Treaty Six First Nation says 'No' to Canada's laws violating Indigenous rights

GOVERNMENT ENACTED LAWS WHICH HAVE NOT MET THE LEGAL DUTY TO CONSULT AND ACCOMMODATE FIRST NATIONS WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED ON FIRST NATIONS RESERVE AND TRADITIONAL LANDS

Press statement
Posted at Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

UPDATE IDLE NO MORE - Consulate General of Canada San Francisco - RALLY IN SOLIDARITY WITH CANADIAN FIRST NATIONS TIME TO RALLY CALIFORNIA: WHAT: Rally in front of Consulate General of Canada - San Francisco WHERE: 580 California Street, 14th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 e-Mail: sfran-gr@international.gc.ca WHEN: Friday Dec 21st at 12:00pm WHY: to protest the legislation being proposed by Canadian Prime Minister Harper's government that will essentially finalize the genocide and assimilation of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. UNIFY TURTLE ISLAND!

EDMONTON, Alberta, Treaty Six Territory, December 17, 2012 – As Indigenous Nations, the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations do not recognize laws and enactments of the Government of Canada, including but not limited to Bill C-45, which do not fulfill their constitutionally recognized and affirmed Treaty and Aboriginal rights; as well as the Crown’s legal obligations to meaningfully consult and accommodate First Nations. When all the conservatives legislation regarding or affecting First Nations is considered as a whole, it is clear sweeping changes are being introduced with scant consultation and sometimes with no consultation at all which will impact on how First Nations governments work and how our lands and waters are governed.

Grand Chief Craig Makinaw stated, “Harper’s government is not acting in good faith and is acting in a way that brings dishonour to the Crown. The Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations Chiefs call on the the Government of Canada to bring back the honour of Crown to the process and fulfill the legal duty to consult First Nations prior to any legislation or enactment which would impact on First Nations Treaty, Inherent and Aboriginal rights.”

An example of the violation of Indigenous and Treaty rights can be found in the parliamentary process on Bill C-45. On the 18th of October 2012, the Minister of Finance tabled Bill C-45. In the legislation were sections relating to changes to the Indian Act, the Fisheries Act, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and the Navigable Waters Act. The Chiefs received a letter from Minister Duncan on October 22nd, 2012 advising of these changes. “There was no prior discussion. There were no meetings. There was no request from the Treaty Peoples for these changes and we view these actions to be violations of the laws of Canada as it relates to Treaty Peoples,” stated Grand Chief Craig Makinaw.

The Chiefs are alarmed that the Government of Canada has greatly diminished the need to consider environmental impacts on First Nations water resources through changes to the Navigable Waters legislation within Bill C-45. Pipelines will now be able proceed across hundreds, even thousands of water course crossings without the necessary environmental scrutiny. These changes will increase the impact of development on First Nations Reserve lands, many of which rely on rivers and lakes to practice their Treaty rights to hunt, fish, trap and continue a traditional way of life. “How many rivers and lakes have to be spoiled before Canadians start to care?” continued Makinaw.

In addition, Bill C-45 is a budget bill. However, it contains nothing to address the $4.7 billion dollar need identified by the independent national engineering assessment that is required to ensure that First Nations are able to enjoy the same safe drinking water services as other Canadians. “The silence on Bill C-45 on this issue is a very loud and clear statement that the Conservative government is content to allow third world water and sanitation systems to continue on Indian Reserves,” said Makinaw.

The Chiefs of the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations unanimously passed on resolution on November 29th, 2012 opposing all federal legislation, regulations and policy changes stating the Federal Government has failed to meaningfully consult with First Nations for shared decision-making on issues that have a direct impact on them through consideration of their Aboriginal and Treaty rights and the legal principles of free, prior and informed consent and called on the Government of Canada to provide First Nations the opportunity and resources to participate in a meaningful consultation process with respect to jurisdiction on our lands and resources and protects our ability to practice our Indigenous and Treaty rights freely.

The Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations represents the 18 First Nations in Treaty No. 6 Territory in what is now known as the province of Alberta.

###

For further information please contact:
The Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
Carolyn Buffalo, Director of Operations
Phone: (780) 984-7316 Email: cbuffalo@treatysix.org
www.treatysix.org

Russia plans meeting with Native American and First Nation leaders

Russia's Indigenous Peoples

Russia announces meeting of US and Canadian Native leaders in Russia in January, and another meeting with 'Sioux chiefs' this week

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

Russia will meet with Native American and First Nation leaders in Russia in mid-January, in the first ever gathering of Indigenous from the three countries. Russia also announced that one of its officials will meet with "Sioux chiefs" this week.

The announcement comes as Russia's Indigenous in Siberia, fighting oil and gas drilling in the Arctic and mineral mining in their homelands, face harsh repression as they seek to defend nature. Last month, the government of Russia shut down Russia's leading Indigenous organization, RAIPON, for six months. Natives defending the land, water and air in the US and Canada are questioning who Russia will meet with, and whether they are the Natives on this continent struggling to defend the land, water and air.

Meanwhile, Russia said the meeting of Native American chiefs from the US and Canada will begin in Moscow in mid January, according to Russia's government radio station Voice of Russia.

It will be the first time that Indigenous Peoples of Russia will meet with Native leaders from the US and Canada, said Pavel Sulyandziga, chairman of the working group for the development of the North, Siberia and the Far East at Russia Public Chamber.

Sulyandziga said, "I am currently working on the visit to Russia of a number of Native American chiefs from the USA and Canada, as well as the leaders of indigenous people from other countries."

"Willie Littlechild, the Honorary Chief of the Crees from the Canadian Province of Alberta, Aali Kirskitaua, vice president of the Sami parliament, Henry Harrison, chief of the Thabas tribe from Alaska have already confirmed their visit. They will come to Russia in mid-January and meet with the indigenous peoples for a joint discussion of the problems and cooperation. We are planning a press conference in Moscow and then will go to Lake Baikal," Sulyandziga told Voice of Russia.

Mohawks respond concerning meeting in Russia

In Canada, Mohawks are among those questioning who the Native leaders are in Canada and the US that Russia will be meeting with, and whether or not  those Native leaders are fighting mining and drilling.

Mohawks said, "Canada and the US are sending 'their corporate Indians' there to sign deals on our behalf. They know we won't do it. The band councils, AFN and Iroquois caucus are scared of the backlash from us. Harper is in Russia signing a deal with China! Willie Littlechild is a lawyer who pushes Canadian laws on us.  He represents his masters, that's for sure. The deal being signed between Canada and China in Russia is a 'secret' deal."'

Russia's meeting with 'Sioux chiefs' this week

In Russia's radio interview, Sulandziga said he will speak with "Sioux chiefs" this week.

"Yes, we are talking about the annual meeting of the Sioux tribe chiefs, which is one of the largest Native American tribes in the USA. Our association of the indigenous people of the North, Siberia and the Far East has been seeking contacts with them for a long time in order to work jointly. And now, for the first time ever, they have invited an outsider to their Council of the chiefs to take place on December 21-22."

 

"I plan to speak on two issues: first of all, on establishing our cooperation and joint activity. The thing is I am currently the chairman of the working group on the international cooperation between the indigenous peoples of Russia and other countries of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. There are a number of directions that our group works in that are related with the development of the indigenous peoples. This includes the issues of education, the issues of the youth, the issues of self-government, the issues of the development of the culture and other issues. That is why I would like to raise these issues in a joint discussion."

So far, Censored News does not have more information on the Sioux chiefs meeting that Russia is planning to attend. Censored News has been unable to identify the 'Thabas' tribe in Russia's announcement.

 

Greenpeace supports RAIPON

Meanwhile, Greenpeace has joined in the support of Russia's Indigenous in the defense of nature. Greenpeace said, "One day before the opening of the Arctic Council meeting in Sweden, Russian authorities moved to suspend the activities of RAIPON, the country’s main organisation representing the Indigenous Peoples of the Russian North. Basing their decision on an interpretation of inconsistencies in the organisation’s bylaws, this seems to be a thinly veiled attempt by the Russian government to silence the voices of Indigenous Peoples who are speaking out against the dangers of drilling for oil in the Russian Arctic."
http://www.raipon.info/en/raipon.html

The Nunatsiaq News reports The Nunatsiaq News reports, "The Arctic Council’s senior Arctic officials and permanent indigenous participants have criticized a move by Russia’s ministry of justice to suspend the operations of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and Far East."Known as RAIPON, the association represents 41 indigenous groups and more than 250,000 indigenous people across the Russian Arctic and sits as a permanent indigenous participant in the Arctic Council, along with the Inuit Circumpolar Council, the Saami Council, the Arctic Athabaskan Council and the Gwich’in Council International.
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674arctic_council_calls_for_russian_indigenous_orgs_return/
The Arctic Council has called for the reinstatement of RAIPON.
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674arctic_council_calls_for_russian_indigenous_orgs_return/

Alaska Dispatch reports on the harsh repression of Indigenous in Russia

Alaska Dispatch reports on the harsh repression that continues of the Indigenous Peoples of Russia's Arctic region. The way of life, which includes reindeer herding, is now faced with oil and gas drilling, the mining of minerals and continuation of the fur trade.
An article from Novaya Gazeta quoted Rodion Sulyandziga, Vice President of RAIPON, as saying, "There is a new round of extensive industrialization of the northern territories. RAIPON is one of the last barriers to companies and states to the extraction of these resources, and [it is] easier to use of force, using selective justice, so as not to distract the extra energy, time and resources to negotiate with some indigenous [peoples]."
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/analysis-why-did-putin-suspend-key-russian-indigenous-group

Russia recognizes Bolivia President Evo Morales' defense of Mother Earth

In the announcement of the meetings, the Voice of Russia also recognized the ongoing efforts of Bolivia to defend Mother Earth. "In the light of all the noise raised by the international and Russian mass media in relation to the notorious end of the world scheduled for December 21, Pavel Sulyandziga’s assessment of the upcoming international conference entitled 'The beginning of the era of harmony and becoming one with nature' to take place in Bolivia appears to be quite valuable: 'In the last few years Bolivia has become one of the main initiators of the process to defend Mother Earth, which in spirit is very close to what the indigenous people of the world believe in – becoming one with nature, the ties that bind with the environment.'"

Support Russia's Indigenous at RAIPON with letters

Nunatsiaq News said the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North is asking concerned people and organizations around the world to send letters of support to Russia’s president, prime minister and justice minister.
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674russian_indigenous_seeks_letters_of_support
 

Native newspapers using non-Indians when Native reporters are unemployed

Native newspapers using non-Indians when Native reporters are unemployed

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

http//www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

 

There are many unemployed Native American journalists. Still, the major Native newspapers continue to use non-Indians to write their headline news stories.
They're not just non-Indian "reporters," but armchair journalists who drive out to Indian land, make a
couple of phone calls, churn out a story, collect their paycheck, and then leave.
What happened to the Navajo preference law?
Other non-Indian 'reporters' for the national Native newspapers never even leave their house. They just make a couple of phone calls from home, plagiarize others hard work for background, and collect their paychecks.
The third category of fraud reporters in Indian country are the wannabes, including those who suddenly decide they are "Indians" late in life when they realize it will be lucrative to their careers, by way of fame, fortune, career status, non-profit grants or college funds.
Examine the articles and question who the reporters are.
Non-Indians are not the only ones who are armchair journalists and plagiarizers. For decades, Indian Country Today has used a "reporter" in the Southwest that I haven't seen out on a news story in the past 30 years. I have seen her plagiarize.
What happened to ethics in journalism?
Reporters all over the world are dying and being jailed to report the truth, and in the US, many reporters for the Native American media are doing as little as possible to get a paycheck.
--Brenda Norrell, Censored News

Democracy Now! After Clinton rebuff, actor Peter Coyote pushes for Peltier clemency

After Rebuff by Clinton, Actor Peter Coyote Joins New Push to Sway Obama on Leonard Peltier Clemency

Read transcript http://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/13/after_rebuff_by_clinton_actor_peter