Rally to Demand Justice for Fort Chipewyan!

Dear Friends and Allies,

Please join with members of Fort Chipewyan this Saturday to demand justice for their community.

Out of control tarsands development is having disastrous impacts on the environment and health of people throughout Alberta. Increasing numbers of the small aboriginal community of Fort Chipewyan (downstream from the Alberta Tar Sands) are being diagnosed and dying from rare cancers and other auto-immune diseases. A recent water study confirmed that the water in Fort Chipewyan had increased levels of arsenic, mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and was not safe for consumption, particularly in the fish eaten by local residents.

The study further supports the Mikisew Cree's recent call for a moratorium on tar sands development.

But as stated by Councillor Russell Kaskamin of the Mikisew Cree First Nation, "The Federal and Provincial governments are continuing to issue approvals for projects despite all of the uncertainties with the true environmental effects of oilsands development.
This analysis suggests that we can no longer continue to exercise our rights to harvest foods due to the uncertainty of potential health risks."

Demand Justice for Fort Chipewyan!!!
Rally at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton
March 1st, 1:00 pm

And Vigil at Parliament Hill in Ottawa
March 1st, 7:00pm

And, if you can’t make it either of these events, you can still take action by signing a letter to both the Alberta Government and Canadian Government to demand that they take action. Please sign on here.

It is time to demand justice for the Mikisew Cree and the residents of Fort Chipewyan.

Contact: George Poitras at george.poitras@shawbiz.ca, Lindsey Telfer at Lindsay@sierraclub.org or Mike at mhudema@greenpeace.org for more information about the Edmonton action, or Jessie at jessie@polarisinstitute.org for more information about the action in Ottawa.

And, if you haven’t done so already please join 37 Alberta based organizations, 31 national and international groups, prominent individuals like Stephen Lewis, Dr. David Schindler and Reverend Bill Phipps and over 2000 individuals who have signed on to a pledge stating NO NEW APPROVALS on tar sands development!

Jessie Kalman

Tar Sands Watch Campaigner

Polaris Institute

jessie@polarisinstitute.org

(613) 237-1717 ext. 106

mobile (613) 698-8222

www.tarsandswatch.org

Free screening of LOS MEXICANOS March 12

OPIRG, the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP), and the KWIC Food Issues Working Group invite you to a free screening of the new documentary film:

LOS MEXICANOS: Le Combat de Patricia Pérez

Sometimes we ignore the exploitation of workers on our own doorstep. In 2006, nearly 4,000 Latin Americans and West Indians came to Quebec to work on farms. The men, most of them Mexican, fill Canada's labour needs under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). Isolated by geography and language, they work in conditions that are hard to imagine. Patricia Pérez is founder of a support group for migrant workers that is funded by the Quebec chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). She helps as many as she can, informing them of their rights and organizing union drives. Her fight will not be easy.

A discussion with Lincoln Ellis from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) will follow the film.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 ~ 7:00 PM ~ SADLEIR HOUSE LECTURE HALL
751 George Street North at Parkhill

Everyone is welcome. The lecture hall is wheelchair accessible. Visit www.opirgpeterborough.ca or call 741-1208 for more information.

ARDOCH ALGONQUIN FIRST NATION PRESS RELEASE

February 19, 2008

Jailing Aboriginal Leaders to Promote Uranium Mining in Ontario

In a travesty of justice, AAFN Spokesperson Robert Lovelace was sentenced in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Kingston to 6 months incarceration and crippling fines amounting to $25,000 for upholding Algonquin law within our homeland. An additional sanction of $2,000 per day will be imposed for every day that Bob continues to obey our law rather than the court order. In addition, our community was fined $10,000 and Chief Paula Sherman $15,000, and our statement of defense was struck out, which means that we are forbidden from challenging the constitutional validity of Ontario's Mining Act. The court made it clear that First Nations' laws do not exist in Canada legal system and anyone who tries to follow First Nations law will be severely punished.

Shouts of "shame!" erupted in the courtroom as the sentences were read by the judge and Robert was taken into custody. Many were aghast at the harshness of the sentencing imposed for participation in a peaceful protest against uranium exploration which was approved by the province of Ontario without any consultation with our community.

Chief Paula Sherman said: "No consideration was given to the circumstances that led to our actions. The testimony given under oath by Robert Lovelace outlined Algonquin Law and the corresponding responsibilities of Algonquin people with respect to human activity in our territory. It was tossed aside by the judge and deemed to be of no relevance. The message delivered clearly through this court decision is one of domination and oppression; the law will enforce one set of values with respect to human relationships with the land in Ontario and there is no room for Algonquin laws or values."

Ontario and Canada portray themselves as shining examples of democracy and human rights for the world to emulate, all the while creating laws, policies, and value systems that oppress and deny Aboriginal peoples' human right to life as distinct people. Robert testified that Algonquin identity is tied to the relationships that we maintain with the land.

Lovelace is now in jail in Quinte Correctional facility in Napanee. Chief Sherman said: "He is a political prisoner of the Government of Ontario and Ardoch Algonquin First Nation places blame for his incarceration on Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant. We have repeatedly asked for consultations on the mineral claims on our lands within the larger Algonquin homeland. We have offered Ontario a variety of options to enable consultation. Every option was rejected out of hand. Ontario's position has been consistent: Drilling on our land must occur. Our position has equally been consistent: Meaningful consultation must occur before any of our land is damaged or alienated to mining companies."

A legal defence trust fund has been set up through AAFNA Lawyer Chris Reid and all donations should be made out to him and state “In Trust for Ardoch Algonquin First Nation”.

Send cheques payable to:

Christopher M. Reid
Barrister & Solicitor
154 Monarch Park Ave.
Toronto, ON M4J 4R6
Tel: (416) 466-9928
Fax: (416) 466-1852