Anti-Canada Day in Vancouver

INDIGENOUS ANTI-CANADA DAY
INDIGENOUS DAY OF ACTION AND RESISTANCE

On July 1st 2007, over 200 Indigenous women, children, Elders and men (and non-native supporters) took the streets and the train tracks on a march and blockade to mark their resistance to Canada as an oppressive force against their people. The march began at Grandview Park and proceeded down Commercial Drive to Venables Street where the CN rail lines were occupied and blocked for over an hour.

During the blockade a Canadian flag was burned on the tracks by an Indigenous person, and several other Canadian souvenir flags that had been painted with the words “No Justice on Stolen Native Land” were burned by about 40 Indigenous people at the action.

The group stayed strong throughout the blockade in a show of force to let the Canadian government know that Indigenous people will not take state oppression any longer.

The march returned to Grandview park, again blocking traffic on the roads and intersections. The police presence was small, consisting of mostly bicycle units, and efforts to direct traffic were non-existent for at least an hour.

Actions of this nature will continue to happen, not only at every Anti-Canada Day but also at other events in the true spirit of Indigenous resistance!

U-Tube Video on its way!

photos of Anti-Canada Day in vancouver:
http://harrietspirit.blogspot.com/

photos of Anti-Canada Day in montreal:
http://photos.cmaq.net/v/anti-canada-day/

more photos & reports of continental actions:
https://wiinimkiikaa.wordpress.com

other links:
http://no2010.com
http://ourfreedom.wordpress.com

 

Anti-Canada Day Photos at Flickr.com

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3° Anti-Canada days

Autore : billy, ch.indymedia.org

Si è tenuto il primo luglio nei territori dei Coast Salish (oggi Vancouver) la 3° giornata indigena contro il Cananda. Diverse manifestazioni, blocchi e d azioni portate avanti da indigeni si sono registrate in tutta la nazione nordamericana al motto “INDIGENOUS ANTI-CANADA DAY – INDIGENOUS DAY OF ACTION AND RESISTANCE “

Oltre 200 uomini, donne bambini ed anziani indigeni più diversi supporters non nativi, hanno preso parte alla manifestazione principale prevista a Vancouver per il 3° Anti-Canada day. I manifestanti sono scesi in strada ed hanno manifestato fino alla stazione, lì hanno occupato i binari per 4 ore per attirare l’attenzione sulla loro quotidiana lotta di resistenza al Canada in quanto forza oppressiva contro la loro gente. Nonostante qualche momento di leggera tensione le persone sono rimaste unite mostrando al governo canadese come la popolazione indigena non accetterà ancora per molto lo stato d’oppressione a cui sono costretti.

Al termine dell’occupazione dei binari i manifestanti sono tornati in centro bloccando strade e traffico.

Azioni e manifestazioni sono state annunciate per tutto l’arco della settimana.

Anti-Canada Day Ends Late in Guelph

Anti-Canada Day Ends Late in Guelph

[Contributed anonymously to news.infoshop.org]

Yesterday evening, July 2nd, the Monday of this year’s Canada Day Long Weekend, the [Canadian National Railway] tracks east of Guelph, Ontario, running to Brampton and carrying on to Toronto, were blocked and burned with a tire fire lit at a safe distance from houses and forest. The blockage was alerted to CN through the use of wiring the tracks.

This was an action performed to cause economic harm to CN rail and add to the fight for native freedom and autonomy, which we also ultimately see as a step toward greater freedom and autonomy to all peoples, natives and settlers alike.

This day was chosen for the action because we see it as bizarre that people can be celebrating Canada as a nation (although there’s nothing wrong with a good party) while it was founded upon a brutal and shameful colonization which is still actively being carried out, and Canada’s legitimacy as a nation is clearly contested.

We also chose the day because of the call out made for actions throughout Canada day, and in order to expand the National Day of Action from just June 29th and explore tactics that exceed the law.

Let’s have a toast to CN rail.

Anti-Canada Day Demo in Montreal

Anti-Canada Day Demo in Montreal

MONTREAL, July 1, 2007 — About 75 demonstrators gathered in the main hall of the Central Train Station in Montreal in an “Anti-Canada Day”
protest against CN Rail.

Demonstrators highlighted their opposition to CN’s current lawsuit against three Mohawk activists at Tyendinaga, and expressed their support for indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.

-> The text of the FLYER that was passed out in the hundreds to passers-by is below and linked at:
http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2007/07/flyer-text-why-we-are-protesting.html

A large banner reading: “When Justice Fails, Block the Rails!; Quand CN attaque on bloque la track!; Solidarity with native resistance” was raised with over one-hundred red and white helium balloons in the main hall of the station. Another banner reading: “CN: Drop your racist lawsuit” was also unfurled.

-> PHOTOS from the protest are linked at:
http://photos.cmaq.net/v/anti-canada-day/

Several members of the Kahnawake Mohawk community, south of Montreal, attended and spoke at the picket, as well as a member Inter-tribal Youth Council, a speaker from Six Nations, and a special guest from the Skwelkwek’welt Protection Center in British Columbia.

The Canada Day demo follows from actions on Mohawk territories near Montreal on June 29. In the early morning, Highway 30, and then highway 138, was blocked. Later in the day, the Mercier Bridge between Montreal and the South Shore was shut down for a period of time. In Kahnesatake, it was reported that the main road from Oka to the
reserve was blocked for most of the day.

The July 1st Anti-Canada Day demo was also part of local mobilizations against the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) — a NAFTA plus Homeland Security model for Canada, the USA and Mexico. CN Rail’s CEO is part of the North American Competitiveness Council, a group of CEOs that “advises” the SPP leaders. Those leaders — George Bush, Stephen Harper and Felipe Calderon — are meeting just 90 minutes from Montreal at the Chateau Montebello this August 20 and 21.

The July 1st Anti-Canada Day picket was organized and supported by: Block the Empire-Montreal, Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement, Liberterre, No One Is Illegal-Montreal, Pointe Libertaire, Solidarity Across Borders, Tadamon! Montreal, and others.

Anti-Canada Day Starts Early in Guelph, Ontario

Anti-Canada Day Starts Early in Guelph, Ontario

[Contributed anonymously to news.infoshop.org]

Tonight we hit the office of M.P Brenda Chamberlain. The locks were glued on the office door and an anarcho-indigenismo symbol was left in the vicinity. We chose Brenda to harass tonight because she is a political embodiment of the terror and degradation faced by many of us that have to live under a capitalist apathetic democracy.

It’s the status quo that allows developers to transform Indigenous land into suburban wastelands, and the poor and ethnicity exploited peoples of this country get screwed over every time. While communities are pushed into bureaucratic processes to settle their land claims, on a continent they inhabited long before this deformation of a country called Canada moved in, capitalist business’ are and have been jumping for joy with every deal they have sealed in the graveyards we call cities and the wastelands we called forests. Replacing an existence abundant with possibility and desire with the meek scarcity of a global capitalist monoculture.

So tonight we fight back! We hit the office of a political tyrant, who somehow got re-elected after publicly wanting to resign, refused to run a campaign or take part in the electoral debates and was still voted into power. It is no wonder that we are fed up with this process and seek methods that go beyond the ballots and disempowerment inherent to these politics.

Our message to you Brenda is give back all the land you stole, and are about to steal from exploited peoples and RUN in the next election, RUN AWAY!

Happy Birthday Canada!

Blockades on Assembly of First Nations Day of (In)Action

Blockades on Assembly of First Nations Day of (In)Action

See also: AFN DOA: Day of Action, or Dead on Arrival? (Warrior Publications)

Despite the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) collaboration with Canadian police forces and denouncement of blockades on their National Day of (In)Action, June 29th, several were put into effect in eastern Canada:

Indian Brook, Mi’kmaq Territory – The Mi’kmaq Warrior Society blocked Highway 102 near Enfield, Nova Scotia, but allowed drivers to pass if they payed a dollar to help alleviate poverty and poor health conditions on the reserve. The money is said to be headed towards elders and youth. “Our chiefs and our councilors are raping and pillaging our own people. They’re taking the money and putting it in their own pockets,” said James Pictou of Indian Brook, as quoted in the Halifax Daily News.

Kahnawake, Mohawk Territory – One lane of traffic blocked for an hour on Highway 30 and Highway 138. March across Mercier Bridge, with Unity/Warrior Flags raised on top of the bridge and traffic totally blocked for about an hour and a half. Corporate news reported that 150 people attended the Mercier Bridge action and that a statement was read disassociating it from the AFN and its leader, Phil Fontaine.

Kanehsatake, Mohawk Territory – Blockade with trees of Highway 344.

Akwesasne, Mohawk Territory – Mohawk Nation News reported that tires were seized by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) near the Seaway International Bridge. Corporate media reported that wooden pallets were thrown on the roadway at the foot of the bridge after midnight and set on fire. Akwesasne Mohawk Police officers intervened and say they seized an AK-47 after shots were fired in the air. They also say suspects have been identified and will be charged.

Tyendinaga, Mohawk Territory – CN Rail and Highway 2 blocked. OPP shut down Highway 401 before warriors could. Arrest warrant issued for warrior Shawn Brant.

Wahta, Mohawk Territory – Muskoka Road 38 at Ragged Rapids Road blocked in the morning, about eight kilometres from Bala, Ontario. One lane had been opened at 12:45 p.m. and the entire blockade was removed in the mid-afternoon, according to area OPP.

Six Nations of the Grand River Territory – Six Nations reserve police say 15 masked and camouflaged people blocked the Seventh Line bridge over the Highway 6 bypass. The cops say they were able to clear the bridge and the masked group left and went to the Reclamation Site at Caledonia.

Alderville, Anishinabe Territory – Roads blocked leading to a reserve in Alderville, a town halfway between Toronto and Kingston, Ontario.

Northwest Ontario, Anishinabe Territory – Manitoulin Island and North Shore Natives blocked Highway 17 at the Highway 6 turnoff to Espanola for an hour. 200 people later gathered on Highway 17 at the Serpent River reserve in Cutler and stopped eastbound traffic completely. The OPP reported that a vehicle was parked on railroad tracks, blocking the Huron Central Railway, which runs between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury.

Aamjiwnaang, Anishinabe Territory – Some 50 people blocked a CN rail spur line near Sarnia in southwest Ontario.

Guelph, Ontario: In support of sabotage, not the AFN

Guelph, Ontario: In support of sabotage, not the AFN

[Contributed anonymously to news.infoshop.org]

June 29th: Today a rail blockade was set up in Guelph Ontario, but it failed. This was due to a number of complications, either way no trains were stopped.

Nevertheless, this is the kind of disruption that we strive to create every day, regardless of whether it has been called for by sellout collaborators, individuals or simply for our own joy.

We want to make it clear that we do not support the AFN; the ends that they seek through bargaining with the government, that is responsible for the systematic oppression and exploitation of Native people, our land base, and pretty much every living thing existing on the remainder of this planet.

It is important to act at every opportunity we get to build momentum and community, in order to challenge the powers of the State and Capitalism that are incessantly assaulting our lives.

We do not act on simplistic calls to action (for action’s sake), but use these chances to coordinate our efforts and add to the momentum we are building with others, acting together on our desires to redefine the conditions under which we live. We do this for ourselves and our allies, not for the disempowering political aims of the AFN.

It inspires us to see communities and individuals comming together, employing direct action tactics in a coordinated day of disruption, and acknowledge that inaction is to abandon our allies in today’s actions. Unlike the AFN, we support all acts of sabotage that were created today and continue to inspire us in our own battles.
To the barricades and into the night friends!