For a country currently grappling with its own legacies of genocide and colonialism, direct actions like the one in Peterborough help to expose how the values of setter-colonial states are not so different, and emphasize the urgent need for decolonization at home and abroad. Respect for international law, and an end to military violence, should be a priority for us all.

Canada’s embassy in Peru will no doubt continue to promote more Canadian mining investment in the country. But it should be made clear: when Canada chooses to promote mining in Peru, it is doing so knowing the reality of what these activities mean for people who are facing ongoing threats, intimidation, and state-sponsored violence.