the community," and the Judge complied. "When I was in court my lawyer told me, 'The Crown wants you to suffer, they want you to feel the pain.' They asked for 12 months, but I got 45 days," said Nottaway in an interview with the Globe and Mail. "I'm a political prisoner, and they know that. It's all politically motivated." (To read the entire article click here.)

The only message the government of Canada is sending is that they are willing to play with the lives of Indigenous people to avoid implementing precedent-setting agreements.

Join Barriere Lake community members in Ottawa while they demand that the Canadian government live up to its promises, respect the Algonquin's customary government, and stop collaborating with Quebec in the criminalization of an entire community and its leadership.

Respect signed agreements! Release all First Nations political prisoners!

Green Party supports Mitchikanibikok Inik

2008-10-24T10:01:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release

November 21, 2008

Montreal/- The Green Party of Canada is calling for an investigation into the infringement of the rights of the Mitchikanibikok Inik, also known as the Algonquin of Barriere Lake, particularly their right to peaceful assembly. There have been reports this week of tear gas and police violence during a protest at this First Nation, involving a crowd which included Elders and children.

The protest was to draw attention to the failure of government to honour the 1991 Tri-lateral Agreement and the 1998 Bi-lateral agreement signed with Canada and Quebec. The recommendations of these agreements are meant to protect Algonquin land uses, including conservation of forest and wildlife, and also improve these peoples dire economic situation.

"It is not enough to apologize to Canada's First Nation's, they need help in a real way to address the continually deteriorating conditions on reserves and support to realize true self-government," said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

In 1989, Ms. May worked to help set up the office for the Trilateral Commission on behalf of this First Nation along with former MP and former Quebec Environment Minister the Honourable Clifford Lincoln. "The Algonquin of Barriere Lake have shown extraordinary patience in the face of governmental interference and foot-dragging," said Ms. May.

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John Bennett
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
Phone: 613 562-4916 ext. 230
Cell: 613 291 6888
Fax: 613 482-4632

New video of police attack on Algonquin blockade online:

2008-10-21T04:07:00.001-04:00

Click HERE to view

Pain Compliance as Indigenous Relations

2008-10-18T07:28:00.000-04:00

Inside the Barriere Lake Algonquins' blockade of highway 117

by Dru Oja Jay

Posted originally in The Dominion

I'm perched on an embankment overlooking Highway 117, an obscure but economically important link between Montreal and northern Quebec. To look at most maps, there's nothing here, five hours north of Montreal, well out of the cottage towns and ski resorts of the Laurentians and still two hours short of the cluster of resource extraction economies around Val d'Or. I'm in the middle of a four hour stretch where most travellers could be forgiven for thinking was nothing but a few hunting lodges, logging roads and Hydro Quebec turnouts.

A girl, young enough that I have to bend down to hear what she's saying, climbs up the embankment and points at the highway.

"Look where we're colouring," she says.

I look. In the middle of the highway... read more

Ontario Chiefs to Harper, Charest

2008-10-11T01:41:00.001-04:00

Ontario chiefs criticize Quebec police action in blockade

Jorge Barrera , Canwest News Service

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=b85c4323-7f28-4506-985f-7e2e3fa2dd79

Published: Saturday, October 11, 2008

An Ontario chiefs organization has sent letters to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Quebec Premier Jean Charest condemning the actions of the Surete du Quebec for using force to clear an Algonquin blockade Monday in northern Quebec.

The letters, dated Oct. 10, calls on Ottawa and Quebec City to follow the advice of the Ipperwash Inquiry, which probed the events of a First Nations occupation in Ontario that led to the shooting death of Dudley George, a native protester shot dead by an OPP officer.

"The leadership of the First Nations of Ontario are very concerned regarding the approach taken by the Surete du Quebec against the Algonquins of Barriere Lake," said the letter, signed by Angus Toulouse, Ontario regional chief with the Chiefs of Ontario. "Resorting to aggressive police action is clearly regrettable and further does not address the root causes of this situation."

Toulouse said Ottawa and Quebec City should open talks with the poverty-stricken community of about 650, which is currently embroiled in a leadership dispute.

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, an umbrella group that represents the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, also criticized police action in a letter to Charest dated Oct. 8.

The Algonquins said a three-year-old girl was hit by a tear-gas canister fired by police during the blockade. They also accused the police of attacking elderly demonstrators.

The SQ said police fired canisters containing a chemical irritant, not tear gas, at the crowd and that paramedics said that no one was injured.

Nine people were arrested and charged with mischief.

The blockade, set up about 300 kilometres north of Ottawa, was organized by a portion of the community in an attempt to pressure the Department of Indian Affairs into backing a new leadership selection process. The group, led by former acting chief Benjamin Nottaway, says current Chief Casey Ratt took power through a flawed process.

The community follows a traditional leadership code.

Nottaway's supporters also want Indian Affairs to honour a signed deal giving the community a say over the development of 10,000 square kilometres of their claimed territory.

Upcoming Events!

2008-10-10T07:25:00.000-04:00

MONTREAL

Canada: A Pariah State?
Indigenous Rights in Domestic and International Law: A Lecture by Arthur Manuel

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
MONDAY, November 3rd, 6:30pm
McGill Faculty of Law, Moot Court
1st floor of New Chancellor Day Hall
3644 Peel Street
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

***********************

Defenders of the Land:
The Barriere Lake Struggle Continues

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
TUESDAY, November 4th, 6:00pm
Native Friendship Centre
2001 St. Laurent (northeast corner of Ontario Street)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Barriere Lake is taking back the airwaves...

2008-10-09T18:03:00.004-04:00

The Barriere Lake Algonquin community, with support from the Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective, is in the process of starting up a 15 watt FM radio station: Mitchikinabiko’inik Nodaktcigen (Radio Barriere Lake) on the Rapid Lake Reserve. The primary aim of the project is to serve the Barriere Lake community, with the intention of strengthening autonomy, culture and traditions.

Broadcasts will be educational, cultural and primarily in the Algonquin language, which is still widely spoken in the community. Broadcasters will combine the oral tradition with radio and computer technologies to engage both elders and youth, while connecting with other Native communities from coast-to-coast.

Support Community Radio!

The community and the Barriere Lake Solidarity collective are working to raise the $3,000 needed to get the project off the ground. We are looking for donations, radios and radio station equipment. If you can give any of the aforementioned items, please email barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com or call 514.893.8283 -- we'd love to hear from you.

Come out to our radio fundraisers.

Cinema Politica, RIDM and Barriere Lake Solidarity present:

A free film screening of NO MORE SMOKE SIGNALS (90 minutes, 2008)

* WHEN: Monday November 17 @ 7:30pm
* WHERE: Room H-110, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve
* COST: Free or by donation at the door
Click HERE for more information!

***********************************************************

Taking Back the Airwaves: Support Community Radio!

*WHEN: Saturday, November 29th
*WHERE: Centre for Media Alternatives - 2033 St. Laurent
*COST: $5-10 or bring a RADIO

7pm - Film Screening: A Little Bit of So Much Truth (93 minutes, 2006)

9pm - Dance Party: featuring DJ Aaron Maiden & DJ Medja

Montreal Gazette Op-Ed

2008-10-08T04:35:00.000-04:00

Barrière Lake Indians set up blockage as last resort
It was the only way to get governments to listen to us, Algonquins say

NORMAN MATCHEWAN, Freelance
Published: Thursday, October 09

The Barrière Lake Algonquins' decision to peacefully blockade Highway 117 was not easily made. We have always preferred co-operation to confrontation. We do not wish to disrupt the lives of Canadians. Unfortunately, it seems their governments otherwise ignore or dismiss us - or worse, treat us with contempt.

During a protest at federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon's campaign launch last month, his assistant insinuated that I was drinking. After the media scandal forced Cannon to hold a meeting we had been requesting for two years, he vilified our community's majority as "dissidents" in an op-ed in regional papers.

The government has now tried to add "criminals" to the charge. To avoid negotiations, the government allowed Monday's peaceful blockade to be dismantled by the Sûreté du Québec, which without provocation shot tear gas canisters into a crowd of youth and elders and used severe "pain compliance" to remove people clipped into lockbox barrels.

But the governments of Canada and Quebec have never been overly concerned with the rule of law in their dealings with Barrière Lake:

In 1991, Barrière Lake signed a historic trilateral agreement with Canada and Quebec to sustainably develop our traditional territories - a United Nations report called the plan an environmental "trailblazer." Yet in 1996, the federal government tried to hijack the agreement by replacing our legitimate chief and council with a minority faction who let the agreement fall aside.

We have always ruled ourselves according to custom, outside the electoral provisions of the Indian Act: Elders nominate eligible leaders who are then approved, by consensus if possible, in assemblies. Participation is open only to those who live in the community, speak our language, and have knowledge of and connection to the land. But in 1996, the Department of Indian Affairs encouraged this faction, located mainly off-reserve, to collect signatures for a petition; Indian Affairs then imposed this group on us, claiming our leadership customs had evolved into "selection by petition."

The was not the truth. In The Gazette, former provincial Liberal cabinet minister Michel Gratton issued a devastating rebuke: "This unilateral and sudden decision to dismiss and replace the existing chief and council goes against the grain of every democratic principle."

We suffered grievously for a year and a half. Although we barred the minority group from our community, they colluded with the government from Maniwaki. On the reserve, we were deprived of federal transfers for employment, education, social assistance, and electricity. We lived in the dark, educated our children as we could, and barely subsisted off bush food.

A resolution was finally achieved in 1997 by Quebec Superior Court Judge Réjean Paul and two federal facilitators, who restored our legitimate chief and council and renewed the trilateral agreement. To prevent future interference, they helped codify our leadership customs into a Customary Governance Code that the government promised to respect. This is our aboriginal right protected by the Canadian Constitution - the highest law in the land.

Even this proved little deterrent to further meddling. In 2001, the federal government pulled out of the trilateral agreement and started favouring certain community members opposed to our legitimate leadership. Paul mediated again in 2007, concluding that the opposition to our chief and council was "a small minority" whose leadership challenge "did not respect the Customary Governance Code."

But when this same minority group conducted another supposed leadership selection in January 2008, the federal government quickly recognized them. In court, we forced the government to release an observer's report they relied on: not surprisingly, the report stated there was no "guarantee" that the Customary Governance Code was respected during this selection.

Yet again, the government is throwing democratic principles to the wind by ignoring our customs and the wishes of our people. And Cannon has the audacity to call the overwhelming majority of our community members "dissidents"!

To resolve the crisis, we are prepared to participate in a new leadership selection according to our Customary Governance Code. We ask only that the federal government appoint an observer and promise to recognize the result, and that they and the province honour our agreements.

We set up the blockades Monday morning as a last resort, to inspire in the government a changed attitude. Our good faith and patience and reasonable demands have so far been rewarded by broken promises, deceit, and deplorable interventions. Is this all we can expect?

Norman Matchewan is youth spokesperson for the Algonquins in Barrière Lake, which is 130 kilometres north of Maniwaki.

Canada and Quebec use riot police, tear gas, and "pain compliance" on peaceful Algonquin families to avoid negotiations

2008-10-07T13:55:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October, 7, 2008

Canada and Quebec use riot police, tear gas, and "pain compliance" on peaceful Algonquin families to avoid negotiations: 'pain compliance' perfect description of Conservative's aboriginal policy, say community spokespeople

*Click HERE for photos

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - Yesterday afternoon, the Conservative government and Quebec used riot police, tear gas, and "pain compliance" techniques to end a peaceful blockade erected by Algonquin families from Barriere Lake, rather than negotiate, as requested by the community. The blockade on Highway 117 in Northern Quebec began at 6:00am Monday, with nearly a hundred community members of all ages and their supporters promising to remain until Canada's Conservative government and Quebec honoured signed agreements and Barriere Lake's leadership customs. Around 4pm, nearly sixty Quebec officers and riot police encircled families after a meal and without warning launched tear gas canisters, one of which hit a child in the chest.

"Our demands are reasonable," said Norman Matchewan, a spokesperson who was racially slurred by Minister Lawrence Cannon's assistant earlier in the election. "We're only asking for the government to uphold the agreements they've signed and to stop illegally interfering in our customary governance. The message we've received today is that Stephen Harper and Jean Charest are unwilling to even play by their rules."

"We will not tolerate these brutal violations of our rights," added Matchewan. "Forestry operations will not be allowed on our Trilateral agreement territory, and we will be doing more non-violent direct action."

Nine people, including an elderly women, a pregnant woman, and two minors, were roughly arrested. While a line of police obscured the view of human rights observers from Christian Peacemaker Teams, officers used severe "pain compliance" techniques on protestors who had secured themselves to concrete-filled barrels, twisting arms, dislocating jaws, leaving them with bruised faces and trouble swallowing.

"In this election alone, the Conservatives have labelled us alcoholics and vilified our community's majority as "dissidents," said Michel Thusky, another community spokesperson, referring to an op-ed published by Minister Lawrence Cannon in regional newspapers. "Now they and Quebec have chosen violence over meeting their most basic obligations to our community. 'Pain compliance' is the perfect description of the Conservative government's aboriginal policies."

Barriere Lake community members had promised to maintain the blockade until the Government of Canada honoured the 1991 Trilateral agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. To end federal interference in their leadership customs, they wanted the Government of Canada to appoint observers to witness a leadership reselection according to their codified customary selection code, respect its outcome, and then cease interfering in their internal governance.

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Media Contacts:

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 435 - 2171

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson : 514 - 831 - 6902

Quebec police threaten to mass arrest peaceful Algonquin road blockaders

2008-10-06T19:43:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, October 6, 2008

Quebec police threaten to mass arrest peaceful Algonquin road blockaders: Community determined to maintain blockade until Canada and Quebec honour their agreements and respect leadership customs

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - Families from the Barriere Lake First Nation in Northern Quebec set up a peaceful blockade at 6:00 am this morning, promising to maintain it until Canada and Quebec respect and implement widely praised agreements, and Canada appoints an observer to witness a leadership reselection in the community, and respects its outcome.

"We maintained a peaceful presence all day, but Canada and Quebec would now rather have the Quebec police arrest youth, elders and mothers, than deal in good faith with our community," said Norman Matchewan, a youth spokesperson, from the site of the blockade, as riot police from Montreal prepared to make arrests.

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Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson : 647 - 227 - 6696, 514 - 831 - 6902

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 435 - 2171

For more information: www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com

Barriere Lake Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117: Community loses patience with broken agreements and coup d'etat on Algonquin territory

2008-10-06T06:00:00.005-04:00

Brief description: After exhausting all political avenues, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and many non-native supporters have just blockaded highway 117. They will maintain the peaceful blockade until both the Canadian and Quebec governments honour their signed agreements that would allow co-management of their traditional territory and resource revenue sharing, and until Canada respects their leadership customs by appointing an observer to witness a leadership selection in accordance with their Customary Governance, and in good faith recognize the outcome.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Christian Peacemaker Teams sends human rights observer team to Barriere Lake Algonquin Territory

*On this page you will find: a link to photos of the action, quotes, media contacts, background resources, and the press release

Up-to-date photos of the blockade are available HERE

Quotes from Barriere Lake Algonquin Spokespeople:

Michel Thusky, community spokesperson: "To avoid their obligations, the federal government has deliberately violated our leadership customs by ousting our Customary Chief and Council. In what amounts to a coup d'etat, they are recognizing a Chief and Council rejected by a community majority. The Quebec government is cooperating with the federal government too because they are using the leadership issue as an excuse to bury the 1991 and 1998 Agreements they signed with our First Nation."

Norman Matchewan, community youth spokesperson: "The Conservative government, like the Liberal government before it, has treated us with contempt, refusing to respect the agreements they've signed with us. We've exhausted all our political options, but they've ignored or dismissed our community, leaving us with no choice but to peacefully blockade the highway to force the government to deal fairly with us."

Marylynn Poucachiche, community spokesperson: "The federal government pretends this is simply an internal issue. But we can only resolve the situation if the federal government appoints an observer to witness a new leadership selection that is truly in accordance with our Customary Governance Code, promises to respect the outcome, and then stops interfering in our internal affairs."

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, a community teacher and part-time police officer who was racially slurred two weeks ago by the assistant of Conservative Minister Lawrence Cannon, the representative in Barriere Lake's riding of Pontiac: 647 - 227 - 6699

Marylynn Poucaciche, community educator and youth representative for Barriere Lake on the Algonquin Tribal Council: 438 - 868 - 3957

Michel Thusky, residential school survivor and elder: 819 - 435-2171

Barriere Lake Algonquins' Demands

Resources:

Laurier Riel Report, part I - Riel witnessed the alleged leadership selection, whose result was recognized by Indian Affairs on March 10, 2008

Laurier Riel Report, part II

Federal MP, Lawrence Cannon's Message to the Community in Le Droit (22 September 2008)

Norman Matchewan's Response to Lawrence Cannon in Le Droit (26 September 2008)

Trilateral Agreement - discussed in the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP)

2007 leadership report by Quebec Superior Court Rhejean Paul

Legal challenge of Federal Government's deposition of Barriere Lake's Customary Chief and Council

Assembly of First Nations briefing note - January 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, October 6, 2008

Barriere Lake Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117 in Northern Quebec: Community loses patience with broken agreements and federal interference in leadership selection

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / - At 6:00am today, Barriere Lake community members of all ages peacefully blockaded highway 117 outside their reserve, promising to maintain the blockade until Canada and Quebec commit in writing to honour their agreements and Canada appoints an observer to witness and respect the outcome of a new leadership selection in Barriere Lake in accordance with their Customary Governance Code.

"The Conservative government, like the Liberal government before it, has treated us with contempt, refusing to respect the agreements they've signed with us," says Norman Matchewan, a community teacher and part-time police officer who was racially slurred two weeks ago by the assistant of Conservative Minister Lawrence Cannon, the representative in Barriere Lake's riding of Pontiac. "We've exhausted all our political options, but they've ignored or dismissed our community, leaving us with no choice but to peacefully blockade the highway to force the government to deal fairly with us."

Barriere Lake wants Canada and Quebec to uphold signed agreements, dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the agreement since 2001. Quebec signed a complementary Bilateral agreement in 1998, but has stalled since two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative Clifford Lincoln, made recommendations for the agreement's implementation in 2006.

"To avoid their obligations, the federal government has deliberately violated our leadership customs by ousting our Customary Chief and Council," says Michel Thusky, a Barriere Lake spokesperson. "In what amounts to a coup d'etat, they are recognizing a Chief and Council rejected by a community majority. The Quebec government is cooperating with the federal government too because they are using the leadership issue as an excuse to bury the 1991 and 1998 Agreements they signed with our First Nation."

On March 10th, 2008, for the third time in 12 years, the Government of Canada interfered in Barriere Lake's internal customary governance. They rescinded recognition of the Customary Chief and Council and recognized individuals whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council says were not selected in accordance with their Customary Governance Code.

"The federal government pretends this is simply an internal issue," says Marylynn Poucachiche, another Barriere Lake spokesperson, on-site at the peaceful blockade. "But we can only resolve the situation if the federal government appoints an observer to witness a new leadership selection that is truly in accordance with our Customary Governance Code, promises to respect the outcome, and then stops interfering in our internal affairs."

In 2007, Quebec Superior Court Judge Rejean Paul issued a report that concluded that the current faction recognized by the federal government was a "small minority" that "didn't respect the Customary Governance Code" in an alleged leadership selection in 2006 [1]. The federal government recognized this minority faction after they conducted another alleged leadership selection in January 2008, even though an observer's report the government relied on stated there was no "guarantee" that the Customary Governance Code was respected [2].

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, the Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, continues to recognize and work with Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council.

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Media Contacts:

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 435-217

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 647 - 227 - 6699

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 438 - 868 - 3957

A Coup in Context

2008-10-02T12:49:00.000-04:00

*Reprinted from the Dominion

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Where is Barriere Lake?

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake live just under 5 hours from Montreal, traveling north west. Once you leave the city limits you follow a two lane highway, the 115, that eventually narrows to one, past vacation spots like Mount Tremblant and a number of road-side stands selling poutines and cheeseburgers.

The distance between towns widens, and logging roads start trailing off the highway. Large trucks, perhaps belonging to the American multinational Domtar, stacked high with freshly shaved trees, drive towards one of the local paper mills. In the heart of one of their prime cutting zones sits the Barriere Lake reserve; created in 1961 without consultation with the small Algonquin community's customary chief and council.

Housing conditions

The nomadic community, only a few hundred people strong, was squeezed onto 59 acres in 1961, despite having a traditional territory roughly 17,000 square kilometers large. Some houses on the reservation hold up to 18 people. The land-base is too small to accommodate new houses, and the diesel generators that currently power the community have hit maximum capacity.

Hydroelectric dams

The community is still waiting to be hooked up to the grid-another unfulfilled promised. Ironic-considering the millions of revenue dollars extracted from the area from the numerous hydroelectric dams.

Resource extraction

Hydroelectricity is not the only resource extracted from the traditional territory. When logging and tourism are added to the equation, it is estimated annual revenues add up to roughly $100 million. The Algonquins of Barriere Lake do not see a cent of it. Over time a number of private companies and Crown corporations have increased the extraction of resources from the territory.

A history of protest and government repression

Over twenty years ago the unrestrained clear cut logging practices and sport hunting became too much for the community to quietly bear witness to. Protests, and later the blockading of logging roads, finally led to negotiations with the Canadian and Quebec governments.

A landmark agreement

The outcome of those negotiations was the Trilateral Agreement; an agreement based on the United Nations Brundtland Commission, with conservation and sustainable development as the main pillars. The landmark agreement promised co-management of resources and revenue sharing in the traditional territory in order to protect the Algonquin way of life while co-existing with non-native land users.

Indian Affairs attempts to scrap Trilateral Agreement

The government had other plans.

Just before the Trilateral's implementation in 2001 Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault pulled out, leaving the community with a large bill to pay for remaining research on traditional land use.

Cutting funds hasn't been the only method employed by the federal government in attempts to scrap the trilateral agreement. Since 1996, there have been three interventions in the community's leadership selection.

Round one: leadership interference

Indian Affairs imposed Third Party Management on the community, the third and most severe level of financial intervention in an Aboriginal community. Third Party Managers gain complete control of community finances.

During the 15 month period that Indian Affairs refused to recognize the Customary Chief and Council, both the minority faction Council and Third Party Management were unable to establish themselves on the Rapid Lake reserve, and instead ruled from exile in Maniwaki (150km south). Two million dollars in funding never reached Rapid Lake, programs and services were suspended, and the only school was closed.

Third Party mis-Management

For a second time Indian Affairs appointed Third Party Management. Once again, the school was shut down after parents discovered the teachers hired by Third Party Management refused to allow children to speak their Algonquin language -- a grim throw back to residential schools.

”[Cannon’s] inaction confirms that his Conservative Government's residential school apology was meaningless, because they continue violating our customs." - Michel Thusky, community spokesperson.

Ousted Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway

This past March, Indian Affairs Minister, Chuck Strahl, ousted Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway and empowered a minority faction as the new leadership. This brings the count up to three: three times now Indian Affairs has meddled in the internal governance of Barriere Lake.

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs called the move a coup d'etat.

The Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, continues to recognize and work with deposed Acting Chief Nottaway and his Council.

Cannon speaks with a forked tongue

Lawrence Cannon speaking about First Nations and the Canadian government (August, Maniwaki):

“The Government of Canada is committed to honoring its lawful obligations to First Nations, recognizing that their legal rights must be respected and upheld.”

"We are demonstrating the advantages of co-operative negotiations that enable us to resolve longstanding grievances without resorting to the courts. We strongly believe in negotiated agreements that settle contentious issues in a way that is mutually acceptable and benefits all parties.”

Occupying Cannon's office

Thursday, June 26th Algonquins of Barriere Lake and some of their supporters from the Montreal-based Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective, peacefully occupied Lawrence Cannon's office.

Lawrence Cannon, is a cabinet minister, Harper's Quebec lieutenant and MP in Barriere Lake's riding of Pontiac. Protesters were calling on Cannon to use his power to ensure Indian Affairs upholds the law and oversees a leadership re-selection.

Algonquins of Barriere Lake demands

“It has been about 20 years now [since the signing of the Trilateral Agreement] -- I was eight years old when we first signed the agreement. I’m 26 years old now. I’ve been waiting; we’ve been waiting a pretty long time now for the government to honour its agreement to the Barriere Lake people.” – Jessica Thusky, one of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake arrested in the action.

See, hear, speak...

Arrested while waiting for Cannon to obey the law

Two Algonquins, one of which was a minor, and four supporters spent the evening in jail and now face three charges: obstruction of a police officer, trespassing, mischief.

"We told them we would stop disobeying the law if Cannon did so as well. It's a small act of civil disobedience to draw attention to a far greater crime." – Martin Lukacs, member of Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective.

Keeping up the pressure

"The community will pursue Cannon wherever he is publicly, and we will only stop when Cannon honours his word, and ensures his Conservative government oversees a leadership re-selection, then stops meddling in our affairs for good." – Michel Thusky.

As the community works to get Indian Affairs and the Canadian government to uphold the law and recognize the Algonquins of Barriere Lake's customary governance code, more and more of the land continues to be irreparably damaged by logging and hydroelectric companies, and unemployment rates that run around 80-90 per cent persist.

2008-09-29T01:14:00.002-04:00

Newspaper Battle: Conservative MP, Lawrence Cannon writes op-ed about Algonquins of Barriere Lake after a meeting last week; Norman Matchewan, youth spokesperson, responds.

Click here for photos of the meeting between Cannon and Barriere Lake and Norman Matchewan's interaction with Lawrence Cannon's personal assistant.

Event!

2008-09-25T23:00:00.001-04:00

Rolling back a Coup d'Etat: Barriere Lake Algonquins Panel
With excerpts screened from The Invisible Nation

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WEDNESDAY, October 1, 6:00pm, 2008
McGill Faculty of Law, Moot Court
1st floor of New Chancellor Day Hall
3644 Peel Street
Donations encouraged
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Click here for more details!

Advisory: Barriere Lake Algonquins to Protest at "Economy in the Pontiac" Candidates Debate: Demand Candidates Focus on Their Violated Agreements

2008-09-24T23:11:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, September, 24, 2008

Barriere Lake Algonquins demand that "Economy in the Pontiac" debate not exclude their economic plight: pressure MP Lawrence Cannon to honour agreements and leadership customs

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / – Algonquins from Barriere Lake will protest at "The Economy of the Pontiac" all-candidates debates in Campbell's Bay, Quebec, at 7:30pm.

"The economy in the Pontiac relies heavily on the natural resources of our people, while excluding us from its benefits," says Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake youth spokesperson. "The government and corporations annually take $100 million dollars out of our land, while we don't receive a single cent. The agreements the federal government currently refuses to honour would allow us to participate in the regional economy and to share these natural resources."

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake live on a 59-acre reserve 350 kilometres north of Ottawa, in moldy, overcrowded homes that have been condemned by Health Canada. Unemployment is between 80 and 90 per cent and the community relies on diesel generators for electricity. Despite these conditions, they have maintained their language, culture and customary system of government.

The Barriere Lake Algonquins want the Government to uphold signed agreements with the community, dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development, conservation, and resource co-management process praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada walked away from the agreement in 2001.

"By ignoring the signed agreements and interfering in our customs regarding leadership selection, the federal government is violating the Canadian constitution by the minimum standards set out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples," said Michel Thusky, a spokesperson for Barriere Lake. "Cannon needs to commit to Barriere Lake's demands, and the other candidates should endorse them if they want to demonstrate their respect for First Nations rights."

Media contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake youth spokesperson: (819) 334 - 0411

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson: (819) 435 – 2171

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson : (819) 435 - 2171

For more information: www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com

Press Advisory: Conservative MP Lawrence Cannon dismisses Barriere Lake Algonquin's urgent demands until elections end; refuses to visit reserve

2008-09-24T07:09:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 19, 2008

After Conservative MP Lawrence Cannon's personal assistant racially slurs a youth spokesperson, the Minister tells Barriere Lake Algonquins to wait until elections end to have their urgent demands addressed by his government: community representatives promise to keep pressure on him during election

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory / – Conservative MP Lawrence Cannon held a short meeting today with Algonquin representatives from Barriere Lake in Low, Quebec, but youth spokesperson Norman Matchewan expressed doubts about Cannon's respect for the community.

"He said he didn't have time to ensure the federal government accepts reasonable demands we've spent years trying to reach him about – that the government honour agreements they've signed with us, stop undemocratically propping up an illegitimate Chief and Council in our community, and appoint observers to witness a leadership re-selection and respect its outcome in order to resolve the mess they've created," said Matchewan, a community teacher and part-time police officer who was the victim of racist allegations by Cannon's personal assistant on Tuesday in Maniwaki, after he questioned the Minister about the Conservative government's violations of his community's rights.[1]

"Our community is in crisis, but he refused to even think about visiting Barriere Lake to find out more about the situation," continued Matchewan. "He also said he couldn't get authorization to act as a government representative to commit to our demands, and that we would have to wait until the election was over for him to further consider them. It was ridiculous to hear Stephen Harper's Quebec lieutenant tell us that he doesn't have the power or a few hours to ensure the government honours agreements my parent's generation have waited twenty years to see implemented. We think this is simply a stalling tactic intended to control the damage the racist comments have done to his image. He probably thinks that once he's re-elected, he can ignore us just as he has done for the past two years."

Deeply dissatisfied with Cannon's follow up on the racist remarks, community representatives told Cannon that they plan to continue their campaign to make the Conservative government's mistreatment of Barriere Lake an election issue in Pontiac. Today, they also met with the Liberal, Bloc Quebecois and NDP candidates in the riding.

– 30 –

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake youth spokesperson: 819 – 435 - 2171, 819 - 334 - 0411

Footnotes

[1] http://www.aptn.ca/streaming/index.php?wmv=wednesday/six

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2008-09-23T23:14:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Barriere Lake Algonquins begin campaign during MP Lawrence Cannon's quest for reelection in Pontiac: question whether his broken promises make him fit to represent riding

Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory – With Stephen Harper's election call for October 14th, the Barriere Lake Algonquins will begin campaigning in the Pontiac riding to build support for their rights and to demand incumbent MP Lawrence Cannon follow through on his promises.

On March 10th, 2008, for the third time in 12 years, the Government of Canada interfered in the governance of Barriere Lake, denying the community the elementary right to choose their own leadership. The Government has rescinded recognition of the Customary Chief and Council supported by the community's majority and recognized individuals whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council says were not selected in accordance with their Customary Governance Code. To resolve the situation, Barriere Lake has demanded that the Government of Canada send observers to witness a leadership re-selection, and in good faith recognize the outcome.

They also want the Government of Canada to uphold an internationally lauded sustainable development agreement Barriere Lake signed with Quebec and the Conservative federal government in 1991. The Government of Canada has been in breach of the agreement since 2001.

"We have written letters to Cannon, briefed his assistants, picketed at his Maniwaki constituency office, peacefully sat-in at his Buckingham office, and protested for days at his Ministry of Transport office in Ottawa," said Norman Matchewan, a spokesperson for Barriere Lake. "And yet he has not so much as answered once – which puts the lie to his promises to respect First Nations rights."

On August 9, 2007, Cannon told a crowd in Maniwaki that 'the Government of Canada is committed to honoring its lawful obligations to First Nations, recognizing that their legal rights must be respected and upheld.'

'We are demonstrating,' Cannon continued, 'the advantages of co-operative negotiations that enable us to resolve longstanding grievances without resorting to the courts. We strongly believe in negotiated agreements that settle contentious issues in a way that is mutually acceptable and benefits all parties.' [1]

'In fact, contrary to his public statements, Cannon would rather force us to endure hardship and go to the courts then to encourage his government to meet our reasonable demand, that they act in good faith and respect the law," said Michel Thusky, a Barriere Lake spokesperson. "As an important Cabinet member who is the representative in Barriere Lake's riding, Cannon can ensure that his government respects our leadership customs and the agreements signed with our community."

'At his office or on the campaign trail, what matters is getting our message to him,' added Marylynn Poucachiche, another Barrière Lake spokesperson.'We will hold him accountable to the people in the riding.'

Barriere Lake representatives will meet this week with the NDP, Bloc Quebecois,and Liberal candidates in the Pontiac riding, to raise awareness about the violations of their rights and to increase support for their demands.

The Algonquin Nation Secretariat, the Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, continues to recognize and work with Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council. Across the country, more than thirty environmental and civic groups and organizations have supported Barriere Lake's demands.[2]

– 30 –

Media Contacts:

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819-334-0411

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson (available 12:30-1:30pm, and after 3pm): 819-435 - 2171

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson (available 12-1pm, 4pm–onward): (819) 435-2171

Footnotes

[1] http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/spch/2007/kza-eng.asp

[2] http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/mission.html

Cannon's Response to Barriere Lake

2008-09-23T21:15:00.003-04:00

To resolve the crisis, we are prepared to participate in a new leadership selection process according to our Customary Governance Code: we ask only that the federal government appoint observers and promise to recognize the result, and honour our agreements.

Cannon's Message to Barriere Lake

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Clarifications to the Algonquins

I would like to clarify certain facts in regards to the situation of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake in the Pontiac riding where I have been the deputy since January 2006.

First of all, I have always hoped and continue to hope that chief-elect Casey Ratt, the band council and the elders can establish a harmonious dialogue with all the community members, including the group of dissidents. This community is important and I have always supported it wherever and whenever I could.

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake have chosen their chief. They did so by establishing their own electoral guidelines according to customs within their code of governance (Mitchikanibikik Anishinabe Onakinakewin (MAO).

The role of the Federal Government was then to recognize the results of this process which is what they did.

An election was held in January 2008 at which time the newly elected chief of Barriere Lake, Casey Ratt, wrote to the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs informing him of these results. In a statement dated June 18th 2008, the elders committee of Barriere Lake also confirmed the election of Casey Ratt and his council.

The dissidents, including Norman Matchewan and certain members of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, are opposed to the selection process and are contesting the legitimacy of the election of Mr. Ratt. They directly accuse Stephen Harper’s government of maintaining chaos in their community by presuming that the government supports a chief and council they claim is illegal.

No jurisdiction

In reality, the community members must speak to the chief, the council and the elders of the community if they wish to question the selection process and not to the Canadian Government.

Also, a Federal court decision, in the Wawatie vs Canada (Indian & Northern Affaires Canada, 2008 FC 975), was handed down last August 28th confirming that the Algonquins of Barriere Lake must abide by their election laws to elect their chief.

This decision also confirms that the Federal Government has no constitutional jurisdiction to interpret their customs or to supervise their electoral process. A Federal Government minister can not therefore interfere.

I continue to hope that chief-elect Casey Ratt, the band council and the elders can establish a harmonious dialogue with all the community members, including Norman Matchewan’s group of dissidents.

I cannot, otherwise, get involved by supporting a group of dissidents and their demands, such as naming an observer, when the community itself is not requesting that the Federal Government recognize a new decision on the election of a new chief.

Lawrence Cannon
Outgoing Deputy [sic]
Pontiac riding

Community Response to Cannon's Le Droit Letter

2008-09-23T03:35:00.001-04:00

Barriere Lake's Response to Federal Conservative MP, Lawrence Cannon's Message in Le Droit

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Norman Matchewan
Youth Spokesperson, Barriere Lake

Lawrence Cannon's comments about Barriere Lake are another attempt to discredit us. First his aide insinuates we're alcoholics; now he vilifies our community's majority as "dissidents." How much more racist contempt can we expect from his office?

Our relationship with the federal government has been defined by broken promises and interference in our internal affairs. In 1991, Barriere Lake signed a historic Trilateral agreement with Canada and Quebec to sustainably develop our traditional territories – the United Nations called the plan an environmental "trailblazer."

Yet in 1996, the federal government tried to hijack the agreement by replacing our legitimate Chief and Council with a minority faction who let the agreement fall aside. Former Liberal provincial cabinet minister Michel Gratton condemned the act: "This unilateral and sudden decision to dismiss and replace the existing chief and council," he wrote, "goes against the grain of every democratic principle."

A resolution was achieved in 1997 by Quebec Superior Court Judge Réjean Paul, who restored our legitimate Chief and Council and renewed the Trilateral agreement. To prevent future interference, he helped codify our leadership customs into a Customary Governance Code which the government promised to respect.

Old habits die hard. In 2001, the government pulled out of the Trilateral agreement and started favouring certain community members opposed to our legitimate leadership. Judge Réjean Paul mediated again in 2007, concluding that the opposition to our Chief and Council was "a small minority" whose leadership challenge "did not respect the Customary Governance Code."

But when this same minority group conducted another alleged leadership selection in January 2008, the federal government quickly recognized them. In court, we forced the government to release an observer's report they relied on to recognize the January 2008 leadership selection: not surprisingly, the report stated there was no "guarantee" that the Customary Governance Code was respected. Yet again, the government is throwing democratic principles to the wind by ignoring our customs and the wishes of our people. And Lawrence Cannon has the audacity to call the overwhelming majority of our community members "dissidents"!

Community Response to Cannon's Le Droit Letter

2008-09-23T03:35:00.000-04:00

2008-09-19T07:23:00.000-04:00

Pain Compliance as Indigenous Relations

Inside the Barriere Lake Algonquins' blockade of highway 117

by Dru Oja Jay

Posted originally in >The Dominion

I'm perched on an embankment overlooking Highway 117, an obscure but
economically important link between Montreal and northern Quebec. To
look at most maps, there's nothing here, five hours north of Montreal,
well out of the cottage towns and ski resorts of the Laurentians and
still two hours short of the cluster of resource extraction economies
around Val d'Or (in English, Valley of Gold), where mining now focuses
more on metals like copper, zinc and lead. I'm in the middle of a four
hour stretch where most travellers could be forgiven for thinking was
nothing but a few hunting lodges, logging roads and Hydro Quebec
turnouts.

A girl, young enough that I have to bend down to hear what she's
saying, climbs up the embankment and points at the highway.

"Look where we're colouring," she says.

I look. In the middle of the highway, a handful of kids--her age--are
gathered around a card table, drawing on sheets of paper and colouring
books with markers. Next to them, a dozen protesters hold signs,
facing away from the kids' table. The signs say things like "no more
pepper spray/arrests/batons," and "honour signed agreements."

Beyond the protesters, several trees lay across the road. A large
banner reads "Honour your word," and "protect the environment, share
the land's wealth."

Beyond the banner, a row of green-uniformed police officers spans the
highway. They are slowly advancing.

As they get closer, the protesters begin yelling at the police.

"All we want is our agreement."

"Go home."

"Send in a negotiator."

The girl is standing beside me. "I'm scared," she says matter-of-factly.

The police advance slowly, advancing several steps, then stopping.
Advancing again.

The line of police divides, leaving an opening. A column of perhaps
fifty riot police emerges. They wear gas masks, oversized helmets in
the Death Star style, and body armour under baggy uniforms. Each one
carries a black baton. At times, some of them will hit their
black-gloved hand with the baton, making what, to the person behind
the mask, was probably a satisfying *smack*.

The police officer in charge issues a half-hearted warning over the
cries of increasingly angry demonstrators.

"Leave the highway, or you will be arrested."

Seeing the masked troops, some run. I notice several children fleeing,
but others stay, and more gather on the highway to protect the
blockade. Elders and youth are the most abundant. I later realize that
most of the adults cannot risk arrest because of conditions imposed on
them after previous demonstrations.

The riot police silently line up on the far side of the highway, and
begin pushing the demonstrators back. A crowd has gathered in front of
the police, holding signs and yelling at the police. A scuffle breaks
out, cops pulling protesters, protesters pulling their own away. An
elder is arrested. I run on to the highway, trying to get a closer
look.

Behind the colouring table, there is a row of concrete-filled barrels
with PVC pipe running through them. A mix of Algonquin demonstrators
and supporters from Ottawa and Montreal have attached their arms to
these "lock boxes" with rope and carabiners in an attempt to forestall
police breaking up the blockade. Next to them are tables and
campfires, which a short time ago were used to serve bacon and eggs,
and then beaver and moose, to those gathered at the blockade. Several
people whose trips had been delayed by the blockade had joined in,
drinking tea from pots warmed by small campfires, before police
separated onlookers from blockade participants.

Seperated by a 100-metre buffer zone, the police could nonetheless be
heard cracking jokes about "caisses de bieres," an eerie allusion to
police transcripts revealed by the Ipperwash Inquiry, where police
made racist jokes about Dudley George before they shot and killed him.

It also brought to mind the slur that made headlines a week before,
when Algonquin spokesperson Norman Matchewan confronted regional
Member of Parliament and cabinet Minister Lawrence Cannon. Speaking to
Matchewan, Cannon's assistant said that negotiations could be
conducted "if you're sober." She was caught on camera, and the "gaffe"
was eventually reported coast to coast as one more example of a
dangerous misstep by Harper's otherwise disciplined election campaign.

The onlookers were unable to see the sign advertising a ban on alcohol
and drugs from the blockade, but that was a fraction of the gap
between the Algonquins' understanding of the situation and those of
the Quebeckers. It's a gap that is too often filled with racist
assumptions before it can inspire curiosity.

I hear a loud *pop*. People scream, run away. Acrid white smoke
billows from a canister launched by police, and I feel a familiar
hollow sting in my throat and sinuses. My eyes burn, and well up, but
I'm relatively unaffected. Elders, youth and kids around me are
coughing and choking, tears streaming down faces. Another canister is
launched. More running and tears. The police, apparently aware of
existing negative connotations, will later deny that they used tear
gas, preferring the term "chemical irritant".

A single CBC radio reporter maneuvres around tear gas and riot police,
holding her microphone, looking stunned. The television cameras left
an hour or so ago.

Immune to the effects of the gas, riot police rush to push people off
the highway. The people in lock-boxes are still there, caught, for the
moment, in the tear gas. One demonstrator stays behind to wipe their
faces with water to lessen the effects. He will be tackled by three
riot cops and arrested later.

Police move to shield the remaining blockaders from view, forming a
human wall around the lock-boxes. Peering between riot police standing
with batons at the ready, we can see an official (he's wearing a
different uniform) giving orders. We see those locked in kicking or
flailing in agony. We will later learn that police used "pain
compliance" methods. We will hear from those who were locked in that
the police pinched and pushed at pressure points, causing severe pain.
We will hear that police told those locked in that by remaining, they
were causing more pain to their comrades. We will hear that police
used a crowbar to attempt to pry one blockader's arm loose. We will
hear about sexual harassment. We will argue about whether or not
"torture" is too strong a word to describe what the police did. We
will decide that causing someone pain in order to convince them to do
something they do not want to do does in fact qualify as torture, but
that the media will not take us seriously if we use that word. An
elder will say that "pain compliance" is a good description of the
government's policies towards the Algonquins of Barriere Lake.

Barriere Lake is where we're headed now, though not voluntarily. Ever
few minutes, the assembled riot police rush forward, pushing the fifty
or so demonstrators further up the access road that leads to Rapid
Lake, the fifty-nine acre reserve that is, for the federal and
provincial governments, the only officially recognized territory of
the 500-member community of Barriere Lake, named for its traditional
summer settlement at a nearby lake. The reserve was created in 1961.

Though they have lived here for thousands of years, the rest of the
territory has been treated as *terra nullius*, empty land, and
exploited accordingly. Hydro Quebec has built dams without consulting
the community, in at least one case submerging a burial ground. Later,
they improved their behaviour by notifying the community ahead of
planned dam construction. The community was forced to move another
burial ground to a nearby island.

Logging companies were allowed to clear the land with impunity, and
with no benefit to the community. For years, community members
peacefully blockaded logging roads, risking violence from loggers and
violence from police.

Despite the presence of several Hydro Quebec dams, the community is
still powered by a diesel generator. According to one estimate, $100
million in revenue is extracted from the Barriere Lake Algonquins'
traditional territory every year. Of that $100 million, the community
receives nothing, and employment opportunities are scarce.

Many of those at the blockade had been sent to residential schools as
children. There, they were abused physically and sexually, and
punished for speaking their mother tongue. The psychological legacy of
this trauma has been compounded by the enforced austerity of the
reserve, where unemployment, deep poverty and inadequate housing is
the norm. Families sleep as many as 15 to a house, and many houses
have fallen into disrepair.

Against this seemingly desperate backdrop, the community's resilience
is impressive. Elders say that their connection to the land, which
they see as intimately tied to their language, is alive and well.
Community members hunt for food, rely on traditional knowledge to
gather medicine and food, and are well acquainted with the land they
still live on, despite the 59-acre boundary.

Their resilience extends to political dealings. After years of
peaceful blockades of logging roads, the community signed the
Trilateral Agreement with Canada and Quebec, a landmark
resource-sharing agreement that was praised by the UN. One academic
observer wrote that the agreement "constitutes a category of its own
and is unmatched in its vision as well as in the problems its
proponents have had to overcome."

"This Agreement was designed to address a situation, where a small
aboriginal community, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake in La Verendrye
Park, pursuing an essentially land-based way of life, saw themselves
confronted with aggressive resource exploitation in their traditional
use area..."

Cognizant that government policy does not recognize and accommodate
aboriginal title to the land (at least, not in the current political
climate), they came up with an innovative approach of curbing the
logging, recreational hunting and damming that had taken place on
their traditional territory while giving the community a say in where
and when outside uses of the land would happen. The community spent
considerable time and resources mapping out all of its traditional use
areas, detailing their uses of the indigenous plant and animal life.
The report advocates policies that "sustain and expand the
environmental resource base," while enabling their traditional way of
life to continue.

The first phase of the agreement was signed in 1991. Since then, the
Federal and Provincial governments have done much to try to back out
of it. Twice, they have played politics with divisions within the
community, imposing minority faction Band governments against the
customary leadership selection rules that Indian Affairs is supposed
to uphold.

The last time they did that was in March. Under a Third Party Manager
imposed by Indian Affairs in 2006, new staff were placed in schools,
who punished children for speaking Algonquin. Peaceful blockades
attempting to keep the imposed band chief off the reserve were met
with pepper spray and arrests. Members of the last legitimately
appointed chief and council and their supporters have faced systematic
police harassment.

Since March, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake have demonstrated several
times, always demanding the same things: that the government observe a
leadership reselection process and acknowledge the result, and that
the government uphold its obligations under the Trilateral Agreement.
They have been to Ottawa several times. In one case, Algonquins and
several supporters (I was among them) staged a sit-in in Lawrence
Cannon's office.

Rather than promise to meet the demands or negotiate with the
protesters, Cannon ordered police to remove us. Six were arrested.

Media coverage has been anemic. Officials have taken the cynical but
effective tack of framing it as a complicated situation, with many
competing interests and personalities. The truth of this is allowed to
overshadow, if not block out completely, what is straightforward about
the agreement, the community, and their desire to be able to continue
their way of life and govern themselves with dignity. Pressed with
multiple deadlines, journalists do the equivalent of throwing their
hands in the air and call it a "dispute" over "leadership". Racist
assumptions do the heavy lifting, and the message becomes "Indians
fighting over money."

A kid is in the back of a truck that's moving away from the advancing
line of riot police. He's got a faux-gold-encrusted cap on that reads
"millionaire." He sings the chorus of War's 1975 single.

"Why can't we be friends, why can't weee be friends."

The police are pushing us further up the access road that leads to the
reserve. The Algonquins begin to react as if to an insult.

"What, are you going to walk with us all the way to Rapid Lake?"

"Are you going to trap us on that fifty-nine acres?"

"We'll keep coming back, we'll keep fighting."

The last protesters, isolated from hearing the yells of demonstrators,
and made to feel excruciating pain with blankets over their heads,
"clip out" from the lock-boxes, but we can no longer see them. The
police have pushed us a few hundred metres back. Alonquins fall trees
in the road and build fires to block their advance. The riot police
step around the fires and keep coming.

It is past dark, five kilometres away from the highway, at the
reserve. A former chief walks by.

"I guess we've got their answer, eh?"

He smiles as he says it.

Community members have gathered around a campfire. An elder addresses
the non-native supporters.

"We're glad you came," she said.

"Now you see what they do to us."

Kids on the reserve are playing police-themed versions of childhood
games. "I arrested you."

It's the next morning. The community is preparing a feast for the
afternoon. Moose meat, fried bannock, fish caught between shifts at
the blockade. An elder sits in his kitchen, fielding calls from the
media. The media coverage of the blockade and subsequent attack will
be minimal, and limited to local outlets.

"We're going to keep fighting."

His tone makes it clear that there was never any doubt.

--

In the Media: Barriere Lake Algonquins go to meet with Cannon, Federal MP, and Face Racist Remarks

2008-09-18T01:08:00.003-04:00

Anti-Colonial Films Under the Stars - Sept 18th

2008-09-09T09:23:00.000-04:00

Anti-colonial Films Under the Stars II

2008-09-03T10:47:00.002-04:00

A Barriere Lake Solidarity & Tadamon! co-presentation

Join us under the moon in downtown Montreal for a triple-bill of documentary films, depicting communities engaged in non-violent struggles against land theft and colonization in Palestine and Canada.

Films: Palestinian Blues (2005, 80 mins)
Blockade! Algonquins Defend the Forest (1990, 25 min)
Algonquins of Barriere Lake (2008, 40 mins)

Where: in the lot beside l'Insoumise, the Anarchist Bookstore
2035 St-Laurent
(between Ontario and Sherbrooke)
metro St-Laurent
When: Thursday, Sept 18 @ 7:30pm (Rain date: Sunday, Sept 21 @ 7:30pm)
Free entry!
*Be sure to bring a blanket, lawn chair and a sweater.

Stay tuned for more events in the Barriere Lake Solidarity Popular Education Series

OPIRG Presents:

2008-08-28T16:37:00.000-04:00

TORONTO

Blockade: Algonquins Defend the Forest, 1989-2008

Panel discussion and film screening
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

WEDNESDAY, November 5, 7:00pm, 2008
OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), Room # 2-211
University of Toronto
252 Bloor Street W (@ St. George Subway Station)

Donations encouraged
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

OPIRG Toronto presents: Blockade: Algonquins Defend the Forest, 1989-2008

2008-08-28T16:35:00.000-04:00

Blockade: Algonquins Defend the Forest, 1989-2008

Panel discussion and film screening
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

WEDNESDAY, November 5, 7:00pm, 2008
OISE (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), Room # 2-211
University of Toronto
252 Bloor Street W (@ St. George Subway Station)

Donations encouraged
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Hear from Barriere Lake Algonquin community representatives, following an intense summer of marches on Ottawa, sustained calls for public support, protests in front of Premier Charest's office, an occupation of local MP Lawrence Cannon's office, and culminating in a one-day blockade of Highway 117 that resulted in 9 arrests and the deployment of riot police and tear gas. A short film of the recent blockades will be screened.

Since the Department of Indian Affairs ousted their Customary Chief and Council in March 2008 and used the Surete du Quebec to forcibly impose the authority of a minority community faction, the Algonquins have been organizing to roll-back the quiet coup d'etat. They are campaigning to make the government honour a number of agreements, including the Trilateral, a internationally praised land co-management and resource-revenue sharing deal the Algonquins signed with Canada and Quebec in 1991. It remains unimplemented.

Community spokespeople from Barriere Lake: Norman Matchewan and Marylynn Poucachiche are teachers in Barriere Lake's Algonquin elementary school and Barriere Lake's youth spokespeople. Also featuring Russell Diabo, Aboriginal policy analyst.

***Donations of money are encouraged to support the community's campaign – they need money for gas to travel. Click here for a full list of community needs and to make an online donation: http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/donations.html

For more information Contact:
Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG)
Research – Education – Action on Social and Environmental Issues
www.opirguoft.org
opirg.toronto@utoronto.ca / (416)-978-7770

Barrière Lake: Is anybody home?

2008-08-18T13:30:00.000-04:00

http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=15318

Barrière Lake: Is anybody home?
Sara Falconer

For several months, a group of Algonquins from Barrière Lake have been trying to reach Canada's government. Last week, they showed up at the Ottawa home of deputy minister of Indian Affairs Michael Wernick. Is anyone going to open the door?

On Aug. 8, about 30 representatives from the Barrière Lake reserve, three hours north of Ottawa, marched to Werner's house to request a meeting with him. The deputy minister was not present when the Algonquins arrived, but reportedly commented that he was "disappointed" by their tactics. The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs declined to comment further, saying that Wernick was on holidays when the demonstration took place.

"Deputy minister Wernick shouldn't feel disappointed," youth spokesperson Norman Matchewan said in a release. "He should feel ashamed that he allows this behaviour of Indian Affairs to continue."

"At his office or at his house, what matters is getting our message to him," says Marylynn Poucachiche, another Barrière Lake spokesperson.

"We want to tell him that they should send in observers to oversee the leadership reselection in our community, and to respect the outcome of it."

The group is asking that the Government of Canada revoke its March 10 decision to recognize as chief and council members what they call a "minority faction" not selected according to Barrière Lake's customs. The community is one of the few left in the country that has preserved its traditional form of governance and language.

So far, their message

has received little response. In June, six demonstrators were arrested at the Gatineau office of Conservative MP Lawrence Cannon, also asking for an audience with him. Almost 100 members of the small reserve of 450 attended several days of subsequent protests.

The underlying issue, they argue, is the government's reluctance to honour an agreement to protect their land and resources. In 1991, following years of protest to prevent clear-cutting, the Canadian, Quebec and Barrière Lake Algonquin governments signed the landmark Trilateral Agreement.

"These officials don't want to meet with us because of that agreement," Poucachiche says. "We've been trying to get the government back to the table to complete the negotiations." The agreement, based on principles of sustainable development, would also provide for resource revenue sharing.

The extremely impoverished community has an employment rate of 80 to 90 per cent. Despite the fact that vast energy resources are extracted from their land, the residents are one of the last communities in Quebec still using diesel generators.

"I guess it's too much of a hassle, or it's going to create a precedent for other First Nations," she says. "We're only asking for about $1.5-million of the hundreds of millions these companies extract."

Hence the Canadian government's support of Chief Casey Ratt's "illegitimate" council, she adds. "This other group hasn't mentioned anything about the Trilateral Agreement."

Algonquins Block Highway 117

2008-08-09T04:09:00.001-04:00

Photos
Flikr Photos
Ottawa Citizen

Video
Blockade Video

Articles
The Ottawa Citizen: Sûreté du Quebec breaks up aboriginal highway blockade (October 8, 2008)
The Ottawa Citizen: Protest blocks highway (October 7, 2008)
CBC: Algonquin protesters, Quebec police trade accusations of force (October 7, 2008)
Newswire: Barriere Lake Algonquins peacefully blockade highway 117 in Northern Quebec: Community loses patience with broken agreements and federal interference in leadership selection (October 6, 2008)
The Dominion: Riot Police Target Barriere Lake Algonquin Blockade (October 6, 2008)
The Dominion: Algonquins Hospitalized After Police Attack (October 7, 2008)
The Montreal Gazette: Riot squad clears highway blockade (October 7, 2008)
The Montreal Gazette: Blockade continues northwest of Montreal (October 6, 2008)

Political Theatre at Michael Wernick's

2008-08-08T22:21:00.002-04:00

Algonquins of Barriere Lake and Supporters make a personal visit to see Michael Wernick, Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs, and perform street theatre.

For more photos and a description of the action, click here

Media Advisory for August 13 : Deputy Minister Wernick gives Algonquins the slip, disparages efforts to end Indian Affairs' illegal meddling

2008-08-08T02:08:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs gives Barriere Lake Algonquins the slip, disparages their efforts to end Indian Affairs' illegal meddling in their governance

Ottawa, ON / - On Friday, August 8, Algonquins from Barriere Lake and their supporters protested at the home of Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs Michael Wernick. They hoped a delegation could meet with the Deputy Minister, but he slipped out of his house just before the Algonquins arrived and told a journalist he was "disappointed" by the Algonquin's tactics.

"He's disappointed we were in front of his house," says Marylynn Poucachiche, a Barriere Lake spokesperson. "Compare that to our disappointment about Indian Affairs' illegal meddling in our internal affairs and their violation of our constitutionally-protected rights to customary governance."

"Deputy Minister Wernick shouldn't feel disappointed," added Norman Matchewan, a youth spokesperson for Barriere Lake. "He should feel ashamed that he allows this behaviour of Indian Affairs to continue."

The Barriere Lake Algonquins are demanding that the Government of Canada revoke its illegal decision of March 10, 2008, to recognize as Chief and Council members of a minority faction not selected according to Barriere Lake's customs nor supported by a majority of the community, and to respect the outcome of a new leadership selection process in accordance with Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code.

Instead of meeting Barriere Lake's demands, Pierre Nepton, the Associate Director of the Quebec Regional Office of Indian Affairs, has suggested further violating their leadership customs by imposing an Indian Act electoral governance system on the community, which would be a direct violation of Barriere Lake's constitutionally-protected Aboriginal Rights.

The Algonquins also want the Government to uphold signed agreements with the community, dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development, conservation, and resource co-management process praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada walked away from the agreement in 2001.

Last month, members of Barriere Lake gathered for multi-day protests outside the office of Minister Lawrence Cannon and the Department of Indian Affairs in Gatineau.

"We'll leave politicians and bureaucrats alone when the Department of Indian Affairs treats our community fairly, honours its agreements, and stays out of our business," concluded Matchewan. "Until then, we're not going to stop protesting."

- 30 -

Photos of the action (for tif files, please get in touch)

Media Contacts:

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: (819) 435 - 2142

Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake youth spokesperson: (819) 435 - 2142

Media Advisory for August 8: ABL visit Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs house

2008-08-07T22:33:00.001-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, August 8, 2008

Barriere Lake Algonquins protest at home of Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs Michael Wernick, whose Ministry has illegally interfered in their internal governance and refused to honour signed agreements

Ottawa, ON / – Starting at 1:00pm, Friday, August 8, 2008, Algonquins from the Barriere Lake First Nation and their supporters will march to the home of Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs Michael Wernick, located at 266 Clemow Ave, west of Bank Street, where they will demand a meeting with the Minister as well as perform public theatre. They are calling for the Government of Canada to support the outcome of a new leadership selection process to be held in accordance with Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code, and to revoke their illegal decision to recognize a minority faction as Chief and Council, who were not selected according to Barriere Lake's customs and not supported by a majority of the community.

The Barriere Lake Algonquins also want the Government to uphold signed agreements with the community.

Rather than meet Barriere Lake's demands, Pierre Nepton, the Associate Director of the Quebec Regional Office of Indian Affairs, has suggested further violating their leadership customs by imposing an Indian Act electoral governance system on the community, which would be a direct violation of Barriere Lake's constitutionally protected Aboriginal Rights.

"The Canadian government and Michael Wernick, the top-ranking Indian Affairs civil servant, needs to reign in their Indian Affairs bureaucrats, who are out of control, threatening to flagrantly violate our constitutionally-protected rights to customary governance," says Marylynn Poucachiche, a spokesperson for Barriere Lake.

In 1991, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, located three hours north of Ottawa, signed a Trilateral Agreement with the governments of Canada and Quebec, establishing a landmark sustainable development, conservation, and resource co-management process praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.

Since that time, the Government of Canada has repeatedly evaded its obligations under the agreement. On March 10th, 2008, for the third time in 12 years, the Government of Canada interfered in the internal governance of Barriere Lake, ousting the Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council and recognizing a Chief and Council whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council say were not selected in accordance with the community's customs and whom the majority of the community does not support.

"I don't think it's right for any government to interfere this way," says Poucachiche. "The government should respect our traditions and customs and continue with the negotiation and implementation of the signed agreements."

Last month, members of the community gathered for multi-day protests outside the office of Minister Lawrence Cannon and the Department of Indian Affairs in Gatineau.

– 30 –

Media Contacts:

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819.435.2142
Michel Thuscky, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819.435.2171

Media: Barriere Lake Algonquins stage multi-day protest in Ottawa/Gatineau

2008-07-18T23:36:00.008-04:00

Rabble Video: Barriere Lake Algonquins return to Ottawa, again (July 17, 2008)

Radio-Canada: Manifestation devant les bureaux de Cannon (July 17, 2008)

CBC News: Quebec Algonquin community opens own school over language fears (July 17, 2008)

Free Speech Radio News: Algonquins of Barriere Lake want Canadian government out of internal affairs (July 18, 2008)

Le Cagibi, 5490 St. Laurent, MONTREAL

2008-07-18T23:29:00.001-04:00

Screening: The Invisible Nation, followed by presentation by Barriere Lake Solidarity
Monday July 21, 2008 @ 7pm

Media Advisory

2008-07-18T23:26:00.003-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Barriere Lake Algonquins begin multi-day demonstrations in Ottawa: demand Government of Canada stop illegally meddling in Barriere Lake's internal governance and honour its signed agreements

Ottawa, ON / – At 12:30pm, Algonquins from the Barriere Lake First Nation will begin a demonstration in front of Minister Lawrence Cannon's office at the Ministry of Transport, planning to return on Thursday before continuing their protest Friday in front of the Department of Indian Affairs in Gatineau. They are demanding a meeting with Minister Cannon, that the Government oversee a leadership re-selection in accordance with Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code, and that the Government honour its signed agreements with the community.

"As a Cabinet member who is the representative in Barriere Lake's riding, Cannon can ensure our customs are respected," Barriere Lake spokesperson Michel Thusky. "His inaction shows that his Conservative Government's residential school apology was meaningless, as they continue violating our customs."

In 1991 the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, a community three hours north of Ottawa, signed a Trilateral Agreement with the governments of Canada and Quebec, establishing a landmark sustainable development, conservation, and resource co-management process praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. However, the Government of Canada has regularly tried to evade their obligations under the agreement. On March 10th, 2008, for the third time in 12 years, the government of Canada interfered in the internal governance of Barriere Lake, ousting the Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council and recognizing a Chief and Council whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council say were not selected in accordance with the community's customs and whom the majority of the community does not support.

"I don't think it's right for any government to interfere this way," says Marylynn Poucachiche, another Barriere Lake spokesperson. "The government should respect our traditions and customs and continue with the negotiation of the signed agreements."

"Cannon would rather choose the courts over a reasonable request to talk and honour the law, contrary to his public statements," continued Thusky. On August 9, 2007, Cannon told a crowd in Maniwaki that his government was committed "to honouring its lawful obligations to First Nations" and "demonstrating the advantages of co-operative negotiations that enable us to resolve longstanding grievances without resorting to the courts." [1]

"The community will pursue Cannon wherever he is publicly," Thusky concluded. "We will only stop when Cannon honours his word, and ensures his Conservative government observes a leadership reselection and then stops meddling in our affairs for good."

Grand Chief Norman Young, of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat (ANS), the Tribal Council representing the Algonquin First Nations of Barriere Lake, Wolf Lake, and Timiskaming, recently issued a letter to Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, encouraging him to support a leadership reselection process in the community. The Algonquin Nation Secretariat continues to recognize and work with deposed Chief Nottaway and his Council.

– 30 –

Media Contacts:

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: (613) 255 -1961

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson (available 12-1pm, 4pm–onward): (819) 435-2171

Norman Young, Algonquin Nation Secretariat Grand Chief: (819) 627 -6869

Footnotes
[1] http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/spch/2007/kza-eng.asp

Ottawa Citizen: Barriere Lake (July 15, 2008)

2008-07-18T11:27:00.002-04:00

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/views/story.html?id=784f0885-a0b4-4886-98bb-ef1aea207412&p=2%3Cbr%20/%3E

Boyce Richardson, Citizen Special
July 15, 2008

I first came in contact with the Algonquins of Barrière Lake soon after the Brundtland Report on the global environment was published by the United Nations in 1987.

That report had been endorsed by prime minister Brian Mulroney, and it recommended that indigenous people should have "a decisive voice" in all development decisions about their traditional lands.

There was no doubt that the greater part of the so-called La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, north of Maniwaki, formed the traditional lands of this impoverished community.

Or that they had never signed any instrument of surrender covering these lands.

Or that these lands were being remorselessly clear-cut from under them, without taking into account their interests.

Their approach to the prime minister that he "put up or shut up" in relation to their traditional lands got them nowhere. The clear-cutting continued, and the community decided to block access of the loggers to the forest, so far as they could with their limited means.

What I saw when I arrived there with a National Film Board crew was an impressive challenge mounted by one of the poorest communities in Canada, to the combined might of industry and government.

The outcome was an agreement - known as the Trilateral Agreement - with the federal and Quebec governments, to make a detailed survey of the lands in question that would establish the areas of central interest to the continuation of Algonquin life, and work out a cutting plan that would take into account everyone's interest.

To say that the governments have been reluctant to implement this agreement would be an understatement.

First the Quebec, then the federal government withdrew and then, under pressure from outside mediators such as Clifford Lincoln, the respected federal MP and former Quebec environment minister, and judge Réjean Paul, they rejoined, and then quit again, while, ironically enough, the logging companies became the ones who were willing to collaborate.

I always knew there was dissension among the people in Barrière Lake.

Opposition was centred around the family of a wonderful old lady, Lena Nottaway, who had established a large camp for her family north of the reserve. Her family were traditionalists, adhering to the old ways.

There were volatile people on both sides of this argument, but their relationships were not improved when the Indian Affairs department decided in 1996 to depose the leadership elected under traditional procedures, and recognized an alternative band council from members who were by this time living in Maniwaki.

Of course, this extremely provocative act didn't succeed, but who could have been surprised by it when it was totally in line with the federal department's traditional "divide and rule" tactics that they have been using for two centuries? Recently, the feds have tried to repeat their dreadful manoeuvre.

My later reading convinced me that since Europeans first arrived among them, the Barrière Lake people have known nothing but hardship, promises and betrayals.

They are used to this kind of manipulation.

The decision to rob Barrière Lake of its traditional hunting grounds; the decision to jam the people into the 59 acres of Rapid Lake; the handing over to outside hunters of the animals they depended on; the many failed programs, programmed to fail, as far as I could judge; the manifest bad faith of the federal government in its negotiations over the Trilateral Agreement: all of these were inexcusable. So the later decision to intervene in the governance of Barrière Lake seems to be simply a continuation of the neglect, misunderstanding and arrogance that the feds have always shown toward this community.

I knew, liked, and admired people on both sides of the community argument. I have found them to be a down-to-earth people with a real attachment to the land, which has continued even against the extraordinary interference and provocations of these governments.

I have found many of them to be repositories of the ancient bush wisdom of aboriginal hunter/gatherers.

Through every possible discouragement they have clung to their language and way of life.

But -- is this the best that these people can expect in the way of governance? Is this the best they can hope for in the way of financial and moral support from the federal government, which is constitutionally responsible for their care?

Barrière Lake suffers from being remote from the cities; it is difficult for its people to get a real hearing in the cities. And the fact that they are poor, in addition, puts them into the category of voiceless people occupying the bottom rung of Canadian society.

And yet, the people of Barrière Lake are battling on in their effort to get the governments involved to fulfill the many promises that have been made to them over recent decades. They deserve the active support of everyone who cares about how Canada is governed.

Boyce Richardson is an Ottawa writer and filmmaker. His 1990 film, Blockade, Algonquins Defend the Forest, will be screened along with a panel discussion as part of an event at Arts Court tomorrow evening.

Events

2008-07-13T14:29:00.010-04:00

Multi-day Barriere Lake Algonquin Picket in Ottawa/Gatineau
Lawrence Cannon's office at the Ministry of Transport (330 Sparks Street, OTTAWA)
Wednesday July 16 @ 12:30pm-5pm & Thursday July 17 @ 11:00am-5pm
Department of Indian Affairs (Corner of Wellington and Montcalm, GATINEAU)
Friday July 18 @ 11:00am-5pm

Screening: Blockade! Algonquins Defend the Forest, followed by a panel with the film's director and Barriere Lake community members
Club SAW, OTTAWA
Wednesday July 16 @ 7pm

Poetry Slam!
Umi Cafe. 610 Somerset Street W, OTTAWA
Friday July 18 @ 7pm

Photo Essay:

2008-07-12T01:08:00.003-04:00

Occupying Cannon's Office
*Reprinted from the Dominion

MEDIA ADVISORY

2008-07-11T23:06:00.001-04:00

Friday, July 11, 2008

Algonquins and their supporters arrested for demanding Minister Cannon respect their leadership customs: release of Riel report confirms Conservative Government's illegal meddling in Barriere Lake's internal governance.

Montreal, QC / – On Thursday June 26, 2008, seven Algonquin youth from Barriere Lake, along with five non-native supporters, peacefully occupied the office of Lawrence Cannon for five hours, demanding that Cannon meet with them and ensure his Conservative Government oversee a leadership reselection in Barriere Lake. Six people were arrested and charged for refusing to leave until the demands were met.

"Cannon didn't even have the respect to meet with us," said Barriere Lake spokesperson Michel Thusky, whose daughter was one of those arrested. "As a Cabinet member who is the representative in Barriere Lake's riding, Cannon can ensure our customs are respected. His inaction shows that his Conservative Government's residential school apology was meaningless, as they continue violating our customs."

The release of a report written by Laurier Riel, a Maniwaki Court Worker, confirms that the Department of Indian Affairs deliberately violated Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code in their effort to recognize members of a minority faction as the new leadership. Present at an alleged leadership selection conducted by a minority faction on January 30, 2008, Riel wrote that he could not "guarantee" the Customary Governance Code was respected.

Despite Riel's doubts, and warnings from Barriere Lake's Elder's Council that the alternative leadership selection was illegitimate, the federal government rescinded recognition of Barriere Lake's Customary Chief and Council, supported by the community's majority, on March 10, 2008. In their place, they appointed members of the minority faction as the new leadership, using the Surete du Quebec to forcibly impose their authority. The federal government claimed Riel's report provided a "significant amount of
information" justifying this unilateral leadership change, but refused to show the report to the Barriere Lake community. After two and half months of stonewalling, the Riel report was released to the legal counsel for Barriere Lake's Elder's Council, who are challenging the leadership change in federal court.

Contradicting the federal government's claim that they ensured Barriere Lake's customary leadership selection was followed, Riel writes in his report that "my statement" that "to the best of my knowledge [the leadership selection] was in accordance with the Mitchikanibikok Anishnabe Onakinakewin [Customary Governance Code] could cause confusion." He can "not guarantee that all the other rules on leadership revision were observed," describing how Elder's Council member Harry Wawatie as well as the ousted Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway and his Council were not present at the leadership selection, in violation of Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code. Riel also writes that he cannot "guarantee" that proper notice had been given to the Barriere Lake Elder's Council or to eligible members of the Barriere Lake community.

"Cannon would rather choose the courts over a reasonable request to talk and honour the law, the opposite of his public statements," said Thusky. On August 9, 2007, Cannon told a crowd in Maniwaki that his government was committed "to honouring its lawful obligations to First Nations" and "demonstrating the advantages of co-operative negotiations that enable us to resolve longstanding grievances without resorting to the courts." [1]

"The community will pursue Cannon wherever he is publicly," Thusky concluded. "We will only stop when Cannon honours his word, and ensures his Conservative government observes a leadership reselection and then stops meddling in our affairs for good."

Grand Chief Norman Young, of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat (ANS), the Tribal Council representing the Algonquin First Nations of Barriere Lake, Wolf Lake, and Temiskaming, recently issued a letter to Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl, encouraging him to support a leadership reselection process in the community. The Algonquin Nation Secretariat continues to recognize and work with deposed Chief Nottaway and his Council.

Media Contacts:

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson (available 12-1pm, 4pm–onward): (819) 435-2171

Benjamin Nottaway, Customary Chief of Barriere Lake: (819) 435- 2108

Norman Young, Algonquin Nation Secretariat Grand Chief (available from Monday) : 819 - 627 -6869

Footnotes
[1] http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/spch/2007/kza-eng.asp

Media Advisory for August 8: ABL visit Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs house

2008-07-08T10:33:00.001-04:00

Media Advisory for August 8: ABL visit Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs house

2008-07-08T10:33:00.000-04:00

Ottawa Express: Algonquins' of Barriere Lake occupy Lawrence Cannon's Buckingham office (July 3, 2008):

2008-07-03T10:45:00.005-04:00

http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=15039

BARRIERE LAKE

SARA FALCONER
July 3rd, 2008

Patience isn't such a virtue, it seems. On June 25, a group of Algonquin youths from Barrière Lake and supporters entered the Gatineau office of Conservative MP Lawrence Cannon. For hours they refused to leave unless they were granted a meeting with him. In the end, the only response to their endurance came from police: six demonstrators, including one minor, were taken to Hull Prison.

The impoverished Algonquin community of Barrière Lake, located about 300 km north of Ottawa in Quebec, has already been waiting for more than 20 years for the government to comply with a landmark 1991 agreement to conserve the forest and wildlife, and to give them a share in the revenue from the logging and hydro projects on their traditional territories. Corporations extract $100-million a year, while the local unemployment rate is 90 per cent.

In March, members of the population protested what they called a "government orchestrated coup d'état," in which the previous Customary Council Chief, Benjamin Nottaway, was ousted by rivals alleging mismanagement. Things heated up on June 1, when government-supported Chief Casey Ratt's house burned down. Responding to a police investigation of the suspected arson, Nottaway issued a statement denying that he or any member of the Customary Council were responsible.

"There's no doubt that the Department [of Indian Affairs] recognizes a minority faction. The reason why they recognize this Council is because they don't want to recognize the agreement that we signed previously,"
says Michel Thusky, a community spokesperson whose daughter was one of those arrested in Cannon's office.

The demonstrators wanted to meet with the Minster to demand a leadership reselection process, with outside observers, and an end to government interference in the internal governance of Barrière Lake.

Thusky asks people in outside communities to help put pressure on Cannon and the Department of Indian Affairs. "I'm a residential school survivor. When Prime Minister Harper made his apology... it really deepened my wound, because here he is, saying one thing, and doing the opposite. He can keep his apology."

Martin Lukacs is a member of Montreal's Barrière Lake solidarity collective who was also arrested on June 25. "We told them we would stop disobeying the law if Cannon did as well. It's a small act of civil disobedience to draw attention to a far greater crime." Cannon was not available for comment at press time.

They were released after being charged with trespassing, causing a disturbance and interfering with the lawful use of property. "It's ironic because the demand we're making is that Cannon's Conservative government should stop interfering with the lawful governance of Barrière Lake," he points out.

Lukacs says that there will be more such actions if that's what it takes. "The community has never taken this government manipulation on their knees."

Canwest: Indian Affairs official frustrated by "games" that lead to occupation, arrests.

2008-06-28T14:19:00.000-04:00

Indian Affairs official frustrated by ``games'' that lead to occupation, arrests.
Canwest News Service
Friday, June 27, 2008
Byline: Jorge Barrera
Source: Canwest News Service

A senior official with the Department of Indian Affairs has expressed frustration with a group of Quebec Algonquins who were behind Thursday's occupation of Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon's office that lead to the arrest of six people.

Pierre Nepton, Indian Affairs' Quebec associate director general, said the department would have to invoke rarely used powers to meet the demands of a group supporting the ousted chief and council of Barriere Lake, which sits about 300 kilometres north of Ottawa.

``I don't understand what game is going on around this subject,'' said Nepton, in an interview Thursday afternoon. ``It is unfortunate there is a misunderstanding in the community around leadership.''

Gatineau police arrested six people, including a minor, Thursday after a group of Algonquins from Barriere Lake and non-native activists occupied Cannon's Gatineau, Que., office. Lieut. Luc Seguin said police arrested three women, two men and one youth after they ignored requests they leave the building.

All were charged with disrupting the peace, trespassing and obstructing a police officer.

The protesters entered the office at about 11:30 a.m. in hopes of forcing the minister to intervene in a bitter leadership dispute that has plagued Barriere Lake.

Cannon's Pontiac riding includes the community.

Only two of the arrested, Jessica Thusky, 26, and a 17-year-old minor, were from Barriere Lake, said Montreal resident Courtney Kirkby, 23, who was arrested. Also arrested were Montreal residents Martin Lukacs, 24, Maya Rolbin- Ghane, 26 and independent journalist Drew Jay, 28. They belong to a group called Barriere Lake Solidarity.

The protesters want Cannon to lobby Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl to order a new leadership selection process in the community.

Nepton said the department could force a band election under little used Indian Act powers that would set aside the community's current traditional leadership selection process. However, Nepton added: ``That is not what the department wants to do. I can't remember the last time it was used (those powers).''

Long simmering tensions in the community exploded earlier this year with physical clashes after a faction long opposed to the existing traditional leadership claimed to have formed the band council.

Indian Affairs acknowledged the new government headed by Chief Casey Ratt, whose house recently burned down under suspicious circumstances.

The previous band council, led by former acting chief Benjamin Nottaway, has received the backing of the Algonquin Nation Secretariat and the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs which accused Indian Affairs of supporting a coup in the community.

LEGITIMATE LEADERSHIP RESPONDS TO ALLEGATIONS OF ARSON

2008-06-11T13:14:00.001-04:00

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Customary Council Denies Allegations of Arson in Latest House Fire: Blames the Department of Indian Affairs for Negligence

(Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory/June 5, 2008) – Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway issued a statement today denying that he or any member of the Customary Council were responsible for the alleged arson of a house on the Rapid Lake Reserve that caught on fire last Sunday, June 1, 2008.

On behalf of the Barriere Lake Customary Council, Acting Chief Benjamin Nottaway stated today, “I am confirming that neither I, or any of the members of my Council were involved in the June 1st house fire on our Reserve. We also question the independence of the SQ investigation of the fire. Our people know that the SQ has a bias against our community members. They have already displayed this bias in their selective policing methods and arrests in our community. We know the SQ are being used politically by the federal and Quebec governments to forcibly maintain a Department of Indian Affairs (DIA)-imposed minority faction who is on the payroll of the federal government and working to undermine the previous agreements our First Nation has signed with the governments of Canada and Quebec.”

Acting Chief Nottaway went on to state, “We believe the real crime here is the condition of our community housing and the 90% unemployment rate. My own house burned in 2004, because of the poor wiring. It has not been repaired because there was no insurance. My family and I have been living with my in-laws ever since then.”

Houses in Rapid Lake also burned to the ground in January and the fall of 2007. In both cases, the fire truck was not working and the DIA-imposed Third Party Manager did not pay for housing insurance. There were allegations of arson in the latter case, but again it was determined that arson was not involved. During the fire of June 1st, 2008, the fire truck was not working and there was no insurance on the house that burned. The residents have moved into an apartment they already occupied in Val d’Or, Quebec.

Acting Chief Nottaway concluded by saying, “we would feel better if the fire investigation was done by a body independent from the SQ. Because the SQ is being used as a political tool by the outside governments, the SQ has no credibility in our community. In fact, the local Fire Chief—who is under the authority of the DIA-imposed Third Party Manager—has admitted, in front of the SQ, to breaking out all of the windows of a vehicle owned by one of our community spokespersons on June 4th. The SQ in this instance had no choice but to arrest him. Under the circumstances we ask that people be careful with their allegations until we know the facts for sure through an unbiased investigation.”

- 30 -

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michel Thusky, Spokesperson (819) 435-2171

Globe & Mail: Government-imposed chief's house burns downs

2008-06-10T01:32:00.003-04:00

www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ story/LAC.20080604.BARRIERE04/TPStory/National

The Globe & Mail finally deigned to report on the situation in Barriere Lake, after a hiatus of several months. They weren't interested in the government orchestrated coup d'etat of March, nor the several protests conducted by the community in the ensuing months. But a fire, that's sensational!

Bill Curry has written previously about Barriere Lake, one article about Barriere Lake's short-lived camp-out on Parliament Hill in the summer of 2007, and another about the school closing in the community. The first was decent, but the second uncritically accepted the government's description of events, assuming that their "intervention" in the community was well-intentioned. But there are mounds of legal evidence, freely available on our website, accessible to Curry, that conclusivly demonstrate otherwise. Curry has also yet to visit the reservation.

This latest article, however, is quite bad. There's nothing like an alleged arson, as well as allegations of band "corruption," to stoke the usual prejudices about natives, in a story mostly devoid of the necessary political context.

BARRIERE LAKE RESERVE
Arson suspected after fire levels native chief's house

BILL CURRY

June 4, 2008

OTTAWA -- Quebec police are launching a criminal investigation into a suspected arson on the Barriere Lake reserve after the house of a native chief went up in flames over the weekend.

Police say investigators discovered flammable liquid at the scene, leading them to suspect criminal activity.

The possibility of arson raises the stakes in a bitter leadership dispute that has divided this impoverished Quebec Algonquin community 300 kilometres northwest of Ottawa.

["Divided" gives the impression of an balanced split; but the deposed Chief and Council are supported by a large majority. Even if Curry didn't have time to visit the reservation, and make a judgement for himself, he could have read Quebec Superior Court judge Rejean Paul's report from 2007, issued at time of the last leadership "challenge." It is available on our resources section. Judge Paul labelled the faction now collaborating with the federal government a "small minority" that "clumsily followed the Customary Governance Code." There is no evidence available to indicate that the number or the lack of respect for customary procedures has changed. ]

Chief Casey Ratt, 35, lived in the small, two-bedroom home with his pregnant wife, two sons and his mother and father. They were looking for a new place to live yesterday. He says he has no doubt the fire was deliberate.

"Right now, we're not quite sure who it is, but we suspect it's the opposition," he said.

Mr. Ratt and a new council were chosen in a band procedure earlier this year.

[Calling the minority faction's leadership challenge a "band procedure" lends it a legitimacy there is no reason to believe it deserves]

The fire occurred on Sunday morning while the Ratt family was at a powwow in Maniwaki, about 200 kilometres southeast of Barriere Lake. The family had already been concerned for their safety. On the previous Tuesday evening, Mr. Ratt said he was watching television with his mother and four-year-old son when vandals smashed his bedroom window and fled.

"The whole window just shattered," he said.

Mr. Ratt and the new members of council say they organized their bid to replace the previous chief and council in January as a group of concerned parents taking a stand against what they saw as a corrupt traditional leadership. Frustrated by alleged mismanagement of the local school and band finances, they called a special community meeting to trigger a provision of the band's leadership code for replacing the chief and council.

["Corrupt native leadership" just sets bells ringing in the minds of Canadians systematically mis-educated by mainstream journalism. A responsible journalist might seek out a smidgen of evidence for this allegation, or at the least ask Mr. Ratt what he means. But when the subject is the alleged corruption of native leadership, well, you don't really need evidence. If Curry had done some digging, he might also have discovered that there is no "provision" that the community can trigger to replace the chief and council; there is, however, a mechanism that can be triggered for a leadership review by Barriere Lake's Elder's Council. In this case, there had been no consensus amongst the Elders about the need for such review (this can be read about in the legal challenge on our resources pages).]

The previous chief and council, led by Benjamin Nottaway, say the meeting was not legitimate and insist they are still in charge. The umbrella regional native group, the Algonquin Nation Secretariat, continues to support Mr. Nottaway as chief.

Mr. Nottaway said yesterday he doubts the fire was deliberate, but if it was, Mr. Ratt's supporters did it to win public support.

"If they're calling it arson, they have the money to pay their own supporters to go burn his own house down," he said. "Us, we're broke. Why would we be doing that?"

Mr. Nottaway and his supporters say Mr. Ratt has been imposed on the community by non-native outsiders because his administration has been too vocal in fighting for a cut of Quebec's natural resources. The reserve used to have its own police force, but Barriere Lake was recently placed under third-party management because of long-standing federal concerns about the way it was run.

[Long-standing federal concerns about the way the community is run is a by-word for: the government is upset that the Algonquins of Barriere Lake will not take an assault on their rights sitting down]

The old chief and council accuse the Quebec and federal governments of using the provincial police to impose a less confrontational chief, claiming that only 30 or 40 people attended the meeting at which the new chief and council were selected, and most of those were band members who don't live on the reserve.

[This happens to be the key to the issue – naturally, the G & M relegates it to the bottom of the article. The number of 30 or 40 is probably accurate, but the only reason we don't know for sure is because the federal government refuses to reveal the report filed by a Maniwaki social worker who observed the process, and which provided the information that the government claims justified the leadership change.]

Media Coverage of May 23rd DEMO

2008-06-02T19:46:00.003-04:00

Video, APTN, National News Prime Time (Friday, 23 May 2008):

Canadian Press, "Algonquins at Barriere Lake, Que., suspend logging operations" (Friday, 23 May 2008)

Algonquins at Barriere Lake, Que., suspend logging operations
Written by THE CANADIAN PRESS
Friday, 23 May 2008

MONTREAL - As aboriginals across Canada prepare for a so-called "National Day of Action" next week, Algonquins from Barriere Lake have taken their own protest to Montreal.

About a dozen members of the community located five hours north of Montreal staged a noon-hour protest in front of Quebec Premier Jean Charest's downtown office.

The Barriere Lake caravan was passing through the city on its way to Toronto and Ottawa where the natives plan to join a huge demonstration next Thursday.

Under the watchful eye of officers in two police cruisers, the protesters told supporters they were unhappy with the attitude of both governments.

Spokesman Michel Thusky says Canada walked away from a trilateral natural resources management agreement in 2001 and Quebec has been sitting on it for 22 months.

Thusky says until the agreement is settled, forestry operations on the territory by logging companies will not be tolerated.

He also complains that Ottawa has ousted the customary chief and council and illegally appointed a small faction as the leadership.

Thusky says he was arrested twice by provincial police in 1995 and again last March during protests in the native community.

Brantford Expositor, “Algonquins take protest to Montreal (Friday, 23 May, 2008):

Algonquins take protest to Montreal
Updated 9 days ago

As aboriginals across Canada prepare for a so-called "National Day of Action'' next week, Algonquins from Barriere Lake have taken their own protest to Montreal.

About a dozen members of the community located five hours north of Montreal staged a noon-hour protest in front of Quebec Premier Jean Charest's downtown office.

The Barriere Lake caravan was passing through the city on its way to Toronto and Ottawa where the natives plan to join a huge demonstration next Thursday.

Under the watchful eye of officers in two police cruisers, the protesters told supporters they were unhappy with the attitude of both governments.

Spokesman Michel Thusky says Canada walked away from a trilateral natural resources management agreement in 2001 and Quebec has been sitting on it for 22 months.

Thusky says until the agreement is settled, forestry operations on the territory by logging companies will not be tolerated.

He also complains that Ottawa has ousted the customary chief and council and illegally appointed a small faction as the leadership.

Thusky says he was arrested twice by provincial police in 1995 and again last March during protests in the native community.

Montreal Hour, “Broken Promises lead to Montreal Promise” (May 22, 2008):

May 22nd, 2008
Broken promises lead to Montreal protest

Algonquin action in Montreal
Stefan Christoff

Algonquin protest broken promises

In Quebec, the Algonquin community of Barrière Lake, located about five hours north of Montreal, is currently engaged in a protracted struggle with both the provincial and federal governments. In 1991, a trilateral agreement was signed between Canada, Quebec and the Barrière Lake local council, a co-management and sustainable development agreement that included protections for Algonquin land use, as well as a plan to conserve the local forest and wildlife.

"This agreement sets a precedent for relations between First Nations communities and the government in that the community would have a decisive say on the way that their territories were used," explains Martin Lukacs from the Barrière Lake Solidarity committee in Montreal. "Also, this agreement would mean that the community would be given their share of the revenue from the logging industry and resource extraction done on their land."

Canada, as represented by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, unilaterally walked away from this agreement in 2001. The Quebec government has also reneged. The dispute surrounding the groundbreaking 1991 agreement stems from the share of profit revenues from natural resources harvested within the 10,000 square kilometres that the agreement spells out. Today, industrial logging continues within the territory as the small community is stepping up both a grassroots protest campaign
with allies across Canada and legal efforts to address Canada's failure to recognize the binding contract.

Representatives from Barrière Lake will be travelling to Montreal to stage a protest with supporters outside the offices of Jean Charest on Friday, May 23, at noon at the corner of McGill College and Sherbrooke Street.

--

Montreal Mirror, “Algonquins Roll In” (May 22, 2008):

Algonquins roll in

Back in 1991, the small Algonquin community of Barriere Lake, five hours north of Montreal, signed a pioneering resource co-management and sustainable development agreement with Canada and Quebec. The agreement was designed to protect Algonquin land uses, conserve the forest and wildlife, and give the indigenous community a share in resource revenue from the logging and hydro projects on their territories.

“It was a precedent-setting agreement,” says Martin Lukacs of the Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective, “and because of that, the government is afraid to honour it. In 2001 the Canadian government walked away from the agreement while Quebec has been delaying its implementation for years. In the meantime, the Department of Indian Affairs has ousted the Customary Chief and Council and, in its place, illegally appointed a small faction that lacks legitimacy in the community. It’s outrageous, and it’s all because they don’t want to share resource revenue with the impoverished Algonquins, revenue that represents $100-million a year.”

The Barriere Lake Caravan will protest outside of Jean Charest’s office (McGill College at Sherbrooke) at noon, Friday, May 23.

For more information, go to barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com.

by CHRIS BARRY

CKUT 90.3FM, Solidarity with Barriere Lake (May 20, 2008):

An Interview with Martin Lukacs of Barriere Lake Solidarity and Russell
Diabo, Policy Advisor to Barriere Lake

For twenty difficult years, the small Algonquin community of Barriere
Lake, 5 hours north of Montreal, has been struggling to hold the
government to their word. In 1991, they signed a pioneering resource
co-management and sustainable development agreement with Canada and Quebec
to protect Algonquin land uses, to conserve the forest and wildlife, and
to give them a share in the resource revenue from the logging and hydro
projects on their traditional territories.

The Canadian government walked away from the agreement in 2001. And the
Quebec government has sat on recommendations for implementing its side of
the agreement since 2006. Instead of fulfilling their obligations, the
Federal Department of Indian Affairs, with the support of the Quebec
government, has been playing divide and rule in Barriere Lake, wreaking
havoc in the community by ousting the Customary Chief and Council and
illegally appointing a small faction as the leadership.

For more information contact:
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com
For more information about the tuesday morning after contact: news@ckut.ca
http://mostafah.wordpress.com

Barriere Lake Solidarity Calendar

2008-05-27T14:54:00.002-04:00

Barriere Lake Solidarity Calendar

2008-05-27T14:54:00.001-04:00

Events

2008-05-13T21:33:00.029-04:00

UPCOMING EVENTS

STAY TUNED....

PAST EVENTS

*ACTION ALERT*

NATIVE RIGHTS UNDER LOCK & KEY: Rallies to support the Algonquins of Barriere Lake and jailed Customary Chief Benjamin Nottaway

OTTAWA
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WEDNESDAY, January 7th, 2008, NOON
WHERE: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
Corner of Wellington and Montcalm in GATINEAU
MARCH to the Gatineau Detention Centre, 75 Rue St. Francois
Click HERE FOR A MAP
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MONTREAL
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THURSDAY, January 8, 2008, NOON
In front of Jean Charest's office
corner of McGill College & Sherbrooke
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WED, JAN 7th: Join us in Ottawa in front of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for speeches by Barriere Lake spokespeople, Elizabeth May of the Green Party, NDP parliamentarians, representatives from the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, formerly jailed leadership from Ardoch First Nation, and others. Then march to the Hull Detention Centre, where Benjamin Nottaway, the 28-year old Acting Chief of Barriere Lake and father of six, will be spending the holidays.

THURS, JAN 8th: Join us in Montreal in front of Jean Charest's office.

* Bring banners, signs, placards, noise-makers...
**Hot chocolate and snacks will be served at both rallies.

Benjamin Nottaway, the 28-year old Customary Chief of Barriere Lake and father of six, will be spending the holidays in jail. He is a political prisoner of the governments of Quebec and Canada, who would rather jail an Indigenous leader for peaceful protest than honour landmark agreements and respect a community's customary leadership selection process.

KINGSTON: Rolling Back a Coup d'Etat:
Barriere Lake Algonquin Territory

Where: Watson Rm 217, Queen's University
When: Thursday, December 4th, 5:30pm
What: Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake community spokesperson, and Suzanne Decoursay, a volunteer teacher from Barriere Lake, speaking in Kingston in both Algonquin and English.
Film screening: Blockade on the 117 (12 mins, 2008) [http://blip.tv/file/1391794]
* Donations encouraged. Food and drinks available.

After exhausting all political avenues, on October 6th and recently on November 19th the Algonquins of Barriere Lake blockaded Highway 117 in northern Quebec. They were demanding the Canadian and Quebec governments honour their signed agreements, for co-management of their traditional territory and resource revenue sharing, and that Canada undo the coup d'etat by sending in an observer to oversee their Customary governance selection process. Both times, the community, including Elders, youth and children, were met with a brutal police responsee -- riot cops kicked, pushed, drew a handgun and used tear gas and pain compliance -- instead of negotiators. [ http://blip.tv/file/1391794 ]

On December 4th a caravan of community members and a few Montreal supporters will be hitting the road to visit First Nations communities facing similar struggles: sovereignty, Aboriginal rights and title, and defending their lands from excessive resource extraction. Kingston will be the first stop. Come join us!

For more info email barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

MONTREAL: Taking Back the Airwaves

Thanks for coming out! We raised almost $200 for the radio, bringing the grand total to $650. We need $2,350 to get reach our goal.

For many years Barriere Lake has experienced the loss of their land, language and culture. In 1961 they were squeezed onto a 59-acre reserve, in the 1970s they were forced to attend Residential School and since 1992 they have been fighting to have agreements with Quebec and Canada that promise the co-management of their traditional territory honoured.

It's time Barriere Lake took something back…

Join Barriere Lake Solidarity in helping Barriere Lake TAKE BACK THE AIRWAVES.

Where: Independent Media Centre, 2035 St. Laurent
When: November 29th, 7pm (Film Screening) & 9pm (Dance Party)
FILM: A Little Bit of So Much Truth ************** DANCE: DJ Aaron Maiden & DJ Medja
Cost: $5-10 sliding scale or DONATE AM/FM RADIO * Barriere Lake Radio t-shirts, drinks and snacks available

Barriere Lake Algonquins, with support from the Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective, are in the process of starting up a 15 watt FM radio station: Mitchikinabiko'inik Nodaktcigen (Radio Barriere Lake) on the Rapid Lake Reserve. The community is working to raise $3,000 needed to get this project off the ground. The primary aim of the project is to serve the Barriere Lake community, with the intention of strengthening language, autonomy, culture and traditions.

Email: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

Cinema Politica, RIDM and Barriere Lake Solidarity present:

A free film screening of NO MORE SMOKE SIGNALS (90 minutes, 2008)

* WHEN: Monday November 17 @ 7:30pm
* WHERE: Room H-110, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve
* COST: Free or by donation at the door

* INFO: Cinema Politca

Please bring a donation for the radio station or a RADIO!

NO MORE SMOKE SIGNALS

Fanny Bräuning / Switzerland / 2008 / 90 min

This CANADIAN PREMIERE SCREENING is co-presented by RIDM, Montreal's International Documentary Film Festival and our friends at Barriere Lake Solidarity who are working with the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, who are starting up their own radio station, similar to the one featured in the film.

SYNOPSIS: A lone radio station on a small hill in South Dakota, founded in the 1970s by activists of the North American Indian resistance movement: KILI RADIO – “Voice of the Lakota Nation". A forgotten place between struggle and hope, between Indian legends and everyday life on the poorest reservation in the USA. But there is Roxanne Two Bulls, who wants to begin a new life on the land of her ancestors, and the young DJ, Derrick, who discovers his talent for music at KILI. There is also Bruce, Caucasian, an attorney who has attempted to get an Indian activist released from prison for the past 30 years. And a sudden appearance by the former AIM activist John Trudell, who launched a career as a musician in Hollywood. Everything converges at KILI RADIO, and instead of sending smoke signals KILI transmits its signals throughout the vast and magnificent landscape, with a delightful combination of humour and melancholy. Native hip hop and broken windshields: pride has been restored – it really is OK to be Lakota.

For more information on this screening and others and to watch the trailer, please visit Cinema Politica.

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Canada: A Pariah State?
Indigenous Rights in Domestic and International Law: A Lecture by Arthur Manuel

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MONDAY, November 3, 6:30pm, 2008
McGill Faculty of Law, Moot Court
1st floor of New Chancellor Day Hall
3644 Peel Street
For childcare or translation call 514-398-7432, 48 hours in advance.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

How well does Canada live up to its reputation as a human rights champion? When it comes to the situation of Indigenous peoples, it falls dreadfully short. Few people know that the Canadian government is regularly condemned by the United Nations. Canada doesn't only ignore minimum provisions of international law -- it also thinks little of domestic legal standards set by the Supreme Court. In its determination to retain control over the lands and resources of Indigenous peoples, Canada runs rough-shod over the emerging framework of international and domestic law supporting the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and ownership of their traditional territories.

Few people can speak better to this reality than Arthur Manuel, spokesperson for the Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade. Former Chief of the Neskonlith Band and chairperson of the Interior Alliance of BC First Nations, Manuel has been a leading voice of opposition to the Canadian government's agenda to "extinguish" Aboriginal and Treaty rights and assimilate Indigenous peoples into the Canadian body politic. Active locally in defense of Shuswap land (during the expansion of the Sun Peaks resort), and at the national level, he has also taken the struggle international, following in the path of his father, the late George Manuel, President of the National Indian Brotherhood and founder of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples. In the lecture, Manuel will lay out an alternative agenda for First Nations to achieve economic empowerment, third order government, and social and environmental justice.

*Sponsored by: McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, QPIRG McGill, Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective

Defenders of the Land:
The Barriere Lake Struggle Continues

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TUESDAY, November 4, 6:00pm, 2008
Native Friendship Centre of Montreal
2001 boulevard St Laurent & Ontario (metro St-Laurent)
Free dinner served by Midnight Kitchen
For childcare or translation call 514-398-7432, 48 hours in advance.
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Since the Department of Indian Affairs ousted their Customary Chief and Council in March 2008 and used the Surete du Quebec to forcibly impose the authority of a minority community faction, the Barriere Lake Algonquins have been organizing to roll-back the quiet coup d'etat. They are campaigning to make the government honour a number of agreements, including the Trilateral, a internationally praised land co-management and resource-revenue sharing deal the Algonquins signed with Canada and Quebec in 1991. It would significantly protect their forests from clear-cut logging, but it remains unimplemented.

They first signed the agreement after a campaign of logging road blockades, which culminated in a one-day blockade of highway 117, a crucial economic vein in Northern Quebec, in 1990. In October, 2008, Barriere Lake returned to the blockades, to force the government to respect their agreements and their leadership customs. The SQ brutally put down the peaceful action.

Community representatives will be joined by Arthur Manuel and Russell Diabo, a noted aboriginal policy analyst, editor of the First Nations Strategic Bulletin and advisor to Barriere Lake's Tribal Council, the Algonquin Nation Secretariat.

*Sponsored by: QPIRG McGill, Barriere Lake Solidarity Collective

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Rolling back a Coup d'Etat: Barriere Lake Algonquins Panel
With exerts screened from The Invisible Nation

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WEDNESDAY, October 1, 6:00pm, 2008
McGill Faculty of Law, Moot Court
1st floor of New Chancellor Day Hall
3644 Peel Street
Donations encouraged
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Hear from Barriere Lake Algonquin community representatives, in the midst of an electoral campaign targeting Pontiac Riding Conservative Minister Lawrence Cannon. After racist remarks from Cannon's aide triggered a national media frenzy last week, Cannon was forced to meet with Barriere Lake representatives. The community had been calling for a meeting without luck since Cannon's election in 2006 -- this summer, they picketed his office, camped out and protested for several days in Ottawa, and peacefully sat-in in one of his constituency offices, after which some Algonquin youth and their supporters were arrested. On Friday, they finally met for brief negotiations, but Cannon would not consider agreeing to their demands.

Since the Department of Indian Affairs ousted their Customary Chief and Council in March 2008 and used the Surete du Quebec to forcibly impose the authority of a minority community faction, the Algonquins have been organizing to roll-back the quiet coup d'etat. They are campaigning to make the government honour a number of agreements, including the Trilateral, a internationally praised land co-management and resource-revenue sharing deal the Algonquins signed with Canada and Quebec in 1991. It remains unimplemented.

***Donations of money are encouraged to support the community's campaign – they need money for gas to travel. Dried goods are also welcome. Click here for a full list of community needs and to make an online donation.

Speakers:

Michel Thusky: Band Manager from 1980 to 1996, he has been heavily involved in the Trilateral agreement land-use consultations and research. He  is a residential school survivor, and a community spokesperson.

Norman Matchewan: A teacher in Barriere Lake's Algonquin elementary school, he is Barriere Lake's youth spokesperson.

----> featuring short exerts from:

*The Invisible Nation
Directed by Richard Desjardins and Robert Monderie

Less than two centuries ago, the Algonquin nation occupied land stretching from Laval to Lake Huron. Despite never ceding their land rights, the Algonquin today are squeezed onto small reserves, while corporations freely plunder their natural resources. Award-wining Québécois filmmaker and folksinger Richard Desjardins and Monderie expose the plight of an oft-ignored people living in our midst.

**Co-presented by the Aborginal Law Association (ALA) of McGill University**

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Anti-colonial Films Under the Stars
A Barriere Lake Solidarity & Tadamon! co-presentation

Films: Palestinian Blues (2005, 80 mins)
Blockade! Algonquins Defend the Forest (1990, 25 min)
Algonquins of Barriere Lake (2008, 40 mins)

Where: Side of the Anarchist Bookstore (2033 boul. St. Laurent)
When: Thursday, Sept 18 @ 7:30pm (Rain date: Sunday, Sept 21 @ 7:30pm)
Free entry!
*Be sure to bring a blanket and a sweater in case things cool off.

Stay tuned for more events in the Barriere Lake Solidarity Popular Education Campaign

Film Screening: Le Peuple Invisible (2007, 91 mins)
Where: Théâtre de Verdure in parc La Fontaine
Friday, August 15 @ 8:30pm
Free entry!

Once so vast, the land of the Algonquin within Quebec has shrunk dramatically. This hard-hitting documentary provides a sympathetic glimpse of a nation of 9,000 people who suffer while the rest of us look the other way.

For more information visit: Recontres internationales du documentaires de Montreal

Stayed tuned for upcoming actions, film screenings and Barriere Lake Solidarity fundraisers...

Film Screening: The Invisible Nation (2007, 91 mins)

Where: Le Cagibi, 5490 St. Laurent (corner St. Viateur), MONTREAL
Monday July 21, 2008 @ 7pm

Once so vast, the land of the Algonquin within Quebec has shrunk dramatically. This hard-hitting documentary provides a sympathetic glimpse of a nation of 9,000 people who suffer while the rest of us look the other way.

Afterward, hear about the resistance mounted by one Algonquin community, Barriere Lake, in their effort to regain control over their traditional territories and protect the forest from clear-cut logging. Find out more about the role of non-native solidarity.

Part of QPIRG McGill's Radical Summer Film Series.

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Multi-day Barriere Lake Algonquin Picket in Ottawa/Gatineau
Where: Lawrence Cannon's office at the Ministry of Transport
330 Sparks Street, OTTAWA, near the corner of Wellington and Kent
Wednesday July 16 @ 12:30pm-5pm and Thursday July 17 @ 10:00am-5pm

Where: Department of Indian Affairs, Corner of Wellington and Montcalm in GATINEAU
Friday, July 18 @ 11:00am-5pm

Peaceful demonstration in support of Barriere Lake community members who are in Ottawa to demand a meeting with their riding MP Lawrence Cannon, a leadership re-selection in accordance with their Customary Governance Code, which has been blatantly violated by the Federal Government, and that the Federal Government respect all signed agreements with the community.

* Bring banners, signs, placards, noise-makers...

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Film Screening: Blockade! Algonquins Defend the Forest (1990, 25 min)

Where: Club SAW, 67 Nicholas Street, OTTAWA (between Daly Ave and Laurier, in the basement of the Arts Court building)

Wednesday July 16 @ 7pm

Against All Odds panel discussion with:

Marylynn Poucachiche: Barriere Lake's Youth Representative to the Algonquin Nation Secretariat and she is involved in community education. She acts as a community spokesperson.

Michel Thusky: Band Manager from 1980 to 1996, he assists community members in their dealings with government agencies. He has been heavily involved with the Trilateral Agreement, is a residential school survivor, and a community spokesperson.

Boyce Richardson: Author of four books – including People of Terra Nullius: Betrayal and Rebirth in Aboriginal Canada and Strangers Devour the Land – and director of half a dozen films on indigenous affairs. He was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2002.

Suggested Donation: $5-10

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Poetry Slam!

Come out and enjoy competitive spoken word in support of Barriere Lake Algonquins

Where: Umi Cafe (610 Somerset Street W at Percy), OTTAWA
Friday, July 18 @ 7pm

For more information, closer to the date, go to the Umi Cafe website

Montreal Demo: JUSTICE FOR BARRIERE LAKE!

2008-05-10T22:39:00.000-04:00

Montreal Demo: JUSTICE FOR BARRIERE LAKE!

Barriere Lake Caravan passes through Montreal on way to Toronto, Ottawa

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FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2008, NOON
In front of Jean Charest's office
corner of McGill College et Sherbrooke
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* bring banners, signs, placards, noise-makers...

For twenty difficult years, the small Algonquin community of Barriere Lake, 5 hours north of Montreal, has been struggling to hold the government to their word. In 1991, they signed a pioneering resource co-management and sustainable development agreement with Canada and Quebec to protect Algonquin land uses, to conserve the forest and wildlife, and to give them a share in the resource revenue from the logging and hydro projects on their traditional territories.

The Canadian government walked away from the agreement in 2001. And the Quebec government has sat on recommendations for implementing its side of the agreement since 2006. Instead of fulfilling their obligations, the Federal Department of Indian Affairs, with the support of the Quebec government, has been playing divide and rule in Barriere Lake, wreaking havoc in the community by ousting the Customary Chief and Council and illegally appointing a small faction as the leadership.

Join us in Montreal for this first leg of the Barriere Lake Caravan before it travels on to Toronto and Ottawa, as we demand that Quebec follow through with its binding agreements and stop meddling in the internal governance of Barriere Lake!

for more information: www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com

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SUPPORT THE BARRIERE LAKE CARAVAN

*ENDORSE. If your organization would like to endorse the Barriere Lake Caravan, and the community's list of demands, please send the name of your group to barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com. Help build pressure on the governments. For the full list of demands: http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/mission.html

* DONATE money and food. Barriere Lake is in need of donations and supplies. You can donate by visiting: http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/donations.html or get in touch with us: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

BARRIERE LAKE SOLIDARITY
--------------------------
www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com
email: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com
Phone: 514-398-7432

A CALL-OUT FOR SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT

2008-05-10T22:33:00.000-04:00

Dear friends and allies --

As you might know, in March the Algonquin community of Barriere Lake, located 400 kms north of Montreal, had their Customary Chief and Council deposed by the Canadian government, with support from the Quebec government, in an attempt to get out of binding agreements signed with the community.

It's only the latest chapter in Barriere Lake's very long struggle to wrest control over their lives and lands from governments and corporations. In 1991, Barriere Lake compelled Canada and Quebec to sign a landmark land management and sustainable development agreement, after a campaign of civil disobedience that caught international attention. The agreement set important precedents: it would give Barriere Lake decisive say in the management of 10,000 square kilometers of their traditional territory, protect Algonquin land uses, and give them a share in the resource-revenue from logging and hydro projects on their land.

But the federal and provincial governments never liked the agreement, and have tried everything to undermine it – including the unilateral leadership change in March. It's the third time in the past 12 years that the government has refused to recognize the legitimate community leadership. Today, the agreement remains unimplemented.

For background and information on Barriere Lake:
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/resources.html

Though a small community with few resources, Barriere Lake has demonstrated remarkable tenacity in their struggle for self-determination and the protection of their culture and land. But it is a struggle that can only succeed with broad support and solidarity from non-native people.

The newly-formed Barriere Lake Solidarity collective, taking direction from Barriere Lake, is looking for groups and organizations to ENDORSE THE COMMUNITY'S LIST OF DEMANDS.

As part of the Montreal leg of a Barriere Lake Protest Caravan – which will also pass through Toronto and Ottawa – we'll be having a DEMONSTRATION AT NOON, MAY 23RD, 2008, in front of Jean Charest's office at McGill College and Sherbrooke. Please also consider endorsing the demonstration, and email us if you can: barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

Barriere Lake's List of Demands

1. That the Government of Canada agree to respect the outcome of a new leadership re-selection process, with outside observers, recognize the resulting Customary Chief and Council, and cease all interference in the internal governance of Barriere Lake.

2. That the Government of Canada agree to the immediate incorporation of an Algonquin language and culture program into the primary school curriculum.

3. That the Government of Canada honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the Trilateral, the Memorandum of Mutual Intent, and the Special Provisions, all of which it has illegally terminated.

4. That the Government of Canada revoke Third Party Management, which was imposed unjustly on Barriere Lake.

5. That the Province of Quebec honour signed agreements with Barriere Lake, including the 1991 Trilateral and 1998 Bilateral agreements, and adopt for implementation the Lincoln-Ciaccia joint recommendations, including $1.5 million in resource-revenue sharing.

6. That the Government of Canada and the Province of Quebec initiate a judicial inquiry into the Quebec Regional Office of the Department of Indian Affairs' treatment of Barriere Lake and other First Nations who may request to be included.

7. That the Government of Quebec, in consultation with First Nations, conduct a review of the recommendations of the Ontario Ipperwash Commission for guidance towards improving Quebec-First Nation relations and the SQ's procedures during policing of First Nation communities.

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Apart from ENDORSEMENTS, we are seeking other forms of support:

**Consider getting INVOLVED in our campaign – as a group, or as an individual – during the upcoming months.

**Consider making a DONATION, to support Barriere Lake's needs and to help with our mobilization efforts. Contact us by e-mail to make a donation, or donate directly to Barriere Lake through our website.
http://barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/2008/03/donations.html

**If you want UPDATES, we can add you to an email list to notify you about upcoming events and actions. Just email barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com

-- the Barriere Lake Solidarity collective

Article on Rabble.ca

2008-05-07T13:07:00.001-04:00

Canada's Tibetans

http://www.rabble.ca/news_full_story.shtml?x=70885
by Martin Lukacs
May 2, 2008

In this small, impoverished northern village, people eke out a miserable existence. One of the world's most powerful countries occupies their land, plunders their resources, interferes with their governance and seems intent on assimilating them into wider society.

With its Olympic Games at hand, the country would rather the international community dwell on its national achievements than cast scrutiny on these abuses.

The country? Canada, of course.

No doubt Canadians would be shocked by the comparison to China: a liberal democracy, Canada doesn't militarily occupy Native people's land and hasn't imprisoned or executed thousands of Native prisoners.

So when Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine suggested the comparison was "compelling," and Canada's own 2010 Olympics might warrant protest, editorials stormily reproached Fontaine. He was being "irresponsible," according to the Ottawa Citizen.

But Barriere Lake, an Algonquin First Nation 350 km north of Ottawa, might think otherwise. From their viewpoint within Quebec's boreal forest, China and Canada's long-term objectives appear strikingly similar: to absorb a culturally "backward" people, and gain exclusive control of their lands and resources.

Neither government has thought twice about dispossessing or displacing them to secure their first priority: unimpeded resource-extraction and industrial development. Human rights seem negligible when the spoils – oil, natural gas, and mineral deposits in Tibet, and a lucrative forestry industry and hydroelectric power on Algonquin land – are so precious.

Nor has the Canadian government been shy to crack down on protests. As Chinese police tear-gassed and arrested dozens of Tibetan demonstrators on March 10, the Canadian government was ousting Barriere Lake's leadership, a thorn in its side for years. When community members blockaded the return of an unpopular faction recognized by the government as the new leadership, a provincial riot squad pepper-sprayed and arrested ten.

Conspicuously silent about Barriere Lake, Canadian media instead sounded off about Chinese inequities. "China had hoped to long ago seal off Tibet from the world, to make of an ancient land a tomb in which Tibetan religion, language and culture would die," thundered the National Post on March 22. "Yet there is life within that tomb." Swap the countries, and would the storyline have still roused the Post’s indignation?

Yet for centuries the Algonquin were officially non-existent, after Euro-Americans deemed North America a terra nullius: a land without people. Their lands were blithely seized and their sacred sites flooded. Their subsistence economies were destroyed as they were squeezed into puny reserves. Their children were stolen and reared in residential schools, in the hope that such brutalization would "civilize" them.

Little wonder that Barriere Lake has succumbed to social ills common on many reservations – rampant unemployment, physical and sexual abuse, and alcoholism. But it's still a greater wonder that they've tenaciously maintained their language, culture, and customary governance – that "there is life within that tomb."

For all their misdeeds past and present, China and Canada never tire of reminding Tibetans or Native people just how much government revenue they receive. It's as if someone occupied your house, sold off your furniture and belongings and then proclaimed their generosity after throwing you a meagre allowance.

The frenzied pre-Olympics expansion in Vancouver is itself a microcosm of continuing injustices. Many of the mountains being carved up for ski hills and resorts, and crisscrossed by new highways, are on traditional territories used by B.C. First Nations – territories which have never been ceded by treaties and the titles to which were affirmed in the seminal 1997 Delgamuukw Supreme Court decision.

Canada deals with this awkward fact through the Comprehensive Claims Policy, which is fair-minded only in name. Even before discussing Natives' grievances, the government forces them to surrender collective rights to their territories. Assimilation by any other name would smell as rotten.

While negotiations drag on for decades, destructive resource extraction continues unabated. Native communities end up with small parcels of money and land whose underlying title remains with the Crown, a practice the UN's Human Rights Committee has repeatedly condemned for "extinguishing" indigenous rights.

Barriere Lake has joined many B.C. indigenous nations in rejecting Comprehensive Claims, proposing alternative frameworks for redress. In 1991, they signed a landmark co-management agreement with Ottawa and Quebec to gain joint management of their territories and a share in resource revenue, while reconciling their land use with the logging industry's interests. Despite this accommodation, neither Ottawa nor Quebec has wanted to relinquish exclusive control of the land. They have undermined the agreement at every turn – the latest effort being last month's regime change.

As denunciations of China reach an ear-splitting din, Canadians concerned for human rights might note a final, crucial difference between the governments. Even the perfect storm of international protest has not made an authoritarian regime budge. But a democracy guarding a sensitive reputation might be more easily swayed.

When the spotlight shifts from Beijing 2008 to Vancouver 2010, let the protests begin.

April 30 Press Release

2008-04-30T01:16:00.000-04:00

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Canada and Quebec's treatment of Algonquins of Barriere Lake condemned before the United Nations: governments should respect binding agreements and stop interfering in Barriere Lake's governance

Montreal, QC / – Speaking at the 7th session of the United Nation's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Arthur Manuel, spokesperson for the Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade, condemned the government of Quebec and Canada for breaching binding agreements signed with Barriere Lake and for meddling with their internal governance.

In 1991 the Algonquins of Barriere Lake signed a Trilateral Agreement with the governments of Canada and Quebec, establishing a pioneering land management planning process based on the 1987 Brundtland Commission's recommendations for sustainable development and conservation, and that Indigenous Peoples have a "decisive voice" in land use decisions that affected them.

Further agreements to improve the dire socio-economic conditions in Barriere Lake were later signed. However, the governments of Canada and Quebec have regularly tried to evade their obligations and liabilities. On March 10th, 2008, for the third time in 12 years, the government of Canada interfered in the internal governance of Barriere Lake, recognizing a Chief and Council whom the Barriere Lake Elder's Council say were not selected in accordance with the community's customs.

"[It is] yet another effort to get out of the signed agreements, because of their precedent setting nature," said Arthur Manuel in his statement to the Permanent Forum. "Not only is there a flagrant disregard for Indigenous customs regarding leadership selection, but the federal government is using the Quebec police force to install the federally imposed Chief and Council, even though the majority of the people do not agree to recognize the federally imposed group as their leaders."

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake live on a 59-acre reserve 350 kilometres north of Ottawa, in moldy, overcrowded homes that have been condemned by Health Canada. Unemployment is between 80 and 90 per cent and the community relies on diesel generators for electricity. Despite these conditions, they have maintained their language, culture and customary system of government.

"I don't think it's right for any government to interfere this way," says Marylynn Poucachiche, a Barriere Lake community member. "The government should respect our traditions and customs and continue with the negotiation of the signed agreements."

"The government doesn't want to recognize the real leadership," says Michel Thusky, another community member of Barriere Lake. "They don't want to negotiate in good faith. And they're going to make the community suffer."

The Elder's Council of Barriere Lake has requested the Government of Canada observe a leadership re-selection process, according to Barriere Lake's Customary Governance Code, but the Government of Canada has refused. The Government of Canada has also refused to release information that they say justified the unilateral imposition of new leadership.

"Canadians are outraged by the actions of their government," said Django Doucet, a member of Barriere Lake Solidarity, a group working with the Algonquin community. "The government should see through on its binding agreements."

Media Contacts:

Arthur Manuel, Spokesperson, Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade, cell: (250) 319-0688
artmanuel@earthlink.net

Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson: (819) 435-2171

Marylynn Poucachiche, Barriere Lake spokesperson: (819) 435-2113
marylynnpoucachiche@hotmail.com

For Arthur Manuel's complete submission to the U.N's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues:www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com