7 November 2016 – In Toronto, on Saturday, November 5, we participated in an event that could be called historic. About five thousand indigenous peoples and supporters from many different communities from across the city united in support of the Sioux in North Dakota. Their fight is against a pipeline that would carry dangerous oil sands on their territory without their consent.
Standing Rock will not stand alone
The event was organized by the indigenous peoples themselves, speaking in their own voices, in the largest indigenous outpouring I have witnessed. A panorama of homemade signs told the tale: Among them were, “Water Is Life; Mother Is Earth; Stand with Standing Rock; No Pipelines on Indigenous Land; Leave the Oil in the Soil; We Can’t Drink Oil; Stop the Slaughter.
“First Nations communities in Canada have been under boil-water advisories for years,” said a speaker, Patti Pettigrew, a caseworker at Aboriginal Legal Services in Toronto. “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, keep your damn word,” she shouted, alluding to the promises he made to respect agreements made with Indigenous peoples.
Dogs, pepper spray, rubber bullets…
Chief Stacey Laforme
Chief Stacey Laforme of the Mississauga’s of the New Credit First Nation referred to the hundreds of arrests and use of police violence against the protest camp on the Standing Rock in North Dakota. He criticized the police crackdown using dogs, pepper spray, rubber bullets, water hoses — all reminiscent of the 1960 attacks on the Blacks demanding their civil rights.
Referring to the red poppy worn by some people honouring the veterans, Chief Stacey said, “Groups on either side of the front line at Standing Rock fought shoulder-to-shoulder in both world wars. The North Dakota ‘water protectors’ are standing up for the same rights now as then.”
“Do not ask why the Standing Rock protesters are standing there,” Chief Stacey added. “They are standing for all of us, for all the peoples of the world. Ask instead why they are standing alone.”
The North Dakota Pipeline connects to a Canadian pipeline system owned by Enbridge at North Dakota’s border with Saskatchewan. We, in Toronto, have our own challenge with Enbridge, Inc. and its Line 9 which will carry tar sands products across our communities.
Chippewas of the Thames
Supporters of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation handed out leaflets to highlight that we have our own “Standing Rock.” The Chippewas of the Thames are leading a fight that we have fought for almost four years. They are challenging Enbridge Inc., on Wednesday, November 30 in Ottawa at the Supreme Court insisting on their right to be consulted. They do not want a pipeline carrying tar sands endangering the lives of their people. The Inuit of Clyde River are also appealing to the Supreme Court on November 30 on the same issues.
“It’s outrageous that these things are continuing to take place,” Carrie Lester, an indigenous activist explained. “Everywhere is Standing Rock,” she said.
Just so. And the pipelines carrying tar sands are contributing to increasing climate havoc. Our fight against pipelines combats climate injustice, and indigenous people peoples are on the front lines.
Two websites to follow are:
Chippewassolidaritv.org which is the website on updates regarding Chippewas of the Thames Supreme Court Process on Enbridge Line 9. Site features ways to donate and to support along with case details and news updates.
line9shutdown.ca is focused on the case of the treaty defenders who closed line. The site features online petition, T-shirts and fund raising to support.
First published Toronto East End Against Line 9