News

Gitxsan hereditary chiefs demand negotiators in Enbridge deal resign

Wendy Stueck/Globe and Mail

Mounties spied on native protest groups

Tim Groves and Martin Lukacs/Toronto Star

The federal government created a vast surveillance network in early 2007 to monitor protests by First Nations, including those that would attract national attention or target “critical infrastructure” like highways, railways and pipelines, according to RCMP documents.

‘Just watch us,’ Native group warns Enbridge

Claudia Cattaneo/National Post

Nov 29, 2011

Innu council campaigns against Plan Nord

CBC News

Raphael Picard, the Chief of the Pessamit Innu band council says the Quebec government's plan for development in the north of the province, known as Plan Nord, violates the rights of aboriginal people.

ᐊᔕ ᒥᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᓇᑭᐡᑲᓇᐊᐧ ᐅᑕᓇᐠ ᑲᑭᐱᐃᓯᓭᐊᐧᐨ

ᔕᐧᐣ ᐯᓫ ᑭᐱᐸᑭᑎᓂᑲᑌ ᐅᒪ ᐊᐧᐊᐧᑌ ᐊᒋᒧᐃᐧᓂᐠ

Thursday October 13, 2011

Military intelligence unit spies on native groups

Steven Chase/Globe and Mail

Published Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011

The Canadian military is keeping a watch on aboriginal groups through an intelligence unit that is meant to protect the Forces and the Department of National Defence from espionage, terrorists and saboteurs.

New land-use rules threaten treaty rights, native protesters say

KAREN KLEISS, EDMONTON JOURNAL

Grand chief calls provincial regulations an 'abomination'

Standoff in Standoff, as Blood women arrested for stopping Murphy Oil from fracking on their land

Native News Network

 There was a real standoff Friday night in Standoff, Alberta, on the Blood Indian Reserve. Subsequently, three Blood Indian women were arrested for protesting at a hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, exploration site.

Four years later, Harper’s promised tribunal still mired in bureaucracy

APTN National News, Nigel Newlove

 OTTAWA-For any First Nations band wondering when the Specific Claims Tribunal is going to be up and running, the news isn’t good.

“As of two weeks ago, I was thinking June, and now I’m not so sure,” said tribunal chair Justice Harry Slade, in an interview with APTN National News.

The tribunal was announced to much fanfare four years ago by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper said the new body would finally end the backlog of land claims.

Alberta ordered to halt work on contested campground

Edmonton Journal, Juliana Cummins

 An interim injunction issued by Court of Queen's Bench has ordered the province to temporarily stop construction on a campground that a northern Alberta native band says is on its traditional land.

APTN: Wikileaks: US Government says Canada can’t handle land claims

APTN National News, Ossie Michelin

 Montreal – The United States government is concerned that Canada does not have the framework required to address the issues of aboriginal land claims, according to a U.S. diplomatic cables released by whistle-blower website Wikileaks.

First Nations Stand Ground on Enbridge Pipeline

Financial Post, Claudia Cattaneo

 In case their unequivocal message hasn’t been received, British Columbia’s First Nations are in Calgary this week to make it clear to the board of directors of Enbridge Inc., Enbridge’s annual meeting of shareholders and members of the broader oil community that the proposed $5.5-billion Northern Gateway pipeline is not going forward.

Amazon people say economist de Soto is a threat to their survival

Another Green World

In the past indigenous land was stolen with impunity and ideological support was given by economists who attacked indigenous people as backward.

The indigenous today have a voice and they no longer take the slanders and lies. The well know economist de Soto, who is ignorant of Elinor Ostrom's work on commons, insists the Amazon be parcelled into private property. The indigenous were massacred at Bagua in 2009, the right wing Presidential candidate and daughter of a disgraced President Keiko Fujimori does not respect the indigenous of the Amazon.

First nations threaten roadblock over cleanup

Times Colonist, Judith Lavoie

First nations who rely on the Goldstream River for fish, wildlife and medicinal plants say they are being ignored by the government and will block the Trans-Canada Highway if they are not included in drafting an adequate, long-term cleanup plan following last week’s fuel spill.

“If they disregard us we will shut the road down,” said Tsartlip Chief Ivan Wayne Morris, speaking for the chiefs of Tsawout, Pauquachin, Tseycum and Malahat First Nations on Vancouver Island.

Quebec Innu reject hydro deal

Postmedia News, Marianne White

QUEBEC — A Quebec Innu community has rejected a multi-million dollar deal with Hydro-Quebec that could jeopardize the massive $6.5-billion Romaine River hydroelectric project.

The Innu of Uashat Mani-Utenam, on Quebec's north shore, voted 59.2 per cent against a $125-million deal with the utility on Friday night. The deal had been reached in January by the band council, which recommended its adoption.

Innu chief George-Ernest Gregoire said in a statement Friday the council will have to consider its options following the vote.

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation worries plan threatens livelihood

carol.christian@fortmcmurraytoday.com

CAROL CHRISTIAN

Today staff

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation say the proposed regional land-use plan falls so short in protecting Treaty 8 rights, it creates legal risk for the province.

Living downstream of the oilsands development, the Athabasca Chip added that the draft Lower Athabasca Regional Plan released by the province last week does not protect enough land and resources to sustain their traditional livelihood.

A Wet'suwet'en Grassroots Alliance

The Dominion - Toghestiy Wet'suwet'en (Warner Naziel)

WET'SUWET'EN YINTAH—Despite losing most of their homelands and resources primarily to the effects of colonial dispossession, agriculturalism, deforestation and mining activities, the Wet'suwet'en continue to resist the illegitimate imposition of federal and provincial government jurisdiction. The Wet'suwet'en view the federal and provincial governments as illegitimate regulatory systems.

Innu negotiations hit a wall

Innu negotiations hit a wall

 Tuesday April 5, 2011

Negotiations on a ground breaking treaty with three Innu communities in Quebec have come to a halt on after the chief Innu negotiator steps down. Susan speaks with Clifford Moar. He is the chief of the Masteuiash First Nation and the chief responsible for the negotiations.

Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement in Jeopardy

Nature, Christopher Pala

Pact to preserve vast swathe of wilderness faces reluctance from industry and resistance from native groups.

For conservationists, the promise seems almost too good to be true — and some worry that it is. The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement, a deal between the forestry industry and environmental groups, aims to set aside nearly 30 million hectares of northern wilderness and subject a further 42 million to strict tree-harvesting standards.

Sockeye salmon face overheating due to climate change

Globe and Mail, Mark Hume

Sockeye salmon in the Fraser River are facing such critically warm water in the summer that populations will either have to adapt or die as climate change pushes temperatures even higher, according to new research at the University of British Columbia.

With oceans, lakes and rivers warming worldwide, the study holds a warning that fish stocks are facing increasingly dire environmental challenges.

Hutchins legal responds to allegations of conflict of interest

Hutchins Legal's letter to Jean Maurice Matchewan responding to allegations of conflict of interest.

Ring of Fire first nation establishes blockade

The Canadian Press

February 28, 2011

A First Nation is setting up a blockade near the massive chromite deposit in northern Ontario known as the Ring of Fire.

Memorial marches for murdered and missing Indigenous women, February 14

Memorial events happening across Canada on February 14 include:

Vancouver

20th Annual Womens Memorial March. Noon in Carnegie Theatre for families, friends, and DTES residents, 1 pm march starts at Main and Hastings – all welcome.

http://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/

Toronto

Toronto’s 6th Annual Rally & March for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women

**5 pm**(NOTE THE NEW TIME)

Marten Falls First Nation in Ring of Fire vows to blockade mining development

Northern Ontario Business

Marten Falls First Nation said it plans to blockade mineral exploration in the Ring of Fire.

The Far North community wants mining companies to sign memorandums of understanding and exploration agreements before any developments proceed in the James Bay Lowlands and on their traditional territory. In a release to media, Marten Falls said it plans to block access to exploration camps in the McFaulds and Koper Lakes. The First Nation said the camps are being built without proper consultation.

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug says no to De Beers mine

Rick Garrick — Wawatay News

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug has decided not to allow De Beers to conduct mineral exploration on its traditional lands.

KI Chief Donny Morris and council said in a Dec. 6 letter to De Beers that they “have to make it clear that we will not and cannot consent to any mineral exploration in our traditional territory at this stage.” The letter was copied to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the United Nations.

Algonquins of Barriere Lake travel to Ottawa to fight for rights

Video footage of the recent action by the Algonquins of Barriere Lake in Ottawa.

No income tax on fishing earnings: federal court rules in favour of Native fishermen

Alexandra Paul - Winnipeg Free Press

A new tax court ruling brings First Nation fishing in western Canada one step closer to exercising the right to pay no income tax on commercial fishing earnings.

Tax Court of Canada judge J.E. Hershfield ruled that two Norway House Cree fishermen, Ronald Robertson and Roger Saunders, qualify for tax exemption status under the federal Indian Act.

In his Oct. 29 ruling, the judge said the fishermen had both history and treaties in their favour.

UN raps Canada over ongoing treatment of Lubicon

APTN News

UN Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, schools the Harper government in international law and Indigenous Peoples Human Rights.

"Anaya said that Canada continued to breach international human rights standards by its treatment of the Lubicon people.

“It is apparent that federal and provincial government actors are proceeding to advance or facilitate development projects…on the assumption that the Lubicon have no rights to land other than the land the government has already agreed to include in a reserve.”

RED ALERT: DIA proceeding with privatization of Indian reserves

Please find attached 2 versions of letters being sent to a select group of First Nations who are listed in one of the attached tables.

DIA, along with some First Nations collaborators from the usual federal stable of "national institutions" are asking certain Chiefs and Councils to participate in an interview process to help DIA with their goal of privatizing Reserve lands.

Atleo says time for Indian Act to go

Wawatay News

 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Shawn Atleo made headline news when he suggested it was time to get rid of the Indian Act.

During the AFN assembly July 20-22 in Winnipeg, Man., Atleo posed the question “Is it time to boldly suggest within two to five years, the Indian Act will no longer be part of our lives?”

Risk of Aboriginal Insurgency

Winnipeg Free Press - Douglas Bland

 Shawn Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, on recalling the 1990 national emergency at Oka, Que., carefully warned Canadians that "First Nations are ever-mindful of the potential that these events could be repeated." It would be a grave mistake for Canadian leaders to dismiss his words as mere political rhetoric.

Other aboriginal leaders continue to warn Canadians that unless Canada's relations with its young, fast-growing aborigin

Landmark court decision backs first nation's caribou concerns

By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun

 Ruling halts progress of coal mine near Chetwynd

March 23, 2010

A ridge near Mt. Stephenson, near Chetwynd, has been stripped of its top by First Coal Corporation, while conducting coal exploration. The area is considered critical caribou habitat.
Photograph by: Vancouver Sun Files, Handout

Court Support for Cheam Fishers Against the DFO

Cheam land defender Denise Douglas requests your support. Supporters are encouraged to come witness the trial, and learn more about the struggle in Cheam. Contact Denise Douglas iyeselwet@gmail.com

Brown's Creek Blockade

Arthur Manuel

Brown's Creek Road Block

Western Forest Products says it can't log under proposed Haida Gwaii rules

Vancouver Sun

 WFP says it can't log under proposed Haida Gwaii rules

BP faces investor revolt over Canadian oil sands project

Daily Telegraph - Rowena Mason

A group of pension funds and asset managers last month filed a resolution asking Royal Dutch Shell to reconsider its involvement in the exp

BC Indian Chiefs launch Olympic rights campaign targeting foreign media

Canadian Press -

VANCOUVER, B.C. - A group of B.C. First Nations leaders says it will carry out a campaign during the Winter Games to pressure Canada to sign a UN declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.

AFN chief says First Nations 'open for business'

National Post - Adam McDowell

The Assembly of First Nations' new, youthful National Chief introduced himself to Bay Street yesterday, bringing with him a message that was not only conciliatory but downright solicitous.

Wet'suwet'en call for pipeline boycott

Globe and Mail - Nathan Vanderklippe

A small BC first nation is making a personal plea to a series of Alberta energy companies as well as China and other governments in hopes of derailing an Enbridge Inc. pipeline that would export oil-sands crude to Asia.

Feds foment Lubicon feud

Edmonton Journal - Lubicon Lake Elders' Council

 Re: "Third party to take helm during battle for chief role; Brothers-in-law in stalemate over leadership of aboriginal community," The Journal, Dec. 4, and "Lubicons' dispute is settled, says chief," by Steve Noskey, Letters, Dec. 10.

As members of the Lubicon Lake Elder's Council, we feel the need to respond.

Deal ends Tobique First Nation's protest over hydro dams

CBC news

The New Brunswick government and Tobique First Nation signed a five-year, $2.5-million deal on Monday, ending years of frustration and protest over the impact two hydro dams have had on the western community.

The provincial government will help repair erosion on the St. John and Tobique rivers caused by the construction of the Tobique Narrows and Beechwood hydro dams in the 1950s.

INAC imposes third-party rule on Lubicon Lake nation

Edmonton Journal - Elise Stolte

Management of the northern Alberta Lubicon Lake Cree Nation is expected to be handed over to a third-party administrator within weeks, destroying hopes for settlement on a decades-old land claim.

The aboriginal community has been embroiled in a leadership dispute since May, with two brothers-in-law both claiming to be chief.

Each has asked Ottawa to recognize their claim and do business with their side, but the Department of Northern and Indian Affairs refuses.

Onion Lake Cree Nation residents rally to raise awareness about First Nations citizenship

Kerry Benjoe - Regina Leader Post

REGINA — A delegation from Onion Lake Cree Nation rallied at the Legislative Building on Thursday to raise awareness about First Nations citizenship.

Chief Wallace Fox said he wants to bring the issue to the forefront, adding proposed changes to the Indian Act do not sit well with First Nations. That's why members of Onion Lake, located 50 kilometres north of Lloydminster, decided to hold a peaceful demonstration in Regina.

UBCIC chiefs join Tsilhqot’in National Government in opposing Prosperity mine development

Ken MacInnis - Williams Lake Tribune

Three chiefs from the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs have announced their support of the Tsilhqot’in National Government’s opposition to the use of Fish Lake as part of the Prosperity mine project.

Indigenous political awakening stirs Latin America

Associated Press - Frank Bajak

JESUS DE MACHACA, Bolivia — In Ecuador, the Shuar are blocking highways to defend their hunting grounds. In Chile, the Mapuche are occupying ranches to pressure for land, schools and clinics. In Bolivia, a new constitution gives the country's 36 indigenous peoples the right to self-rule.

Secwepemc assert title, rights at Green Lake

100 Mile House Free Press

The Secwepemc (Shuswap) people are asserting their title and rights to their traditional territory at Cqelqletkwe (Green Lake).

On Oct. 20, elders, chiefs and spiritual people from the north and south of the Secwepemc Nation held a ceremony at Green Lake. That same day, they worked on a strategy to the proposed Green/Watch Lakes and 70 Mile area Official Community Plan (OCP).