SNTC Chiefs Condemn Mount Polley Mine Disaster Inaction

Any further mining development must be stopped and held in a state of moratorium until the Federal Conservative destructive action agenda against the Water Protections Act has been reversed and the Conservative Government has been replaced by a responsible governing body.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/06/cariboo-regional-district-declares-state-of-emergency-after-mount-polley-mine-tailings-pond-breach-in-b-c/

Negative Spin attached to Idle No More

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2013-01-23/article-3162816/Mikmaq-students-stage-Idle-No-More-rallyCBU/1


-at-


There has been a considerable amount of, 'Negative spin', attached to the Idle No More Movement, by voices of the Canadian Media, along with the various inevitable Conservative Government tactics of intervention. Regardless of such efforts to diffuse these issues, and to distract the greater population of Canada, the extensive underlying  issues of destructive Canadian  Political Process remain.
These destructive Political Processes have, over the centuries of their development, become intrinsic to the Canadian Political Process as it relates to the Indigenous Peoples of this Land. These Destructive Processes are the direct reflection of the long-standing intent of the Canadian power structure to eliminate the internationally recognized Rights and Title of the Indigenous Peoples of this Land.
These are the issues that have finally driven Indigenous People from across Canada, and around the world, to this present place of protest.
Our youth have seen the endless, and the pointless path of 'requesting' the attentions and the positive and productive cooperation of Ottawa.  Over the years they have heard the echoes ring out across this land, as the doors of Parliament have repeatedly slammed shut in the faces of Indigenous Leadership. To ever increasing degrees, the  Indigenous Youth of Canada find themselves at a place where they are prepared to stand and to be heard.
As I see it, Idle No More is, 'The tip of the iceberg', in terms of the centuries old struggle of Indigenous Peoples against Colonialism, and against all forms of social and racial oppression.

The struggle of Indigenous Canadians began in earnest through the determined and unified effort, which eventually stopped the so-called, 'White Paper', of the Trudeau Government.
This also marked the time of the beginning of the International effort to unify Indigenous Peoples toward the International recognition and protection of our inherent Indigenous Human Rights around the world.

As the months and years tick past, Indigenous Leadership and Membership become more adept at dealing with the Legal System in this country. Indigenous People in all parts of Canada are struggling to have their Indigenous and Human Rights recognized and upheld by the Canadian system of Due Process. Increasingly these struggles produce high levels of success in key battles in the Courts.

It will always be through our own determined efforts, working together as Individual Traditional Indigenous Peoples, that we will ensure the establishment and the longevity of our best interests, within or without, this Country of Canada.

http://www.globaltvbc.com/composite+sketch+of+suspect+in+new+hazelton+hitchhiking+incident/6442779121/story.html

Composite sketch of suspect in New Hazelton hitchhiking incident

Global News : Wednesday, January 23, 2013 8:39 AM

The RCMP are looking for public’s assistance after an incident involving a female hitchhiker in the Kispiox area near New Hazelton, and have released a new composite sketch.

She was picked up by a man driving a red minivan and after a brief conversation, the woman became very uncomfortable and asked to get out of the vehicle.

However, the driver did not stop and continued driving in the opposite direction from her intended destination.

When the driver slowed to cross a bridge, she jumped from the window of the vehicle.

The man did not stop.

He was last seen in the Hagwilget area on Highway 62, driving towards Highway 16.

The driver is described as Caucasian, heavy set, approximately 40 to 50 years of age. He has grey hair and was wearing dark brown glasses and a jean jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Hazleton RCMP Detachment.

© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.

Read it on Global News: Global BC | Composite sketch of suspect in New Hazelton hitchhiking incident 

Please note: This crime was committed on or about December 24, 2012. It was reported on Global TV News on or about December 27, 2012. This Composite drawing was not released until now, January 23, 2013. So this man could now be anywhere in the world, or he could be holed up in his home or the home of someone else. Something that is not mentioned in these reports is that any portion of the man's face and head that we see in this composite drawing could be a costume. These creatures are extremely cunning and deceptive, as well as ruthless and deadly. 

Comments made in reference to the Idle No More Movement

Opinion: Our relationship with aboriginal peoples remains shameful

By Ivy Weir, Special to The Gazette January 15, 2013

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Opinion+relationship+with+aboriginal+peoples+remains+shameful/7822717/story.html#ixzz2IdgY7vyS

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Opinion+relationship+with+aboriginal+peoples+remains+shameful/7822717/story.html



'...We appear to think we can implant a credible justice system in such faraway countries as Afghanistan or Haiti while in our own backyard (as a direct result of both Historic, and presently developing, Canadian Politics and Policy), aboriginals live in conditions equally squalid, without our full attention, and without credible policies to correct what we have created...'

From a Indigenous Perspective, I see that as a result of the Idle No More Movement, the Canadian Conscience has begun to stir. Increasingly we read opinions such as this by Ivy Weir. I believe that there are many other Canadians who harbor such sentiments, but as yet have not taken the initiative to express these to the world at large. I also believe that there are many Canadians who simply feel that they do not know enough about these issues, and so cannot make an informed comment. To those I can only say that complacency is no longer an option.
This in no longer only a Canadian Indigenous People's conversation about Canadian Indigenous People's issues. In fact, with incredible speed, this has broken free from the confines of that historic Canadian socio-political dungeon.
This discussion has quickly evolved, to leap beyond being a Canadian National Conversation around Indigenous People's Issues. It has sparked the beginnings of a Public International Discussion of the morals and the principles of present day, and future Political and Social and Corporate Leadership and Function within Human Society. This discussion now pertains to the longevity of the Human Species on this Planet.

This is moving toward being a discussion of the determinations that we, as public members of International Society, will build into the quality of the future of Human Society all around the world. A common thread of international concern is the rapturous level of unbridled Corporate greed, and the associated lack of Government interest or ability to dis-sway the social and environmental impacts of Corporate Interests.  

So, in the interest of protecting the future generations of your own families, you, are now on stage. What will you do? What do you have to say? What is your prerogative?
You must realize that we are all at a critical point in the social history of Humanity. Corporations and Governments around the globe presently run amok with a free slate to re-shape laws as they see fit, for their own benefit, and without consideration for the population. As a result of such changes, our children, and all future generations will suffer. It is only the actions of 'The man, and the Woman, and the Child on the street', that will control these corporations and Government actions. There is no longer time for you to remain in the shadows of apprehension. We are all in this together and we must remain, 'Idle No More'.

Free All Canadians From The Blinders

January 1st, 2013:

As Indigenous People here in Canada, our present concern is the protection and the assertion of our Indigenous Human Rights, along with the Indigenous Human Rights of our future generations, who will be living here in our various Traditional Homeland Territories.
At this point in Canadian History, as history plays itself out, we find that we share many common concerns with all Canadians, and that all open minded Canadians share common concerns with us. This is a sign that together we are in the process of escaping the thought control determinations, of the closely associated Canadian and  American Education Systems, as is invoked by the selection of Curriculum and  instructional materials, by those who control the direction of, 'Higher Learning,' within these two countries. 
This process of common escape has begun to free all Canadians from the blinders of a self-protecting, North, and Central, American socio-political system that has many bonafide interests in maintaining a blanket of ignorance toward the realities of the on-going, social and political issues, presently being pursued by Indigenous People's Leadership Across Canada.


 As The Indigenous Peoples of Canada, we stand as the most viable option for asserting the preservation efforts of all things that Canadians have come to consider to be precious and worth protecting in terms of pristine lands, fresh air and water resources, the wildlife, the wilderness with its irreplaceable and incredibly delicate ecology.
 Not to be left out of our group of common concerns is, 'The Democratic Process,' which has become a prized hallmark of what it means to be 'Canadian' in the eyes of the International Community. 
Here, as we each critically examine the depth and the breadth of our Identity as Canadian Citizens, our common concern is that the present, 'Conservative Party of Canada Leadership,' is destroying all of these things that we all consider to be of prime, and indeed, crucial importance to us all. 

The following is a link that will help you to start a petition for change.  There are many others online.
Make a difference for yourself and for your future generations.

http://www.change.org/petition

West Coast Indigenous Perspective: Flame On!

West Coast Indigenous Perspective: Flame On!

Idle No More

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-900412

Background on the Idle No More movement in Canada.

Idle No More: Indigenous Voices in Unity

Idle No More!

 December 21, 2012, Prince Rupert, BC, Canada

Today the voices of Indigenous Peoples across Canada rang out in unity in proclamation of our continued presence here in this land. This collective voice spoke in declaration of our continuing determination to assert our Human Rights as the First Peoples of this land and our living heritage that is our historic and our on-going connection to this land. Indigenous Leadership from across this country spoke unequivocally of our determination to maintain our rightful place in our respective Homeland Territories. They spoke strongly and in no uncertain terms of our determination to re establish our rightful place here in this country. Many spoke of the unshakable determination of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence who at this time is on a hunger strike in protest of the abusive disregard of the Stephen Harper Government toward Indigenous issues. Chief Spence continues to place her own life on the line to ensure that the Stephen Harper Conservative Government Leadership finally assent to hearing, and to begin meaningful involvement with, Indigenous Leadership.  These are very real and long-standing concerns that deal with the denigration, total subjection and the actual denial of the very humanity of Indigenous Peoples of Canada by the actions and intent of successive Federal and Provincial Governments of this country. It is time for all Canadians to recognize that, as one speaker stated, we will never go away. It is time for Canadians to realize that Government policy that continues to cause further social aggravation within the Indigenous Community of this land is policy that will continue to cause an escalation of the financial toll on Federal tax resources. This is not according to the wishes of the Indigenous Peoples of this land. Our wishes are to become viable social contributors to a society that will finally recognize both our humanity, and our potential as contributors to a healthy and vibrant economic process. Canadians must once and for all accept that we do in fact have a very real right to a share of the riches that continue to flow from our homeland territories. Canadians must stand and work to ensure that those who they place in positions of Canadian Leadership will now begin to make a real and a meaningful and determined effort to build a respectful relationship with Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Canadians must now realize that, failing this social and political challenge can, and will, mean that the Indigenous Peoples activities of today will only have been a very small taste of things to come in the future. Today, as has always been the case until now, we want peaceful resolution to our long standing concerns. If there is any valid leadership in Ottawa, today is the day when you must begin to earn your wage. Today is the day when you must begin to build a truthful interaction with Indigenous Leadership, and indeed with all Canadians. Under the Leadership of Stephen Harper, Canada now suffers a downward spiraling loss of reputation within the International Community. This loss is based in no small part in the degradation of Indigenous Peoples of Canada by the Government of Canada. For those who have any interest in rebuilding the formerly pristine reputation of Canada, building a positive, balanced and a respectful relationship with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada is the most obvious place to begin.

These following photos and video were taken today, December 21, 2012 at the 'Idle No More' protest rally that took place on the lawn of the Prince Rupert City Hall, in Tsimpshian Tribal Territory in Northern British Columbia. Present on this very cold and windswept day of the 2012 winter solstice were a small but spirited group of Indigenous People from throughout this region of Canada. 

Tribute to the 'IdleNoMore' Movement.

There is no more denying that people from around the world stand as witnesses to the Human Rights injustices by the Canadian Government against Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Now there is this rising tide of international social conscience. Now those politicians who have stood silently in the background, keeping their voices reigned for fear of their political and their personal reputation, those politicians may now have begun to feel the survival urge to jump-ship, to flee the silent-ship and to begin to give voice to their true beliefs, their knowledge and their opinions regarding the historic and the on-going Human Rights crimes of the Canadian Government against Indigenous Peoples

I Am Thankful

If the part of our journey that carries us through this world is a time and a place of learning and of teaching, for ourselves and for those with whom we come into contact, then I will be so much the wiser in the next part of my journey.
 I've been more than fortunate to have met, and to have spent time with some tremendous people in my life, and have had the opportunity to learn from each of them. 
Magnificence is something that is often amplified by simplicity. One thing that I've found is how the importance of the very simplest things in life may be more profound and more enriching than the greatest amount of material wealth; that is, the times, events, unplanned meetings, the tiniest kind gesture or sharing of warm words. Events like these so often prove to be the most important and full filling events to ourselves and to others around us. Perhaps these folks also need to learn the very same lessons, and perhaps we are here to help each other to learn these lessons. 
As these days of my life go by, I learn to pay more attention to these lessons, to accept them into my heart and to share them with others. And I am thankful to those with whom I get to have the privilege to share these lessons.

Paralell: Palestinians // 'American Indians'

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/history/

There is at least one apparent parallel between what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinians at the present time, 2012, and the actions of the American Government and Society against the Indigenous Peoples of the United States, starting mainly in the 1800's, and continuing into the present time(Read the book: 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee' Author: Dee Brown).

 ...Or, is it that we are actually witnessing a simple progression of the very same--though perhaps evolved, society; with an evolved and expanded set of international social and political relationships, and a similar,  possibly evolved, lack of   intuitively appropriate--and humane, morals and practises?

There is a statement that makes its way around the social circles of the Internet. The statement contains an Historic photograph of  nineteenth century American Indigenous warriors, mounted on horse back and carrying rifles, while stoically gazing into the lens of the camera. The caption reads, 'Fighting Terrorism since 1492'. 

Terrorism is nothing new to us as the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas; both North and South America. Although the face of North American-style terrorism may have been altered somewhat since it began over five hundred years ago, the reality continues to infuse our homeland territories and our common, Indigenous Community with the destructive tracks of this unabashed foe. As members of the Indigenous Tribal Groups of these lands, we have watched one another suffer through, and die as a result of, the various forms and tactics of this multi-faceted and Federally espoused, and on-going campaign of North American based, home-spun Terrorism. This brand of Terrorism  is made up of the DNA of North American non-Indigenous socio-political structure. 

At the present time, 2012, we watch as government assisted corporate activity continues the practise of the destruction, and indeed the decimation of our homelands and resources at the expense of our Indigenous practises of traditional sustenance and livelihood, Cultural Practise and self-determination.
Across Canada and the United States, Indigenous Peoples continue to lose additional portions of their traditional homeland territory and their natural resources, to the efforts of these governments and their corporate partners. Efforts of these Indigenous Peoples to protect their homelands and their resources against such encroachment are suppressed by these North American Federal Governments, through the use of their political power structure, which includes their bureaucracy, their law courts, their police and their militia.   Because the populace of these countries refuse to acknowledge any impropriety toward these Indigenous Peoples in regards to these historic and present issues, Indigenous Peoples all across the Americas continue to endure these draconian realities, essentially at the hands of both the American and the Canadian Society .
The underlying truth of this all is that, if the Government of Canada were to intervene in this historic practise of  the denial of the Human Rights and the Indigenous Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Canada, the entire structure of wealth distribution across Canada would shift in favour of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, and away from non-Indigenous Canadians. Historic legal, political, social, and financial wrongs would have to be corrected. Again this would place a huge burden, upon Canada and Canadians, of repatriation of Property and wealth to the coffers of Canada's Indigenous Peoples. And it will be a cold day in hell before the Government of Canada will ever consider, 'Doing the right thing,' in terms of honestly assessing and effectively correcting its historic and its present relationship with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. 

1. 

RCMP in Red Deer city Alberta are asking the public for help locating a missing youth. 16-year-old Sommer Currie was last seen in the Deer Park area last Friday
night. She is Aboriginal, 5'2", 170 lbs and was wearing a dark sweater, dark pants, red and black runners and a black backpack. Anyone with information is asked to call your local RCMP or CrimeStoppers 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)



This bulletin was publicized via Facebook by a individual who has long been vigilant for the cause of closure for the families of the many Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women of Canada.

There are a number of questions that have long since begun to gel in terms of the response of Canadian Authorities to this Canadian calamity. 
To begin with, is there a on-going public-accessible listing anywhere that tracks these Murdered and Missing Women cases?
What are some obstacles faced by authorities in their efforts to solve these cases?
What can members of the general public do to assist in this effort?  
Is there any sort of surveilance in place that records the responses, and the quality of the efforts being made by Canadian and American authorties? --American because American Indigenous women are also disappearing without a trace.
 
Members of the Canadian public, mainly Indigenous individuals, have been posting these bulletins very regularly in public places such as their Facebook page, and it seems that the rate of these disappearances may be on the rise. Its very striking that so many young Indigenous women from across Canada are disappearing on such a regular basis, and that the outwardly apparent attitude of the Canadian general public is of a basically passive nature. 
It is almost amazing that the media has apparently dismissed this as something that will not improve the ratings and so can be discounted as being less than 'News Worthy'.
 I beleive that if these missing women and girls were of any other racial group, there would be a fuming uproar across Canada over the apparent lack of ambition on the part of officials to solve these human tragedies.

West Coast Indigenous Perspective

West Coast Indigenous Perspective

The following is a very interesting and eye-opening documentary film

http://www.filmsforaction.org/Watch/The_Canary_Effect_Kill_the_Indian_Save_the_Man/

Here is a documentary film which provides a nonfictional version of the long history of persecution, through which the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas have been dragged by a highly inhumane 'Civilized Western Society'; the same society which has been, and continues to be, depicted as the corner-stone of the 'Civilized World.' And the persecution continues today, and will be ongoing into the future, as the electorate of those countries that are involved in this persecution continue to allow their country's Leadership to continue with this social abuse and subjection of the Human Rights and the Indigenmous Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of these countries

West Coast Indigenous Perspective

West Coast Indigenous Perspective

http://www.canada.com/technology/Marpole+Midden+cancels+development+protested+Musqueam+band/7318206/story.html


The late great, 'Canadian Indian Movement,' leader, George Manuel, began a battle against the racially motivated actions and intents of the various governments of Canada. He lead the way toward the present and on-going efforts of the assertion of Indigenous Rights, both here in Canada and around the world. Here, the Musqueam People have made a huge stride in that same direction. This development has been a very long time in coming.




https://www.google.ca/search?tbm=bks&hl=en&q=brotherhood+to+nationhood&btnG=

Follow this link to find a book that describes the formation of the political career and developments of George Manuel.


http://books.google.ca/books/about/The_fourth_world.html?id=VwMJAQAAIAAJ

Follow this link to find the book that describes the vision of George Manuel.

Haisla Cultural Religion: A Voice of the Northwest Coast

Our Journey; Against Enbridge Gateway Development Plans

Greg Robinson
Posted: Friday, September 28, 2012

We are the Haisla People. Across a very long span of historic time, the journey of our survival has brought us across the width and the breadth of the northwest coast of North America, from the area now known as Washington State, throughout the lands and waters of this coast, to the area now known as Alaska.

The act of harvesting natural resources from within Haisla Traditional Territory is for us, a practice that goes back to our ancestral birth; it goes back to the ancient time of our arrival on this land; to a time long before the intervention  of Western Culture and Politics. Our culturally-based, collective knowledge of food and resource harvesting practices, otherwise known as ,'Hunting and Gathering,' stands as a historic wealth of Cultural, Social and Technical knowledge developed over millennia, as our ancestors increasingly became more attuned to the nature of the resources, and to the demands of the physical environment of Haisla Traditional Territory.

Presently, our practices of harvesting food and other traditional resources ,reconnects us on an annual, seasonal basis, with the time when our cultural identity, and perspective as Indigenous Peoples, here upon our lands and waters, was clear and unobstructed. It is our Indigenous People's Human Right to continue, unobstructed, with our historic practice of harvesting the traditional foods that help us to maintain a level of health to which we have become socially, physically and psychologically accustomed over these past millennia. As this Human Right stands within a 'Protected' status at the highest levels of International Convention, no threat to these Human Rights must be allowed as acceptable by any level of the International Community, including the country and the people of Canada.

As the Haisla People, in this, 'Modern age', our traditional food harvesting and trading activity continues to bring us on many journeys. It brings us physically out onto the lands and the waters of our Traditional Territory. It brings us into contact with the lakes, the rivers, the creeks, the pools, the waterfalls and the marine waterways, where our ancestors based their lives. Where they raised their families, and fought to protect their homes and their freedom and their right to live and to thrive; where they performed ritualistic purification ceremonies; the places where they found their spiritual sustenance. Our harvesting activity brings us to the shores, where we find the rock faces that contain the petroglyphs, which remain as gestures of greeting to us, and that go to signal the continuum of our habitation of these lands; it brings us to those remote parts of our Territory, where the dugout canoes of old were built, and disembarked onto journeys of the historic Haisla lifestyle. We are able to walk the same routes, wade into the same pools, climb the same mountains, to see the same beauty, to feel the same love for the light in the eyes of our children, as they play on the shores, drink of the fresh waters, and eat the foods and the fruits, of the waters and the land, that continue to nourish us. Our harvesting journeys bring us to what remains of the Old-Growth Forest, to the rivers, the valleys and the mountains, that even now, continue to mark the boundaries of our Territorial Lands and Waters; the Territory that has always supplied us with the wide variety of resources upon which we have always depended, for our lives, and for the lives of our children.

The bones of our ancestors are to be found, near and far, in recessed places across our lands. Our journeys across our Territorial Lands bring us to such historically significant sites, where we find remains of the bent-wood boxes that contained the skeletal remains of those same ancestors, and that remain there throughout our lands; their tools can be found on the shores and in the forests; their stories are in the hearts of our elders; their spirit is in the souls of the children who are reborn to us; and their memories live in our dreams.  Those who have gone before us are with us in spirit, and celebrate with us as we revisit, and reconnect with the pristine places that remain of our ancestral homeland. They laugh with us in our times of happiness, and they stand by us in our times of grief. They move with us as we wander over the land and across the waters. They sit with us at the tops of the mountains that we climb; and for those who learn to listen, they speak to us and let us know that they are near.

Along the pathways of our journey, we find the 'Cedar plank trees,' that were left by the hands of our ancestors, and which stand as part of a large body of internationally recognized, legal Archaeological evidence, as to our true place in this country, and in this world.

The act of drinking of the fresh waters of our Traditional Territories is one of many forms of traditional prayer. Each individual is free to choose and to develop their own particular form of prayer. The act of sitting at the edge of the waters of a lake, a river or at the marine tide line, to simply enjoy and appreciate the intrinsic, solemn and immaculate beauty of unadulterated nature, this is for me personally, an act of deep and intense expression of gratitude; of Northwest Coast style prayer. To live each day with a deep appreciation for the wholeness and the purity; the sanctity of nature, this is the language and the voice of our Traditional Culture, and as well, another form of prayer. This is the realm, and the practice, and the voice of our Traditional Spirituality; in essence this is the nature and the way of our religion. In this way, we continue to practice the religion of our ancestry.

At this point in our history, we the Haisla People find ourselves facing the ultimate threat to our place in this world, namely the potential destruction of the precious and irreplaceable ecological integrity of our Traditional Homeland environment; the demolition of our social, cultural, religious, and Spiritual base; the emaciation and the destitution of the ecological heart of our Homeland Territory.

Long after 'Big Oil' and its money is gone from our Homeland Territory, what will be left of our home? What will be left of our lives; our families; our friends? What will be left for our children and future generations? What will become of the remains of our Traditional Culture? The answer is, destruction, destitution and death.

If my ability to hunt, and to gather, and to engage in related traditional practice were lost or compromised, it would affect me in the following ways:

A.    Economic / Health:  I depend heavily upon the natural food resources of Haisla Territory, to sustain myself and my family. Meats and sea foods that are harvested from our Territorial lands and waters, are free of chemical additives, hormonal additives, and preservatives, and continue to provide us with greatly increased levels of health, vitality and quality of life. The medicines that we gather from the lands, and from the waters, are also a great source of health benefits, as we continue to take up old remedies, and to discover new medicinal remedies to be found and derived from plants and trees of our Territory. If my ability to hunt, gather and to fish were lost or compromised due to industrial destruction of habitat, I myself, as well as my family, would suffer greatly as a result of a severe decline in the quality of our diet.  Haisla elders and others in the community who share the fruits of their own such harvesting activities, would also suffer the same loss. The loss of this resource would be a social and an economic catastrophe for many Haisla People. 

B.   Socially:  Our harvesting and sharing of traditional food resources of Haisla Territory is truly a social event. It brings us together as we find ourselves out on the lands and on the waters, in the acts of harvesting the foods and other resources. At these times we learn from one another, and teach the young, the lessons that we have learned about the harvest, about self determination, and about leadership. We cement old friendships and develop new ones. These interactions effectively become events of social and cultural development and assertion, where we hear each other's renditions of old stories, and of past personal experiences, on the waters and on the land.

This is effectively a recording of our living history, as well as the re-establishment and the reinforcement of cultural norms. For us, as The Haisla, it is ultimately a community building process. It is through such social activity that the Haisla Culture continues to find its basis.

The loss of harvesting practices, due to the loss or the destruction of our natural resources, would mean the loss of this social activity that is crucial to the continuation of Haisla Cultural identity, and the longevity of Traditional Haisla Cultural Practices and Society. This would truly be a tremendous loss of quality of life, at many levels , for myself, for my family and friends,  as well as for  the local and extended Haisla Community.

C.          If I were to lose either my access to, or my ability to enjoy the vibrant nature of my homeland due to destruction by industry, my quality of life would be incredibly diminished; and the quality of life for my family and friends would, without question, also be incredibly diminished.  Our spirit would suffer greatly. I believe that the resultant suffering would cause tremendous heart break, and that the issue of such loss among our people would be immeasurable, and for many, insurmountable. I believe that as a direct result of associated social degradation, and cultural shock, and a general sense of loss, the youth of my community would suffer greatly, and the incidence of alcoholism and drug abuse would increase steeply, and the suicide rate within my community would escalate beyond any historic milestone.

Greg Robinson, Haisla

After a long beautiful night travelling with a full moon through Gardner Canal, a spectacular dawn spilled across the waters. I've heard people, who have travelled all over the world, say that Haisla Territory is some of the most beautiful of all the places they've been. I believe it.

The thing about photos is that they can help us to get an idea of what was there in front of the camera, but they can never bring us the true depth and breadth of the beauty in the landscape, seascape etc. This land contains an amazing bounty in terms of the aura that serves to invite a raw spiritual connection to all things natural, the essence of which makes up a large part of our humanity.

The humanity of Indigenous Peoples has been under assault for centuries. We must draw a line at this point in history and, in the interest of protecting our future, reverse this process of assault; and these words are my first effort in that direction.

The truth of this matter is that, now, it is not only Indigenous Peoples who are under the gun here, it is all humanity.

We cannot allow an oil corporation, and/or a money-blind federal government, to destroy the natural world in the interests of their personal and collective financial and political gain.

Oil Spill on the Douglas Channel

Supreme Court Decision re: Nuu chah nulth Fishing Rights

In regards to the recent Supreme Court Decision(Headline: Court of Appeal upholds Native Fishing Rights) regarding the Nuu chah nulth(Indigenous Nation on the West coast of Vancouver Island) people's, harvesting and sale of 'Indian Food Fish'(A term taken from Canadian Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans[DFO] terminology).
As has always been the case, we the Indigenous People of this land simply wish to improve our lot in this world. At this point in our historic interaction with the country of Canada, we find ourselves still playing the same old game of, 'catch-up', to so-called, 'mainstream' folks. For Coastal Indigenous People generally, seafood has always been, and continues to be our mainstay as a primary nutritional food source, and as a trade item; in our history, seafood provided the basis of our wealth. But in recent times, the Federal Government of Canada has been consistent, and persistent, in the practice of its use of 'Canadian Law,' as both a weapon of subjection, and as a social and psychological deterrent, to prevent Indigenous People of this land from accessing our resources, including seafood, and as a result, from prospering in this world, as we rightfully wish to do.
My sense of the situation is that this landmark case has come none too soon. Each time that I see or hear of a case of The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, interfering with the rightful harvesting practices of Indigenous Peoples of this land, I automatically recall the image of the DFO craft being willfully and intentionally directed by a DFO officer, at high speed, over top of a Indigenous owned fishing craft, and I see the Indigenous fishermen jumping from their boat into the sea, to save their lives. This to me, is the position that DFO has always held in relation to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. DFO has always been the action tool of a country and a populace, that has no clear, accurate, and reality-based vision of where it truly stands, in the context of lawful reality, in relation to the Indigenous Peoples of this land. This Nuu Chah Nulth Fishing Rights case will serve as a door way, a portal into reality, through which Canada, and Canadians will be compelled to pass.

Greg Robinson, Haisla Fisherman.

List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of writers from peoples indigenous to the Americas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Here is a link to a list of Indigenous writers of The Americas. This link will connect you to a source where you may find The True Voice of the Experience of the Indigenous Peoples of The Americas. Connect to this site and touch our common earth.


Greg Robinson

Be a Witness

Be a Witness

Background
On February 27, 2007, the Assembly of First Nations [AFN], a political organization representing all First Nations in Canada, and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada [FNCFCS], a national non-profit organization providing services to First Nations child welfare organizations, took the historic step of holding Canada accountable before the Canadian Human Rights Commission for its current treatment of First Nations children. The complaint alleges that the Government of Canada had a longstanding pattern of providing less government funding for child welfare services to First Nations children on reserves than is provided to non-Aboriginal children.

The inequalities in First Nations child welfare funding are longstanding and well documented (Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples [RCAP], 1996; McDonald & Ladd, 2000; Loxley et. al., 2005; Amnesty International, 2006; Assembly of First Nations, 2007; Auditor General of Canada, 2008; Standing Committee on Public Accounts, 2009) as are the tragic consequences of First Nations children going into child welfare care due, in part, to the unavailability of equitable family support services (McDonald & Ladd, 2000; Blackstock and Trocme, 2005; Amnesty International, 2006; Clarke, 2007; Auditor General of Canada, 2008; National Council on Welfare, 2008). This inequity is further amplified for First Nations children by shortfalls in education funding, housing and publically funded voluntary sector supports (Blackstock, 2008).

In October of 2008, the Canadian Human Rights Commission ordered a tribunal to determine whether or not discrimination had occurred pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act. The tribunal is similar to a court process with all evidence taken under oath. The AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society will present the case supporting our allegation that the Canadian Government is discriminating against First Nations children and then the federal government will respond. The Tribunal will then decide if discrimination happened or not. If it did happen, then the Tribunal can order a remedy to the discrimination. The tribunal is open to the public.

Click here to learn more about the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal process.


Interview with Cindy Blackstock, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada

Lisa Abel interviews Cindy Blackstock on the First Nations Child Welfare Tribunal, September 17, 2009

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Learn more about the importance of this case

Human Rights? Canada?-- A submission to Mosaic Institute http://www.mosaicinstitute.ca/contactUs/

In terms of the United Nations involvement in dealing with Human Rights Violations in countries around the world, Canada is a perpetrator with a secret. It is, however, a secret that is really no secret at all. The wealth of the country of Canada, was built upon the human rights violations against the Indigenous
Peoples of the land base, and the Territories collectively known as Canada. Beginning with the first, 'Settlements', throughout the lands of the east coast, to the present urban and industrial developments being planned and initiated in British Columbia on Canada's the West coast.
At the present time, The Human Rights Coalition of the America's(North and South America), is in the process of assessment of the question of Institutionalised Human Rights violations perpetrated by the Federal Government of Canada, against Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia. These violations involve the abuse of Federal Authority in dealings with, and concerning the use of, and the illegal distribution of, the Land base belonging to the Indigenous Peoples of the various Tribal Groups, and Subgroups, who have inhabited these lands since time immemorial, and whose Rights and Title to these lands, are recognised and protected by the constitution of Canada, 1982.
These activities of the Federal Government of Canada, include the removal of these Indigenous Peoples from their home land Territories, and placement of these people upon miniscule, and generally non-productive areas of land, known as Indian Reserves. In order to sever the ties between these people and their traditional lands, and each other, the Federal Government removed the children from these communities at an early age, and placed them into 'Indian Residential Schools'. The object of these schools was to suppress, and to kill, the Indigenous Culture, which was seen as the substantial connection between these people and their land base.
Canada's removal of Indigenous People's title to these Lands and Territories in question, has directly affected the ability of these Indigenous Peoples, to rightfully benefit from the of ownership of these properties.

At the present time, The Federal Government of Canada stands as one of three member-states of the United Nations that refuse to recognise the Human Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the world.
The integrity and the viability of any organization concerned with the propagation, and protection of human Rights anywhere in the world, remains entirely dependent upon the integrity of all members and associates of such an organization.
The fact of Canadian Government participation in any such organization, under the present circumstances where there is a standing, on-going investigation, by an international Human Rights organization, into Canadian Government activity, presents a question of the credibility, and of the viability, of that organization

Greg Robinson

Flame On!

Flame On

The totemic figure here is a black and white photographic image recorded by Bill Mclennon, Photographer at UBC Museum of Archaeology. The totem had fallen, and was lying on the ground. The photo depicted the totem in its natural condition of degradation by age.
In this Image,'Flame on', I have repositioned the photographic image to display the totem in an upright position, and present the original photographic framing of the totemic figure at an unnatural angle. This brings the viewer closer to the time of origin of this particular totem. It brings us to an iconic representation of the Indigenous Culture of the West Coast of what is now Canada. The culture that had evolved over thousands of years. The culture that is essentially an extension of the homelands of the Indigenous People of this region. The culture that included the political, spiritual, social and physical essence of West Coast Indigenous Peoples. Contrary to the objectives and efforts of Historic Canadian Government initiatives, we have not vanished into the forests of time. At present, we strive to right the river of wrongs that have deposited our people into a state of disrepair.
The flames in this image represent the many forms of trespass that have been directed upon and against the humanity of The Indigenous Peoples of the North West Coast. These trespasses have in fact, been propagated against the entire Indigenous Community of Canada. They are degradations that have been brought against us throughout the time of the occupation of our Homelands.

These degradations continue to be brought to bear against the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, by the Federal Government and other institutions of this land. Where the Federal Government is not directly involved in such activities of degradation, it is indirectly involved in them by remaining silent and unmoving in terms of correcting such wrongs, as they have occurred historically, and as they continue to occur. There has been some fleeting attention paid to these issues, but many of these apparent efforts amount to gloss.
It is difficult for many Indigenous People to bring forward in calm fashion, the words necessary, to provide an accurate description, of the human impact, of these historic and on-going
incidences of subjection and persecution. The difficulty lays in large part, in the struggle to refrain from resorting to an outright and seething violence, in response to these wrongs.
The potential for a contemporary violent reaction to these wrongs, is indeed, not only very real, it does in fact occur on an on-going basis. To comprehend the nature of this violence, one need only recall, that reports have been made by reputable researchers; reports that have  emphatically stated such fact as, seventy five percent of the inmate population within the penal system of Canada, is made up by Indigenous people. This is a point that becomes a stark social statement, as well as a condemnation of the worth of Canadian Social Conscience, when one considers that the portion of the population of Canada that is occupied by Indigenous people, stands at approximately one point five percent. What this tells us, is that the amount of violence propagated by Indigenous individuals, and that comes to the attention of the courts, is at least fifty times the level of violence occurring in the non-Indigenous general population of Canada. This does not take into account, the violence that does not end with conviction. Such a consideration would swell the picture of violence to a greater and still more incredible scope.
This violence that continues to manifest among Indigenous Peoples, may be interpreted as a ineffective,  introverted response to the intent, and the impact, of the social injustices that have been, and that continue to be, directed toward, and brought to bear, upon the Indigenous Peoples of this land. This violence may be interpreted as a misdirected, or an inappropriate response to, and struggle against, the social injustices that Indigenous Peoples of Canada have lived through, suffered and died through. It is nevertheless, a segment of the response that has taken shape, and developed, and that continues to develop, within the state of a severely subjected and oppressed Canadian Indigenous Society. This is a society that continues to suffer through social injustices at every level across this land. They are injustices against which we now strive to find our footing, and to stand above, and to move beyond.

Greg Robinson, March 27, 2010

I am reposting ths article here as per previous
Received: Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 1:12 PM


Dear Margarita:


Thank you for your observations. I agree Canada does not fully recognize its past, at least on the ground. We have been struggling to contend with our situation, especially in British Columbia since European settlement, but the federal and provincial governments have been ignoring us.


In Canada when the Canadian Constitution was being made Canadian in 1980 Indigenous peoples fought to have that not happen until our land rights and treaty rights were dealt with. We just did not trust Canada would do this. We had a Constitution Express train from Vancouver to Ottawa in 1980 and we lobbied the House of Commons and House of Lords in London, England in 1981. The result is that the Canadian government had to put in the Canadian Constitution 1982 that the "federal and provincial government would recognize and affirm all existing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights."


In 1997 the Supreme Court of Canada in Delgamuukw case recognized that all of British Columbia was not covered by treaty and that consequently we own British Columbia under Aboriginal Title, which is an Aboriginal Right as protected under the Canadian Constitution 1982. We just need to prove we were here since 1846. The Canadian and British Columbia government recognize that Aboriginal Title does exist in BC but we need to prove it in the courts, every square inch before Aboriginal Title can be recognized on the ground.


No community has a declaration from the court of Aboriginal Title in BC. Indigenous Peoples are not inhibited by this imposed legal strategy of Canada and BC. That is why there are slogans in BC saying, "No 2010 Winter Olympics on Stolen Indigenous Land". The Indigenous Network on Economies and Trade (INET) the group I am spokesman had an Amicus Curaie brief accepted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), in the Canada-USA softwood lumber dispute establishing that, "Canada's policy of not recognizing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights was a subsidy to Canada's forest industry".


I think no one can argue that the WTO is the highest trade tribunal in the world and the NAFTA is the highest trade tribunal in North America. Therefor - in capitalist terms - indigenous peoples are subsidizing two of the richest countries in the world by not having our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights recognized. Therefore, that couple you saw in Edmonton, as financially poor as they looked were probably the most generous of people you ever met because all those sky scrapers and wealth in Edmonton is being subsidized by their poverty.


Indigenous peoples have systemically been impoverished by Canada's Indian Act and the Department of Indian Affairs. The poverty of my parents, grandparents and great grandparents was the direct result of Canada's policy to NOT recognize our territorial land rights and force us to live our lives on our tiny little Indian reserves. The impoverishment we experienced will continue to my children, grandchildren and all future generations if Canada has its way.


Canada needs "us" poor in order to justify that they can exclusively control and benefit from our land. Canada can say how can we allow the Indigenous Peoples to control and benefit from their land, look at them they are just poor and uneducated peoples. Canada directly benefits from our systemically imposed poverty.


According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canada was at level 1 for three years and is always at amongst the top five countries in the world, but when they apply the same criterion to Indigenous Peoples in Canada we are at level 47. The divergence between Canada's level and our level is the measurement of Canada's violation of our human rights as Indigenous Peoples. Canada knows this, that is why they are being really deceptive at the 2010 Winter Olympics.


Canada established the so called Four Host First Nations by using money. I heard they were investing about $10 - 12 million dollars to fund this group to support the 2010 Winter Olympics. These for Indian Bands are going to get a few extras like a brand new gymnasium and band office but not much more out of this money. But this money actually means more to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Canada because it will make it appear that Indigenous Peoples in Canada fully support the 2010 Winter Olympics. They will use the Four Host First Nations at the Opening Ceremony to make it look like all Indigenous Peoples support the IOC and Canada.


That money is just an investment in advertisement for the IOC and Canada. The IOC and Canada actually sell the Olympic advertisement right to Coca Cola, Royal Bank of Canada, CTV and other big companies for a lot more than the small amount they are giving to the Four Host First Nations and especially to Indigenous Peoples of Canada. In fact the money Canada invests in the Four Host First Nations allows Canada NOT to address 500 hundred murdered and missing woman, high suicide rate amongst young indigenous peoples, homelessness, mass poverty, high unemployment and the fact that Canada did not adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.


The money that the IOC and Canada use to invest in advertisement regarding Indigenous Peoples is like the money athletes use to buy drugs to win Olympic Gold. The little advertisement money that the IOC and Canada invest in deceiving the world community about Indigenous Peoples in Canada and is wrongful advertisement in a very hurtful, cruel and ugly way. The IOC really undermines the high standard and goals established by the Olympics when they get involved with Canada economically self-serving strategies. The facts with regard to Canada's human rights record at the United Nations is public record and the IOC should be aware of this and put pressure on countries like Canada to improve their human rights record and not be deceptive.


Canadians should be ashamed that Canada did not adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In fact only four countries in the world did not adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and they were Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand. Actually Australia has reversed their decision and New Zealand and the USA are reconsidering their position It is only Canada that is not giving it any reconsideration.


In fact out of all the countries that are participating at the 2010 Winter Olympics it is only Canada that I protest attending because all the other countries in the world adopted the Declaration or are reconsidering it. Canadians should be ashamed that out of all the countries in the world they are the most "red neck" country when it comes to Indigenous Peoples. Yes, I can kind of agree that in Canada, we are an invisible peoples, but that is primarily due to the fact that it is Canada's position to ignore our Aboriginal Title and Treaty Rights and want to assimilate us into their settler culture.


I think getting the news out that Canada is not that good country when it comes to Indigenous Peoples is really important. I like your question and I think you should let Mexico know that Canada, when it told Mexico that Indigenous Rights could not be recognized vis-a-vis the North America Free Trade Agreement was not true because in Canada, Canada does have very clear recognition of our rights both constitutionally and judicially. Canada must be embarrassed to recognize our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights on the ground and abandon the Colonial Doctrines of Discovery. They must be told to quit the policy of extinguishment and assimilation and adopt a policy of recognition and coexistence with Indigenous Peoples They must be told to quit being a cowboy and Indian state and mature and recognize the human rights of all Indigenous Peoples around the world.


Arthur


p.s I sent this to a lot of my friends,