A landmark declaration opposes harmful industrial activity on KI traditional territories in Ontario.
Carmelle Wolfson
Carmelle Wolfson is a journalist based in Toronto. Her work can be found here.The Jaggi Singh trial from inside the courtroom
Ideas are being put on trial in Canada. This became clear sitting in the courtroom at Toronto's Old City Hall on Thursday, April 28.
Jaggi Singh, one of the nation's most prominent anti-capitalist activists, pleaded guilty to urging people to take down the $5-million G20 summit fence erected in downtown Toronto last June. He was officially charged with "counselling to commit mischief over $5,000."
G8/G20: An independent journalist's guide to getting the story
While the G8 and G20 meetings at the end of this month will focus on global austerity measures, foreign journalists will be getting the full Muskoka experience, sipping brewskies by a newly constructed man-made lake inside the luxurious G20 Media Center in downtown Toronto at the expense of $1.9 million from Canadian taxpayers.
If, like myself, this strikes you as odd, maybe you should consider getting out there to cover the events yourself -- as an independent journalist.
Pamela Palmater named YWCA Woman of Distinction
Dr. Pamela D. Palmater is a Mi'kmaw lawyer and member of the Eel River Bar First Nation in New Brunswick. She teaches Indigenous law, politics and governance at Ryerson University and heads their Centre for Indigenous Governance. She is the author of Beyond Blood: Rethinking Indigenous Identity and blogs regularly at rabble.ca.
KI Big Trout Lake plans to take water protection declaration to UN
The Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nations in northwestern Ontario are loudly asserting their sovereignty in a landmark declaration that opposes harmful industrial activity on their lands. The KI Water Declaration and Protocols passed in early July with support from voters in a community referendum.
Defenders of the land take action across the country
The colonization of North America began over 500 years ago. But the process continues today through government policies that actively create divisions within Native communities.
The devastation of Indigenous lands means a loss of culture for First Nations in Canada whose spirituality is grounded on the sanctity of Mother Earth. It also means their resources and livelihoods are squandered away, resulting in mass poverty. These processes of extraction produce hazardous waste, leaving the surrounding communities with the lingering health effects. Corporate interests are pursued over community consultation.
"Our number one enemy hasn't change over the last 500 years," says Milton of the Blackfoot Lonefighters Society. "It's called extermination."
Refugees being repatriated to Sudan
Kakuma, Kenya — “We are seeing many [Sudanese refugees] come into Kenya to benefit from the system in Kakuma [refugee camp],” says Emmanuel Nyabera, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). “We are encouraging them to go back to Sudan to be part of the reconstruction process,” he adds.
UNHCR plans to repatriate 20,000 refugees to Sudan this year. UNHCR came to the decision with Kenyan and Sudanese government officials on February 27 to do everything in their powers to persuade repatriation of refugees back to Sudan.
Queen's Park to Grassy Narrows: Organizing to win
"I heard it on the television/ All the talking politicians/ Words are easy, words are cheap/ Much cheaper than our priceless land/ But promises can disappear/ Just like writing in the sand/" âe" Australian musician Yothu Yindi.
For years, every level of Canadian government has made assurances to the First Nations âe" most never carried out. But in just a couple weeks, we've seen amazing gains for First Nations communities in Ontario. Leaders have been freed from jail.
