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Trudeau Called on to Stop Land Fraud as Kanehsatake Hunger Strike Ends
Canadian PoliticsIn a press release, the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kanehsatà:ke renewed their call for justice, inviting Trudeau to meet and negotiate an end to the land dispute, which has been going on for 302 years too long. Canadian Dimension stands with the Kanien’kéha:ka (Mohawk) of Kanehsatà:ke and proudly publishes their full press release.
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Where the parties stand on Indigenous issues
Canadian PoliticsThis year’s federal election campaign has seen a significant drop in priority for Indigenous issues, especially in terms of the federal leaders’ debate and their campaign commentary. This stands in stark contrast to the 2015 election campaign, which saw Liberal leader Justin Trudeau centre his campaign on rebuilding Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples.
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All Eyes on Kanehsatake: What You Need to Know about the Hunger Strike to Stop Colonial Land Fraud
Canadian PoliticsTrudeau was elected, in part, on a platform of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Though apologies and financial compensation are important steps in the right direction, meaningful reconciliation in Canada also requires the return of stolen land. Canadians, and the world, must pay close attention to the situation in Kanehsatà:ke to ensure that 2019 ends with negotiated peace and justice and not more conflict and bloodshed.
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Kanesatake Resident Begins Hunger Strike to Protest Ongoing Colonial Land Fraud
Canadian PoliticsEarlier this summer, Sean Carleton sat down with Ellen Gabriel to talk about the recent developments Kanehsatà:ke. Canadian Dimension stands with the Kanien’kéha:ka (Mohawk) of Kanehsatà:ke and proudly publishes their full press release about the hunger strike to protest ongoing colonial land fraud.
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Trudeau Refuses to Stop Land Fraud: Press Release of the Mohawks of Kanehsatake
Canadian PoliticsEarlier this summer, Sean Carleton sat down with Ellen Gabriel to talk about the recent developments Kanehsatà:ke. As of 29 August, Trudeau is refusing to meet with the Mohawks and declare a temporary moratorium on development so that a peaceful resolution to ongoing tensions can be negotiated. This is unacceptable. CD stands with the Kanien’kéha:ka (Mohawk) of Kanehsatà:ke and proudly publishes their most recent press release.
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Canada Must Stop Land Fraud: Press Release of the Mohawks of Kanesatake
Canadian PoliticsOn 21 August 2019, Ellen Gabriel and other Kanien’kéha:ka held a press conference in the Pines, the site of the so-called “Oka Crisis”, to address the ongoing land fraud in their homelands. They are giving Justin Trudeau and the Government of Canada 10 days to intervene in the 300-year long land dispute and to stop all illegal development in Kanehsatà:ke.
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‘This is Our Land’: An Interview with Ellen Gabriel about Ongoing Land Fraud at Kanesatake
Indigenous PoliticsFor the Kanien’kéha:ka (Mohawk) of Kanehsatà:ke, the return of stolen land – fraudulently sold first by a religious order and then by the municipality of Oka, Quebec and the Government of Canada – has been at the heart of their demands for 300 years. Mohawk resistance to the ongoing theft of Kanien’kéha:ka homelands is well-known. Most notably, in the summer of 1990, during the so-called “Oka Crisis,” Mohawks defended a forested area known as the Pines from development.
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The colonization of reconciliation
Canadian PoliticsCanada must finally legally recognize Indigenous Peoples as fully sovereign and self-governing peoples. Mohawk lawyer Stephen John Ford has persuasively argued that with recognition of sovereignty “comes the necessary redistribution of wealth which will remove the yoke of dependence and control exerted over First Nations by the federal government. Indigenous sovereignty will also provide First Nation jurisdictional control over their territories to protect the lands and waters.
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RCMP invasion of Wet’suwet’en Nation territory breaches Canada’s ‘rule of law’
Canadian PoliticsIn this case, the laws of Canada were neither equally enforced, nor compliant with international human rights standards. Canada is not a country that follows the rule of law. Canada makes and breaks laws to suit its own economic and political interests, which run counter to those of Indigenous peoples. It is time to be honest about it, and call out Canada as an outlaw, and take action to support the Wet’suwet’en Nation, who have occupied their lands since time immemorial.
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Colonization, resistance and popular culture
CultureIt is perhaps naïve to assume that Premier Horgan or Prime Minister Trudeau are simply misunderstanding the history of Indigenous people. It is more realistic to frame our political leaders as willfully ignorant. But, that does not mean that we have to be. Simply watching a film … or reading a comic will not bring about reconciliation on its own. However, it is a much needed start.
