First Nations receive strong support for second National Day of Action against lack of government services
Chiefs of Ontario press release ...
Strong support in Ontario for the National Day of Action
TORONTO, May 30 /CNW/ - On May 29, 2008 First Nations in Ontario were out in large numbers and were joined by many Ontarians in a strong show of support for First Nations issues on the second National Day of Action.
Throughout the day, First Nations organized and participated in approximately 20 peaceful events across the Province. Many of these events were aimed at promoting First Nations realities and First Nations rights.
"This year, First Nation communities across Ontario focused on building bridges with Ontarians, and awareness raising activities," stated Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse. The Regional Chief spent the day at community events at the Whitefish River First Nation and Serpent River First Nation.
Regional Chief Toulouse explained that although First Nations are unique in terms of culture and language, he emphasized that "First Nation parents and leaders are not that different from other Canadians in the sense that we want a good life for our children, we want them to have access to quality education, we want safe homes and clean drinking water. We want many of the same things all Ontarians and Canadians want for their children," stated the Regional Chief.
The Regional Chief explained that he believes Ontarians and Canadians are fair-minded people that care about addressing injustice. "It is unacceptable that far too many of our communities continue to struggle with severe poverty conditions in a country as wealthy as Canada. I think for many Ontarians this is hard to believe but it is the reality. Yet the Federal government decided to pour millions into more tax cuts in the last federal budget and allocated next to nothing for First Nations communities that do not have clean drinking water or safe schools for our children," said Regional Chief Toulouse.
The Regional Chief also indicated that First Nations signed Treaties with the Crown government on a nation-to-nation basis, many of which are over 100 years old. "Much of the frustration within our communities is a result of broken treaty commitments that Government has ignored for too long. The fact is that the Crown made specific commitments in the Treaties that they have broken time and again and continue to ignore," stated Regional Chief Toulouse.
The Regional Chief further stated that the Federal government needs to get serious and show a genuine commitment to working with First Nations on these issues. "The First Nations are not going to quietly go away. We know our rights and we are determined to see justice done," said the Regional Chief.
Although the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug leaders were released from jail on May 28, the Regional Chief pointed out that Ontario has much work to in building an improved relationship with First Nations. "The government of Ontario has taken positive steps forward but without full and meaningful collaboration with First Nations with respect to the many challenges we face, sustained progress will be difficult to achieve," said the Regional Chief.
Regional Chief Toulouse indicated that the Chiefs of Ontario organization will plan another event at some point over the summer months to continue the efforts to build bridges and raise awareness amongst First Nations and with Ontarians generally.
-30-
/For further information: Pam Hunter, (416) 597-1266 or Policy Advisor,
(613) 203-3233/
+++++++++
Second aboriginal Day of Action marked with peaceful rallies across country
May 29, 2008
OTTAWA — All was quiet and peaceful Thursday as thousands of Canadians raised placards and hit the streets to mark the second annual aboriginal Day of Action.
Police said there were no incidents reported at Caledonia, Ont., where a land dispute erupted more than two years ago, or further east in Deseronto, where protests during last year's day of action shut down Highway 401.
The Assembly of First Nations had urged participants to obey the law and focus attention on child poverty.
"It has never been about blockades," said Phil Fontaine, the assembly's national chief, as a relatively thin crowd of several hundred people with flags and signs gathered in perfect spring weather before marching to Parliament Hill. An afternoon rally of speeches and music was expected to draw a few thousand participants.
Placards and banners asked: "Where is the Justice?" and demanded: "Make First Nations Poverty History Now."
"It has never been about shutting down the 401 or shutting down train service," Fontaine said. "It's really an attempt on our part to reach out to Canadians, to invite Canadians to join with us on this very special day for our people."
In Toronto, tents dotted the lawn outside the Ontario legislature where aboriginal demonstrators have camped for four days.
They are demanding prior consent before any mining or industrial activity is conducted on native land, and planned to march through the downtown area later in the day to press their point.
Seven native leaders have been jailed in recent months for blocking such exploration without their consent.
Rallies were also planned at the British Columbia legislature, in Prince Albert, Sask., the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Halifax and other locations across the country.
Frankie Cote, 31, of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg nation about 130 km north of Ottawa, says real change will take more than polite demonstrations.
"In my opinion it's going to take the plight of aboriginal peoples to get a hell of a lot worse before it's going to get better," he said.
"Look what happened in Oka in 1990. The Mohawk people had to stand up and fight for their rights and actually cause chaos for . . . the Oka area. And we got international recognition - whether that be bad publicity, good publicity. It doesn't matter: it was brought to the forefront."
Cote says he agrees "100 per cent" with Shawn Brant, the Mohawk protester who led road and rail blockades last year at Deseronto, near Kingston, Ont.
Brant says native leaders must be willing to take drastic stands - and risk landing behind bars - to cause the sort of disruption that forces governments to pay attention.
Brant is in jail facing several charges, including assault with a weapon. His supporters say they are trumped-up accusations made last month as the day of action approached.
Cote says he's willing to make a similar sacrifice.
"If that's what it takes, yes, I'd be willing to go to jail for my children. I don't want my children to have to go through what I did as a kid, with the racism and stuff that I had to face."
Last June 21 his community's culture centre was vandalized with swastikas and white supremacist graffiti on National Aboriginal Day.
"It's too bad," Cote says. "I wish we had more actual national aboriginal leaders that would take the stance that Shawn Brant has - rather than basically: 'Oh, we've got to do this and that because (otherwise) . . . we're going to get our funding cut."'