Haudenosaunee Land Defenders have been re-occupying a proposed development site for over 50 days in Caledonia, at the footsteps of the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in southwestern Ontario.
Participants say that community members did not agree to their ancestral land being used for a large housing complex. They are engaged in a traditional decision making process with the whole community to find a solution but the OPP have inserted themselves into the situation, violently arresting participants, threatening another raid, and arresting people at their homes.
Join us to show solidarity with Six Nations Land Defenders who want to protect their land for future generations.
Let’s go to the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Ontario and let them know that Toronto supports Indigenous Land Defenders and opposes police brutality.
This is a family friendly event. COVID safety guidelines will be followed. See protocols below.
Speakers:
Russell Diabo
Six Nations Land Defender
Others to be announced
If you cannot attend but would like to support the Land Defenders, you can e-transfer funds to landback6nations@gmail.com to help with their exorbitant legal costs.
For updates, follow their page at: https://www.facebook.com/1492LandBackLane
Background:
The Haldimand Tract was part of the 1784 Haldimand Proclamation that promised land to Six Nations of the Grand River. However, the Canadian government unlawfully sold it to a developer after an Indian Agent sold the reserve land in question to a private party in 1853.
The Haudenosaunee people never ceded the land.
Throughout history, Haudenosaunee jurisdiction over the Haldimand Tract has been undermined. Canada has failed to act honorably in their relationship to the Haudenosaunee and failed to protect the Haldimand Tract for their use and enjoyment.
Years after the 2006 reclamation of Kanonhstaton, formerly Douglas Creek Estates, Haudosaunee Land Defenders have been peacefully reclaiming a nearby site along the Haldimand Tract since July 19, 2020.
On August 5th, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) violently attacked the peaceful camp using rubber bullets, tasers, and brute force. They arrested nine people and charged them with serious offences. Soon after, community members returned to the site to keep protecting their land from development.
In the last week, the OPP have arrested about 20 people when they were offsite leaving the camp, or at their homes after they had visited the site, in Hamilton, Guelph, and other cities. Two journalists have been arrested and charged, just for covering the story (see link below). This is a strategy to criminalize peaceful protest.
In addition, Provincial government officials’ negative words have paved the way for racist intimidation, threats, and harassment of the Six Nations Land Defenders. By criminalizing Indigenous Peoples, the province and its police force are perpetuating colonialism and racism.
Participants of Land Back Lane want the community to have the time and space to heal from the colonial disruptions to their decision making structures and governance, but they cannot do that when land is being stolen from under their feet, and their community is unable to expand to meet their needs, as Six Nations is the most populous First Nation in Canada with over 27,000 members.
We call on the provincial government to respect and uphold the rights of Indigenous people over their unceded land and allow community members to develop solutions within their own community and in their own way.
Join us to confront colonial capitalism and demand respect for Indigenous people.
This Saturday come out to show that you stand in solidarity with the Land Defenders at 1492 Land Back Lane!
SAFETY PROTOCOLS:
-Wearing a mask is mandatory
-Keep 2 meters apart from others that are not in your bubble at all times
-Bring and use hand sanitizer
-Do NOT come if you feel ill, are showing any symptoms, have travelled in the past 14 days or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19
-Do not take close-up photos of participants in order to respect their privacy
Event endorsed by:
Porcupine Warriors
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
Mining Injustice Solidarity Network (MISN)
Climate justice Peel
Resources:
-Journalist arrests: https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/police-arrest-journalist-researcher-in-connection-with-caledonia-land-reclamation/?fbclid=IwAR16__LYOvXS_sgi4a917fUPHUy1D645IOxaZkbjy6qCCJ9yLmW62GkpizI