On Dec. 13 2010, members of Barriere Lake Algonquin Nation and supporters took their message to Ottawa, demanding that the government respect their traditional customary governance and take back Section 74 of the Indian Act, and honour the 1991 Trilateral Agreement to sustainably manage their territory's natural resources. Video by Greg Macdougall. For more info visit barrierelakesolidarity.org and ipsmo.org.

The indigenous Algonquin community of Barriere Lake has been fighting with the provincial government of Quebec and the federal government of Canada for nearly twenty years over their land. Blockades they have set up in the late 1980s stopped illegal logging on their land and led them to sign a Trilateral Agreement with the two governments. Today, the community claims the agreement and all others that followed have not been honored, while logging companies plan to resume operations. In an effort to exert pressure on the government and the logging industry, the community has set up several blockades in protest. In response, the community's spokespeople and leaders have been arrested.

After exhausting all political avenues, the Algonquins of
Barriere Lake and many non-native supporters have blockaded highway 117
for a second time. Last time the community, including Elders, youth and
children, were met with a brutal police response. Riot cops used tear
gas and pain compliance, instead of negotiators. The police response
has drawn criticism from international human rights groups, the Chiefs
of Ontario, and the Christian Peacemaker Team.