[All] Fw: [Stopthetarsandskw] GRIS January Newsletter

Fri Jan 11 10:57:24 EST 2013

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Grand River Indigenous Solidarity <decolonizethegrandriver at gmail.com>
To: indigenous.solidarity at lists.wpirg.org; stopthetarsandskw at lists.wpirg.org 
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 1:13:54 AM
Subject: [Stopthetarsandskw] GRIS January Newsletter

GRAND RIVER INDIGENOUS SOLIDARITY: JANUARY NEWSLETTER 
ON IDLE NO MORE, ANNOUNCEMENTS & KW-AREA EVENTS/ACTIONS

In this newsletter:

1. Happy New Years & Idle No More.

Callouts: 

1. Join Us! GRIS Callout for New Members!
2. Support Unist'ot'en Action Camp: Indiegogo Fundraiser Campaign

Upcoming Actions and Events

1. Friday January 11: Idle No More #J11 Global Day of Action

1a. Peace Vigil in Solidarity with Chief Spence -- 12pm @ Trinity United Church (74 Frederick St., Kitchener)
1b. Idle No More Solidarity Rally -- 4pm @ Victoria Park Clocktower (Kitchener)
1c. Candlelight Vigil -- 7pm @ Kitchener City Hall

2. Saturday January 12: Six Nations Bridge Blockade (Branftord)
3. Wednesday January 16: Idle No More Flashmob! Stand With Toad, Six Nations Land Defenders (Cayuga)
4. Saturday January 19- Sunday 20: Survival Skills Workshop @ Oshkimaadziig Unity Camp (Awenda Prov. Park)
5. Thursday January 31: Reclaiming Kanonhstaton Film Screening & Discussion Night @ Princess Twin Cinema (Waterloo)
6. Saturday February 2: Colonialism and Resistance: A History and Solidarity Workshop with Grand River Indigenous Solidarity 10am-6pm @ TBA (KW)
7. Saturday February 9: Grand River Indigenous Solidarity: New Members' Orientation Session
8. Saturday February 16: Hang out with GRIS at theKW Anarchist Bookfair (Kitchener)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAPPY NEW YEARS AND IDLENO MORE!

Happy 2013! We at GRIS are hoping that the new year turns out to be a great and fulfilling one for all of you.

And what a start to the year. If you ask us, it's always good to get the year rolling with an uprising. :)

In our last email, we spoke about the hunger strike of Chief Theresa Spence and the growing movement for indigenous self-determination, a return to nation-to-nation relationships, and justice for the ongoing colonial oppression perpetuated by the Canadian government and society. 

Since that time, the movement has exploded across the country, with inspiring actions of resistance well-documented in even the mainstream media. From the rail blockade in Aamjiwnaang/Sarnia to the round dance at the Peace Arch in Coast Salish Territory, indigenous people across the continent are rising up and demanding long-overdue respect and consideration from a government that has made one apology and many promises, but kept none. The media coverage of the Idle No More movement is now so widespread that you hopefully don't need us to recount everything in too much detail; never before has there been such a diversity of indigenous voices heard in the Canadian press. Like many of the social-media driven movements of the past two years, there is so much being written about Idle No More that to provide everything for you here would be impossible. But there is a lot of amazing reading to do. Chelsea Vowel's reflections are not a bad place to start. "For
 the first time I can remember we are hearing and seeing multiple Indigenous voices in the media," wrote activist and author Judy Rebick in her beautiful blog post on the movement. 

But the growing movement and its many successes have instigated a backlash from the right, who continue to parrot the many racist stereotypes and anti-native rhetoric that seethes just below the surface of Canada's polite public discourse. Pundits like Christie Blatchford -- notorious for her racist and amnesiac writing on the Kanonhnstaton land reclamation in Six Nations --  have called the movement "horse manure" and labeled Theresa Spence a terrorist (no, we're not kidding). And she's not the only one. The Sun "News" network contest inviting their audience to describe Theresa Spence in one word, and the results were not pretty. Many Canadians, in online news comments, quoted in interviews, and likely behind closed doors, are vocalizing the mythology that Canadian taxpayers are unfairly financially responsible for indigenous peoples. This, and many other beliefs upholding Canada's racist systems, have been eloquently challenged and debunked, not least
 by Harsha Walia and Dru Oja Jay.

But there's much we can all do to fight this backlash and show solidarity with Idle No More. We need your help; after all, this movement is not just by, about, or for indigenous peoples. We are all treaty people, yet the relationship between natives and non-natives in this country is deeply broken and abusive. This movement is an invitation to us to participate in healing and bringing harmony to this relationship, and we hope that you'll join us in standing up and saying we will not allow injustices to continue in our names. If you aren't sure what Idle No More represents or why it's so important for all of us, then start learning about it! Talk to your family, friends, housemates, or co-workers about these issues; share these articles with them. Don't let racist comments go unchallenged. There are many ways each of us can help, even if we're busy with responsibilities and other commitments.

If you want to do more, there are many ways to get involved over the next month. We're really excited about everything that's happening this month, and hope you will be too.

In solidarity and determination,
Grand River Indigenous Solidarity

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALLOUTS

Join Us! GRIS Callout for New Members
The dawn of 2013 is seeing one of the most exciting mobilizations for 
indigenous self-determination in recent history -- it’s a time when many are waking up and speaking out against the ongoing injustices committed against indigenous peoples in the territory ofCanada. Since April of 
2012, the Grand River Indigenous Solidarity (GRIS) collective has been 
working within Kitchener-Waterloo and the Grand River watershed to 
support indigenous activists, protect the land, and help build a 
movement for decolonization across Turtle Island. 

We are very excited to contribute to the growing Idle No More movement, 
while continuing to support the efforts that have been our primary focus on since we started working together as a collective -- campaigns for 
criminalized Six Nations land defenders and the Oshkmaadziig Unity Camp. There is more work than ever to be done, and with this in mind, we 
invite you to consider joining the collective and working with us to 
fight for a more just and harmonious relationship between settler 
society and indigenous communities in the region. 

On Saturday, February 2, GRIS will be hosting a full-day workshop on 
settler colonialism, solidarity activism, and decolonization, followed 
by a new members’ orientation session the following Saturday, February 
9, for those interested in joining the collective. 

Becoming a member of the GRIS collective would mean:

	* attending meetings (we have 2-3 each month) and participating in our consensus-based decision-making;
	* helping with the group’s tasks (e.g., organizing events, fundraising, writing 
articles, going to demonstrations, showing up to support indigenous 
activists at court, etc.);
	* committing to learn, unlearn, build new skills, and challenge yourself in a 
collective learning process with the rest of the group;
	* committing to staying with the group for at least six months (though we are flexible!)
If you’re interested in joining the collective, or if you want to talk it 
over with us, then we’d love to hear from you. Our first workshop (Sat. 
Feb. 2) will be open to the public, whereas the more intimate 
orientation session (Sat. Feb. 9) will be for new collective members 
only. 

We would really appreciate hearing from you before then, so if you wish to attend either one or both of the sessions, just send us quick email at decolonizethegrandriver at gmail.comto register. And if you know you’re interested to join the collective, please 
include a bit about yourself and why this work appeals to you (a few 
sentences is fine). We’d like to know!

Hope to see you in February!

In solidarity,
The GRIS Collective

2. Support Unist'ot'en Action Camp: Indiegogo Fundraiser Campaign

As winter settles in over the North, 
the Unist’ot’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en nation remain on guard 
protecting their territory from pipeline development for the sake of all future generations. The Unist’ot’en understand that clean rivers you 
can drink from, healthy forests full of berries, and habitat for moose, 
bears, and salmon are infinitely more valuable than any amount of 
financial gain. This has been their land since time immemorial. And yet 
government and industry are intent on creating a massive corridor of oil and gas pipelines in order to facilitate expansion of the Tar Sands 
gigaproject and highly-destructive Fracking fields in Northeastern BC, 
what environmentalists are referring to as the Carbon Corridor and a 
global warming time-bomb.
To ensure that these pipelines never happen, the Unist’ot’en Clan 
with support from grassroots Wet’suwet’en, have constructed a resistance community directly on the GPS coordinates of the proposed pipeline 
route. Already twice this fall, the Unist’ot’en uncovered and evicted 
surveyors working for the Pacific Trails Pipeline company.
Operating the camp daily requires fuel, materials, food, and 
resources of all sorts. Also, the camp is constantly growing and 
expanding. Recent additions include new outhouses, a smokehouse, sauna, 
rootcellar and expansion of the main cabin. Many of the costs so far 
have been paid for out-of-pocket by community members and allies staying at the camp. Our goal is to raise $10,000 dollars to cover operating 
expenses and keep the camp growing through the winter and to help 
prepare for an emergency mobilization if one becomes necessary.
Resistance is a collective effort and calls for the support of the 
entire community. The Unist’ot’en Camp is a grassroots indigenous effort led by hereditary community members and does not receive institutional 
funding! All contributions are greatly appreciated. Please support 
generously. 
Please visit http://www.indiegogo.com/action-camp?show_todos=true to donate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPCOMING ACTION AND EVENTS

1. Idle No More #J11 Global Day of Action
#IdleNoMore Global Day of Action, Solidarity & Resurgence: January 
11, 2013. 

We are calling on all nations and peoples, Indigenous and 
non-Indigenous, to stand together and take action in your community in 
support of Idle No More—the rising, Indigenous Peoples' Movement.

http://j11action.com/

1a. Prayer Vigil in Solidarity with Chief Spence

Location: Trinity United Church, 74 Frederick St. S, Kitchener
Time: 12pm-1pm

1b. Idle No More Solidarity Rally (Kitchener)

Idle No More Solidarity Rally – Kitchener
Friday, January 11, 2013
4:00pm
Meet @ Victoria Park Clocktower

Event on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/490928447616678/?ref=2

1c. Candlelight Vigil at City Hall

Location: Kitchener City Hall (200 King St. E., Kitchener ON)
Time: 7:00pm

Event on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/196665970472528/?ref=2

2. Six Nations Bridge Blockade

ATTENTION All Six Nations and Allies:

Saturday January 12th at 8:00am a road blockade at Cockshutt Bridge will take place. Please attend and pass this on. The message we are sending is that Six Nations are focusing on our issues and not recognizing or being consulted with the proper governing bodies. We are in support of Idle No More, however we DO NOT accept Bill C-45 or the further destruction imposed by Harper's government. "Our inherent right to be a free and sovereign nation needs to be recognized as well as the Two-Row Wampum, Covenant Chain, and our Treaties. These issues are separate from other First Nations issues in Canada. Please attend and bring a friend and a good mind. Nia:wen.

3.IDLE NO MORE FLASHMOB! Support the fight for Native rights!Stand with Toad, Six Nations Land Defender!

Wednesday Jan.16th, 9:15am
Cayuga Courthouse, 55 Munsee St. N., Cayuga
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/143695119119281/?suggestsessionid=810120421357678035
Bus leaves from Toronto, Keele Station at 7:00 am
Pick up in Hamilton at 8:00am Location TBD
Pick up in Six Nations 8:30am Oshweken Plaza
To book a spot on the bus, email: tworowsociety at gmail.com or call  416-888-9704 

Six Nations land defender Theresa “Toad” Jamieson, and supporters, are 
calling for an Idle No More Flashmob outside the Cayuga courthouse 
JANUARY 16th.
In the context of the inspiring fight for Native rights in the Idle No 
More movement, we especially need to support land defenders who are 
dragged through the courts for asserting their rights. As the Idle No 
More movement grows, court injunctions are being used as a tool to 
threaten and criminalize grassroots activists (Tyendinaga:https://warriorpublications.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/sarnia-railway-clear-after-judge-orders-end-to-native-blockade/ Aamjwinaang: http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/01/07/tyendinaga-mohawks-say-if-police-tried-to-remove-blockade-there-would-have-been-a-fight/).
Toad has been defending Native land rights and Kanonhstaton, ever since the 
land was reclaimed by Six Nations in 2006. On December 12th, 2012, she 
was brought into the courts because of charges stemming from anti-Native rights activist Gary McHale’s provocations. On February 18, 2012, 
McHale forced his way onto Kanonhstaton, the Six Nations Reclamation 
site.
Watch this clip to hear from Toad herself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Jk8MV5GexhI

In fighting for the treaties and the Great Law of Peace, Toad stressed to the courts: ““I don’t accept 
that law, do you hear me? I don’t accept it. Do you see this? This is a 
Two Row wampum flag. You’re in the boat and I’m in the canoe, it’s 
supposed to be equal ruling.”

The judge ruled that Toad was 
challenging the jurisdiction of the courts and not following the “proper procedure” to do so. Despite wanting to continue with the trial that 
day, Toad was forced to the Cayuga courthouse on December 18th to 
discuss the matter of jurisdiction. On that day she arrived exactly 3 
minutes late and the Justice had already benched a warrant for her arrest. Toad was forced yet again to move her trial date.

As Toad fights for the land, she fights for all of us. Through joining a beautiful round dance and by packing the court with 
supporters, we will be showing a powerful, necessary message and force. 
We support Toad. We will not let the Canadian government ignore the 
treaties, drag land defenders through the courts and protect the 
prejudice of anti-Native rights activist Gary McHale, any longer! Join 
us!

4. Winter Survival Skills Workshop @ Oshkimaadziig Unity Camp

Tentative date: Saturday January 19 @ 10 am - Sunday January 20 @ sunset

Note: the the Oshkimaadziig Camp is a few hours' drive from KW. GRIS is attempting to organize transportation to take people to this training and to see the camp. If you are interested, please read the full workshop description (attached as.doc) and email us at decolonizethegrandriver at gmail.com to request a spotin the car.

This weekend will
consist of various hands-on training sessions for outdoor survival; the entire
funds contributed will then be donated to Darlene Necan in order to assist with
the struggles in her community (detailed description in attachment, p.3). Each person
attending must equip themselves with the listed items to ensure their
survival and fully absorb the training provided, as they will be mocking a
situation in which they would be forced to leave the conveniences of
civilization.  

Biography of Caleb Musgrave:
Caleb
Musgrave (Traditional Name: Ozaawaa Migizi Nini. Clan/Dodem: Echo-Maker.
Nation: Mississauga. Territory: Rice Lake, The Ottanabee River and the Kawartha
Lakes region) was raised by a mixed-heritage family, with focus on his
Anishnaabe father's culture. Raised to track game for his father and uncles, he
learned at a young age how to process the animal and plant nations into food.
For well over half of his life, Caleb has been immersed in wilderness
traditions of the Eastern Woodlands and the Sub-arctic -the homeland of the
Anishnaabeg. Caleb's mentors in Bushcraft include Gino Ferri, Mors Kochanski,
Pinock Smith (of the Algonquin Nation in Maniwaki Quebec), Basil DesMoulin (of
the Anishnaabeg Nation in Pic River, Lake Superior), Vernon Roote (of the
Anishnaabeg Nation in Saugeen, Lake Huron), his father, uncle and grandfather
(all from the same Nation and Territory as Caleb).
5. Reclaiming Kanonhstaton (The Protected Place) Video and Discussion Night with Land Defenders

Princess Twin Cinema
Thursday January 31, 2013
6:30 – 9:00pm
$5-$10 suggested or Pay What You Can (PWYC)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/484133988291996/ 
Proceeds will go to the Six Nations Land Defenders Fund

On February 28, 2006, a group of Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) women 
blockaded Highway 6 near Caledonia, Ontario to prevent a housing 
development on unceded Six Nations territory. The ensuing land 
reclamation sparked a new wave of Indigenous resistance in Southern 
Ontario that many would call the new “Oka”.

Join Grand River 
Indigenous Solidarity (GRIS) for Reclaiming Kanonhstaton (The Protected 
Place) Documentary Film Night. Featuring 
the raw footage documentary Day Zero and two other short films, we will 
be hosting various speakers from Six Nations   discussing the films, the
 resistance/resurgence movement at Six Nations, and the ongoing battle 
against land development and colonisation.

Documentaries:

"Day Zero" [Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, 2006]
A "JEEX" production of the Kanohnstaton ("The Protected Land")
Reclamation Site that shows the incredible account of resistance,
courage and dignity of women, men, youth and elders on April 20, 2006, 
in confronting the repressive invasion of the Ontario Provincial Police.
 The mobilization for the Kanohnstaton Reclamation in the area of 
Caledonia, would become a historical reference and example of struggle 
for the future generations of Turtle Island and the rest of the world. 
50 minutes.

+ 

Two other short documentaries examining the current struggles facing Six Nations land defenders and their battles against
white citizens' councils, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the municipal and provincial courts. 

More details to come.
Wheelchair Accessible
For any queries, please contact: decolonizethegrandriver at gmail.com

Sponsored by Waterloo Public Interest Research Group

6. Public Workshop: Thinking Through Colonialism and the Politics of Solidarity

Saturday, February 2
10:00am - 6:00pm 

(location TBA)
As attention swirls around Idle No More and Indigenous resistance 
movements, many people are considering their place within Canada’s 
exploitative and colonial system.Non-native peoples in particular are 
waking up to the contemporary and ongoing injustices faced by Indigenous peoples. There is no better time to sit down with each other to talk 
and reflect on the many important issues raised by these movements. 
Discussions of solidarity, anti-colonialism, and decolonization are 
happening across the country, and this multimedia workshop aims to add 
to this conversation by introducing participants from Kitchener-Waterloo to some of the realities of settler colonization, from past histories 
to present-day struggles. We will be raising critical questions, like what does it mean to be a settler on native land? what do we actually mean by decolonization? andwhat does solidarity work look like?

The workshop will provide space for group discussions, ideally giving 
participants the opportunity to help each other better understand how 
colonialism functions in the Canadian context. We will also explore what we, as individuals and communities, can do to reproduce -- or change -- how this story unfolds, and discuss strategies for us to move forward 
together to take action on these issues. We don’t presume to have all 
the solutions to how contemporary realities of colonialism can be 
addressed, but we do hope that this conversation will be a useful 
starting point for thinking through those challenges and empowering 
participants to take action. 

This workshop is open to everyone, but is geared primarily towards 
non-Indigenous people who are interested in getting involved with 
supporting Indigenous resistance movements, either in their own way or 
by joining the Grand River Indigenous Solidarity (GRIS) Collective. 

Lunch will be provided, bus tickets are available, and we are very child-friendly!
Spaces are limited, so please register by emailing us at decolonizethegrandriver at gmail.com. 

7.Grand River Indigenous Solidarity: New Members Orientation Session

Saturday, February 9

1:00pm - 6:00pm 

Registration required for location details.

This session is a chance for incoming members to learn about the Collective, including the GRIS Basis of Unity, member responsibilities, the group’s decision-making process, our different working groups, and current 
projects on the go. There will be space for new members to ask any and 
all questions they may have, and for a discussion about potential future directions for GRIS to take. The orientation will also be a chance for 
all Collective members -- new and old alike -- to get to know each other better over a comfortable mid-afternoon lunch. 

The orientation session will be a private and intimate get-together for 
incoming and current members only. You’ll need to let us know ahead of 
time if you plan to be there, and we hope that all incoming members will attend the previous weekend’s public workshop, regardless of past 
experience. 

8. Hang out with GRIS at the KW Anarchist Bookfair!

GRIS will be in attendance at the first KW Anarchist Bookfair; we'll be hosting a workshop on radical solidarity with indigenous struggles and settler radicals can participate in decolonization. We'll also have a table with zines, buttons, and some other materials we'll be using to fundraise for land defenders. Hopefully we'll see you there! Here's the callout from the bookfair collective:

KW Anarchist Bookfair
Saturday, February 16th
10am-6pm
Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work (120 Duke St. W, Kitchener)

www.kwbookfair.noblogs.org

We’re excited to announce the 1st annual Kitchener-Waterloo Anarchist Bookfair! Taking place Saturday, February 
16th on Six Nations of the Grand River territory, the bookfair will 
welcome anarchists and non-anarchists alike- from seasoned organizers 
and activists, to those simply curious about anarchism for a day of 
workshops, presentations, film screenings, info tables, book sellers and social events. The bookfair will introduce anarchist ideas, histories 
and practices, as well as provide a space for more in-depth 
conversations around the ongoing relevance of anarchism, and its 
implications for on-the-ground organizing and everyday struggles.
Call for Workshops:From the practical to the theoretical and everything in between, the 
Bookfair Collective is seeking workshop and presentation proposals. 
Acknowledging the importance of fighting where you stand, we are 
particularly interested in proposals that are grounded in, and relevant 
to local organizing efforts. We are looking for workshops that aim to 
foster a growing anarchist movement, contribute to critical dialogue, 
and facilitate strategic discussion.  This can include (but is in no way limited to) presentations on topics such as: anarchist perspectives on 
indigenous solidarity work, gentrification, white supremacy and 
anti-racist organizing, class-consciousness and intersectionality, 
queering anarchism, radical parenting and family inclusivity, ecology, 
gender violence and community accountability, prison resistance and 
abolition, anarchist decision making-models and political organization.
We want to hear from you! Please send workshop proposals, including title and description (1 page or less) to kwbookfair at riseup.net.
Please submit proposals by Tuesday, January 8th.

Tabling: A central component of any anarchist bookfair, the event will host a room for infoshops, booksellers, activist groups and independent publishers 
to showcase, and distribute literature and goods.
There is no fee for tabling, however, we ask that 10% of sales is donated to the Bookfair Collective to help cover event costs.
If you’re interested in tabling, please send a description of your group 
and a list of the materials you will be distributing to kwbookfair at riseup.net.

Volunteering: In order to make the bookfair a success we need volunteers! If you’re 
interested in getting involved, there are countless opportunities to 
help out with the event, both in the lead up to the bookfair and the day of.  These include: participating in the organizing process, helping 
out with postering and general outreach, childcare, food preparation, 
and set-up and take-down. Email kwbookfair at riseup.net for more details.

Accessibility: The Bookfair Collective is committed to making the event as accessible as 
possible. We realize that society is marked by structural barriers that 
exclude and marginalize people on a daily basis, and we strive to create an inclusive event that does not replicate such barriers. The bookfair 
will be held in a wheelchair accessible venue with gender-neutral 
washrooms, admission is free, lunch, childcare and family oriented 
programming will be offered, and ASL translation available upon request.
If you have additional accessibility requests, please let us know and email kwbookfair at riseup.net.  We have limited resources, but will do our best to accommodate.

_______________________________________________
Stopthetarsandskw mailing list
Stopthetarsandskw at lists.wpirg.org
http://lists.wpirg.org/mailman/listinfo/stopthetarsandskw_lists.wpirg.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20130111/22cfc484/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Oshkimaadziig Workshop Flyer.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 181248 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20130111/22cfc484/attachment.doc>