Warrior Life Studios

Pam Palmater

Tag: Speech from the Throne 2013

  • Feathers verus Guns: The Throne Speech and Canada’s War with the Mi’kmaw Nation at Elsipogtog

    *As I write this blog, Canada is at war with the Mi’kmaw Nation – again – this time in Elsipogtog (Big Cove First Nation) in New Brunswick. The Mi’kmaw have spoken out against hydro-fracking on their territory for many months now. They have tried to get the attention of governments to no avail. Now the Mi’kmaw are in a battle of drums and feathers versus tanks and assault rifles – not the rosy picture painted by Canada to the international community.

    The failure by the federal and provincial governments, as well as the Houston-based fracking company, Southwestern Energy, to consult with the Mi’kmaw and obtain their consent is what led to the protests all summer. According to their web page: “In March 2010, the company announced that the Department of Energy and Mines of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada accepted its bids for exclusive licenses to search and conduct an exploration program covering 2,518,518 net acres in the province in order to test new hydrocarbon basins.”

    http://www.swn.com/operations/Pages/nb.aspx

    In response, the Mi’kmaw have led peaceful protests at hydro-fracking sites to demonstrate their opposition and protect their lands and resources. They have always asserted their sovereignty, ownership and jurisdiction over their territory. There has been relatively little coverage of their actions, but they have been active for months now. More recently, the company obtained an injunction to stop the protest and it was served on protesters today.

    http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/author/miles-howe

    It is more than coincidental timing – it was obviously strategically calculated with the completion of the Governor General’s Speech from the Throne and the end of the United Nations Special Rapporteur James Anaya’s visit to Canada. This morning, we awoke to reports from the Mi’kmaw of swarms of RCMP dispatched to Elsipogtog to enforce Harper’s aggressive natural resource agenda. He has effectively declared war on the Mi’kmaw.

    http://www.speech.gc.ca/sites/sft/files/SFT-EN_2013_c.pdf

    This is not the first time Canada has declared war on the Mi’kmaw. In 1981, law enforcement led an attack on the Mi’kmaw at Restigouche to stop them from controlling their own Aboriginal fishery. During this attack, Mi’kmaw suffered multiple injuries, some severe and numerous arrests.

    In 1998, the government intervened in Listuguj because the traditional Mi’kmaw government shut down the logging company that was stealing timber from Mi’kmaw lands and because the Mi’kmaw started to harvest their own timber.

    Between 1999 and 2001, Canada once again declared war on the Mi’kmaw Nation at Esgenoopitij (Burnt Church First Nation) in NB to stop them from fishing lobster. This was despite the fact the Mi’kmaw had proven their treaty right to fish lobster at the Supreme Court of Canada. Law enforcement rammed Mi’kmaw fishing boats, injured fisherman and issued numerous arrests.

    All of these actions were done in violation of the numerous treaties between the Mi’kmaw and the Crown which were peace and friendship treaties intended to once and for all end hostilities and work together as Nation to Nation partners. Given that our treaties are constitutionally protected, Canada’s actions are not only tyrannical and oppressive, but also illegal.

    Today, in 2013, the government has once again decided that brute force is the way to handle The Mi’kmaw women, elders, and children drumming and singing in peaceful protest against hydro-fracking at Elsipogtog. Media reports 200 RCMP officers were dispatched, some of them from the riot squad, armed with shields, assault rifles, batons, tear gas, rubber bullets, pepper spray and snipers. Some of the RCMP, in full camo, hid in the woods, while the others formed a large barricade on the highway blocking any movement by protesters.

    The Chief and Council were arrested, as well as numerous other protesters all while scrambling cell phone signals, cutting live video feeds and blocking media access to the site. Reports of RCMP pointing their assault rifles at elders and snipers aiming their scopes at children led to the burning of several RCMP cruisers. Yet, so far, the mainstream media has focused on the burning cars and not the acts of violation and intimidation by RCMP on the Mi’kmaw.

    This heavy-handed deployment of heavily armed RCMP cops against women and children shows Canada’s complete disregard for our fundamental human rights and freedoms, and their ongoing disdain for Indigenous peoples. One RCMP officer’s comments summarized government position perfectly: “Crown land belongs to government, not to fucking natives”. The RCMP have it wrong – Mi’kmaw treaties never surrendered our lands and we are still the rightful owners.

    http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/10/17/crown-land-belongs-to-the-government-not-to-fcking-natives/

    Of course, this sounds eerily similar to the words of former Ontario Premier Mike Harris who was reported to have said of the protest at Ipperwash “I want the fucking Indians out of the park”.

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ipperwash-inquiry-spreads-blame-for-george-s-death-1.666937

    And we all know what happened there – law enforcement killed a peaceful unarmed protester named Dudley George. One might wonder if history is going to repeat itself. If we look to the Speech from the Throne as any indication, Harper has sent Canada on a direct collision course with First Nations – all in the name of resource development.

    Contrary to the Governor General’s introductory comments about Canada using its military force sparingly and that Canada responds “swiftly and resiliently to aid those in need”, the strategic wording indicates a much more ominous plan. Canada’s position vis-à-vis First Nations and natural resources is laid out as follows:

    –        First Nations are incapable of managing their own affairs and Canada will control them and make them accountable via legislation;

    –        Canada owns the natural resources  and will sell them;

    –        Canada will make major investments in infrastructure to protect these natural resources;

    –        Canada will increase military strength to protect Canadian sovereignty; and

    –        Increased military will protect Canada’s economy from terrorism.

    In other words, Canada does not recognize the ownership or rights of First Nations to their lands, waters and natural resources and will expend billions to ensure that no First Nations prevent the extraction of those resources. Canada and its military have referred to First Nations as terrorists before, and will no doubt be labeled as such when they defend their right to say no to mines or hydro-fracking, like in Elsipogtog for example.

    This aggressive display of power and intimidation in Elsipogtog was not met with an equal display of violence. Instead, the women, elders and children continued to drum and chant and pray for the health and safety of their peoples, their Nation and the lands and waters for all Canadians. Instead of scaring people away, this unconstitutional show of force is being met with solidarity blockades all over Canada and the United States.

    Listuguj in Quebec has blocked a bridge; Six Nations in Ontario has shut down a highway, there are protests outside Canadian embassies in New York City and Washington; and hundreds of rallies, marches, protests and blockades planned for later today and tomorrow. The horrific images of police violence at Elsipogtog inspired First Nations peoples all over Canada to collect supplies, send warriors and advocate for justice. Harper has inspired Indigenous resistance and action on the ground. There will be more First Nation protests and blockades in the coming days as well.

    The Idle No More flame that he lit last year has never faded – it was just waiting to be fanned once again. The solution has always been there:

    (1)  Respect the Nation to Nation relationship (our sovereignty and jurisdiction over our governments, lands and peoples);

    (2)  Address the current injustices (crises in housing, education, food, water, child and family services, murdered and missing Indigenous women); and

    (3)  Share the benefits and responsibility to protect the lands, water and natural resources like the treaties envisioned.

    It’s Harper’s move now – more tanks and RCMP violence or a negotiating table? http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/ID/2412799896/ *Picture taken from Google images.

  • Conservative Throne Speech 2013: More Beads and Trinkets for First Nations

     The Speech from the Throne today made it clear that the relationship between First Nations and Canada is not a priority, nor will it ever be for a Harper Government. Instead of offering the real fundamental change that is needed to address the multiple, overlapping crises in First Nations like housing, education, water and food, more beads and trinkets were offered. These beads and trinkets were not even new, they represented old promised repackaged to look new – similar to how their past throne speeches, election promised and Crown-First Nation Gathering commitments read.

    In the Speech, First Nations were reduced to a mere minority cultural group of “Aboriginal Canadians” relegated to Canada’s past. Our alleged role in the creation of Canada is a “contribution” to be commemorated within the context of historical battles between European powers for our lands. Our “commemoration” is not a celebration of our Indigenous sovereignty, but a celebration of Confederation and reinforcement of Canada’s assertion of sovereignty over First Nations. In fact, not only did the Harper Government revert back to the two founding nations concept of Canada, but they specifically acknowledged Quebec’s status as a Nation within Canada.

    First Nations issues did not feature prominently in the Speech and the few items that were included were laced with racism and paternalism. The following is a list of the promises made specific to First Nations:

    (1)  Take steps to ensure “Aboriginal Canadians” find the job-training they need;

     

    (2)  Continue to work with “Canada’s First Nations” to develop “stronger, more effective, and more accountable on-reserve education systems”; (3)  Job opportunities for “Canada’s Aboriginal peoples” in the natural resource extractive industry; (4)  Renew efforts to address murdered and missing Aboriginal women; (5)  Continue dialogue on treaty relationship and comprehensive land claims; and (6)  Work with Aboriginal peoples to create healthy, prosperous, self-sufficient communities.

     Job Training:

    The first promise, i.e., to give Aboriginal Canadians the job training, starts from the flawed premise that Canada is working with the most educated work force in the world. That may be the case for Canadians in general, but it is far from true for First Nations peoples where the gap in educational attainment continues to grow. Even the terminology that is used signifies the Harper Government is coming from an employment equity point of view, as opposed to a Nation to Nation partnership, Aboriginal and treaty rights or human right point of view.

    This paternalistic nature of these “promises” is also evident from the possessory language that is used to describe First Nations. “Canada’s Aboriginal peoples” is an offensive phrase implying First Nations belong to Canada – the same paternalistic mentality indicative of Canada’s colonial past. Similarly, the phrase “Aboriginal Canadians” subjugates Indigenous peoples to Canada’s assertion of sovereignty over their lands and resources.

    First Nation Education:

    The second promise in relation to First Nation education is an example of the degree to which First Nations are always presented by the Harper government in a child-like manner using words like “potential” to describe their current state. The promise to build stronger, more accountable education systems on reserve implies that First Nation schools are not already accountable. We know from every report ever written that the issue around First Nation education is about lack of real First Nation control and severe, chronic underfunding. Trying to blame the victim and make veiled accusations of corruption only promotes stereotypes not conducive to addressing the crisis in education.

    What this promise doesn’t say is that the Harper government has drafted First Nation Education Legislation which will be introduced in the House shortly, likely in the omnibus bill with all the other new and amended pieces of legislation. Just like with Bill C-45, one of the bills which spurred on the Idle No More movement, this legislation will be rammed through the house without consultation, debate or the consent of First Nations. It is unconstitutional legislation that directly violates constitutionally protected treaty rights and international rights. This is not much of a promise when what was critically needed was funding.

     Mining Jobs:

    The third promise to ensure job opportunities in the natural resource extractive industry is another way of saying that Canada will continue to steal Indigenous lands and extract the resources for its own benefit. Harper has no intention of respecting the Aboriginal or treaty rights of First Nations in relation to the wealth from their lands, nor does will he consider the sharing of the natural resources. The benefit that First Nations can expect from this promise is to be trained in how to mine gold, cut down trees, or extract oil from tar sands. Harper plans to use First Nations as the labourers so large corporations can export their profits outside Canada while First Nations people are left with the environmental contamination.

    It should be kept in mind that this promise is closely tied to the other promises made in the Speech related to natural resources. Canada is claiming that they own all the natural resources and there is no mention of the rights of First Nations in this regard or the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which confirms First Nation ownership. Instead, the Speech was clear that Harper’s government that they will build the infrastructure necessary to access the resources and sell them to foreign governments.

    The Speech did confirm what First Nations have been saying for decades: it’s not tax payers that pay for social programs, but the $30 billion+ in natural resource development that pays for education, health and other social programs that Canadians enjoy. In other words, Canadians enjoy free education and health care paid for (subsidized) by First Nation natural resources and not the other way around.

    Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women:

    The fourth promise to renew efforts to address murdered and missing women was likely the most offensive part of this Speech. The Governor General spoke of protecting murdered and missing First Nation women followed by a promise to up-hold anti-prostitution laws, followed by a promise to enact legislation to protect dogs. Many listeners to the Throne Speech were shocked by the coupling of murdered and missing action with anti-prostitution laws. The racist overtones and implications here are unforgivable given the many reviews and approvals these speeches must go through before final approval.

     Treaty Talk:

    The fifth promise to continue dialogue on treaties is not a promise at all. More talking means the status quo or no action continues. We have National Chief Shawn Atleo and his undercutting of the Treaty Chiefs in January 2013 at the Crown-First Nation meeting to thank for this meaningless promise. Once Harper knew Atleo would turn his back on his own Chiefs and compromise their leverage, he knew he would never have to make any real concessions on treaties and this is what we see in the Speech. More talk, no action on implementation. That being said, Canada has a legal duty to respect and implement treaty rights which are constitutionally and internationally protected.

    Indian Affairs Mandate:

     Similar to the last promise, the sixth promise is actually no promise at all. It is simply a restatement of their legislated mandate which appears on their website which reads as follows:

    “improve social well-being and economic prosperity; develop healthier, more self-sufficient communities; and participate more fully in Canada’s political, social and economic development.” This has been the mandate of Indian Affairs for decades and they have failed their mandate year after year with no accountability. Promising to live up to only one part of their three-part mandate is not an encouraging sign for First Nations. Very little of substance was offered First Nations in this budget. Instead, Harper will focus on television programming, streamlining e-mails and protecting dogs. The level to which the crisis in First Nations has been ignored is astounding given the United Nations Rapporteur’s recent visit to Canada which has highlighted some of the extreme living conditions and injustices in Canada. Similarly, all the Auditor General, Correctional Investigator and independent reports and studies have all been ignored. The situation of purposeful chronic underfunding of essential human services which leads to the pre-mature deaths of First Nations peoples remains Canada’s biggest shame.

    It is criminal that Canada “will help the world’s neediest” with financial aid and economic development, but will let First Nations live in third world conditions despite the many calls for help. It is no wonder Harper will not answer to the Canadian public tomorrow in the House – not unlike Senators Wallin, Duffy and Brazeau skipping the Speech today. The hypocrisy is nauseating – but even worse, will result in more lives lost in First Nations.

    Canadians have the power to demand justice for First Nations while First Nations protect the lands and waters for all our future generations.