Almost 16 months since Israel’s disproportionate retaliatory onslaught began on Gaza in response to the violent events of October 7, 2023, a temporary ceasefire is in place. This has not stopped efforts from across the globe of those in solidarity with Palestinians from continuing their push for amnesty, permanently ending the genocide of Palestinians and ethnic cleansing of their homeland. Canada’s north is no exception.
In mid-October of 2023, more than 70 concerned citizens of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NWT) gathered at a local coffee shop, in solidarity with others seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. From all walks of life and backgrounds, those in attendance understood the urgency of stopping the bombing of one of the poorest, most densely populated areas in the world, and of a people struggling to survive through decades of settler colonial violence. No one at that gathering could have predicted the relentless horror and cruelty inflicted on Gazans over the coming months. Nor could they have predicted just how much a passionate, diverse group of Northerners could accomplish in the name of justice, peace, and humanity.
From this meeting, Yellowknife Citizens for Ceasefire (or YK Citizens for Ceasefire) was born. The informal group organized around the principles of peaceful actions, respect for human rights, and dignity for all, with a specific rejection of all forms of antisemitism and anti-Islam hate. From there, the group articulated four demands that aligned with national and international organizations also seeking justice for Palestinians. This multi-level alignment created pathways for focused, targeted requests of political leaders in all orders of government. Today, YK Citizens for Ceasefire remains committed to its initial four demands:
- An immediate end to the siege of Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
- The restoration of basic services for people in Gaza – water, food, power, fuel, communications, and medical services.
- Unhindered access for humanitarian aid for people in Gaza.
- A complete two-way arms embargo with Israel, including any arms trade Canada has via agreements with the United States.
The Ceasefire group was under no illusion these demands would be met simply because concerned Yellowknife citizens asked. But they did understand that sustained public pressure from as many diverse sources as possible was urgently needed to end the death and injustices.
The Breach’s description of people organizing across Canada in solidarity with Palestinians as a “peoples’ movement” is spot on in the case of YK Citizens for Ceasefire.
Yellowknife is located within Chief Drygeese Territory, the ancestral homeland of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Treaty 8) and North Slave Metis. With a population of slightly more than 20,000, Yellowknife has almost half the total NWT population. It is the territory’s capital and only city. Even before Treaty 8 was signed at the turn of the 20th century, mainly European settlers seeking economic gain, colonized the area through the fur trade and search for minerals. In recent decades, the citizenry of Yellowknife and the NWT in general, has become very diverse. Indigenous peoples make up half the NWT population and one-quarter of Yellowknife residents but the rest is made up of people with roots in countries throughout the world. This diversity within the community means international issues hit home even if the NWT is a geographically far-away place.
In February 2022, when Russia ramped up the Russo-Ukrainian War, then NWT Premier Caroline Cochrane understood the gravity of this illegal aggression, and stood in the NWT’s Legislative Assembly to rightfully condemn it. Not only that, but the Premier committed the NWT to matching donations to the Red Cross of up to $50,000. An act of community, solidarity, and humanity. As Western nations have witnessed, this kind of solidarity with humanity is not automatic when it comes to Palestine and the decades of occupation.
YK Citizens for Ceasefire petitioned the NWT government to speak on our behalf to Canada’s federal leadership to demand they call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, unhindered access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, and to take action to uphold Canada’s obligations under the UN Genocide Convention.
MLA Kate Reid brought the group’s petition to the NWT Legislative Assembly in the form of a motion. Initially the NWT’s 20th Premier, RJ Simpson, expressed an unwillingness to “wade into international affairs.” Later he relented after speaking with a Yellowknifer from the Palestinian diaspora and in recognition of the motion tabled in the NWT Legislative Assembly. By that point, Canada’s delegation at the United Nations had finally voted in favour of the resolution calling for a ceasefire. Premier Simpson’s official response, sent 120 days after the tabling of the motion in the Assembly, included the justification for closing this matter as: “Global affairs, such as the current conflict in Gaza, are outside of the jurisdiction of the NWT.”
The Ceasefire group has also petitioned and met with the NWT’s Liberal MP, Michael McLeod on several occasions. McLeod initially responded to the group’s ceasefire request by saying he had signed onto a letter calling for an immediate ceasefire. However, McLeod’s name does not appear on this letter. Pressed on the issue, his office explained he signed after the letter was first published. Most recently, the group requested that McLeod and the Liberal government press forward to protect the human rights of Palestinians in Gaza by implementing a complete two-way arms embargo with Israel.
Undeterred by political apathy, indifference, or rejection, YK Citizens for Ceasefire presses on, organizing more political lobbying, education events, and fundraising.
Since its formation, the group has led about 40 education, awareness, and solidarity actions ranging from car and street rallies, marches, demonstrations, community gatherings and dinners, vigils, presentations, a film screening, and live and on-line auctions. These actions are led by a small number of Ceasefire supporters who take responsibility for social media, communications, security (via a “safety squad” at each public event), and facilitating functions. This smaller group of supporters come mainly from a younger demographic supported by elders and long-time activists within the local Palestinian and social justice communities.
For some supporters, the YK Citizens for Ceasefire is a first foray into mobilizing and organizing for solidarity. For others, especially within Yellowknife’s Palestinian community, it is a continuation of a long history of activism. For many years, Yellowknife’s Palestinian community has hosted community dinners, presentations and films to educate fellow citizens about their history of being driven from their homelands.
Since the first ceasefire march on November 4, 2023 that brought an estimated 250 Yellowknifers into the streets, local people have continued to engage in and support Palestinian solidarity actions. This is in part attributed to the Ceasefire group’s consistent communications that have ranged from weekly newsletters to email advisories to regular postings on Facebook and Instagram. Communications focus on positive messages, feedback and updates on actions, and accountability for monies raised. These are strong ethics among the Ceasefire group.
YK Ceasefire fundraising events such as the June 2024 Taste of Palestine dinner exemplify the high level of local engagement and support for this peoples’ movement. For this dinner, a local grocery store donated most ingredients and a large team of volunteer cooks created a meal of authentic Palestinian, Lebanese, and other Middle Eastern foods. A local school donated the use of their kitchen and cafeteria, and volunteers set up for the dinner and ran a live auction. The event raised over $11,000 in aid for displaced Gazans.
Since the June dinner, YK Citizens for Ceasefire has held several online auctions, with items donated by crafters, businesses, and Indigenous artisans from throughout the NWT. At the time of writing, the Ceasefire group had raised more than $86,000 in mutual aid for more than 70 displaced Gazan families.
YK Citizens for Ceasefire’s many actions have illuminated the presence of the Palestinian diaspora in Yellowknife. Actions such as information tables at the Yellowknife Farmers Market, vigils, and noon-hour rallies have also created awareness and effectively challenged narratives that erase and dehumanize Palestinians in public spaces in Canada. Images and messages from YK Ceasefire actions shared by the local Palestinian diaspora with relatives and friends in Gaza have shown that people care and have given Gazans hope.
But the group’s actions and impacts have received little attention from local media. Lack of local media coverage is consistent with responses throughout the country and internationally as a powerful pro-Israel/pro-conflict lobby has effectively silenced journalists.
YK Citizens for Ceasefire actions have not only created awareness but also nurtured a growing community of human rights activists. At the time of writing, the group’s Facebook page had 364 members which represents roughly two per cent of the City’s total population. With plans to collaborate with other local social justice organizations and encourage leadership of solidarity actions among a broader range of Northerners, this peoples’ movement and its impacts are sure to strengthen and keep growing.
Another reason this peoples’ movement continues to grow and be impactful is its success in creating safe spaces to forge relationships of allyship. In particular, the group has connected strengths and built relationships among the North’s Arab Muslim and non-Muslim diaspora, human rights and social justice defenders, 2SLGBTQI+ rights seekers and defenders, and among those seeking to decolonize settler colonial regimes.
The positive impacts of YK Citizens for Ceasefire have not been without costs. Burn-out and stress among more active group members have been fuelled by the ongoing horrors in Gaza, the complicity of powerful nations, and locally, by doxing and attempts at malicious character attacks.
A few YK Citizens for Ceasefire supporters who are public servants, have been required by management to address anonymous complaints regarding online and on-the-ground actions. At the time of writing, no member of the YK Ceasefire group has been fired or suspended from work but some have been warned that their actions could be considered a violation of work policy. This has not deterred any member of the Ceasefire group from their engagement in this peoples’ movement.
An anonymous Instagram user has created a “YK Citizens for Israel” account to “counter” the online presence of YK Citizens for Ceasefire. This account follows the personal accounts of some Ceasefire group supporters in an effort to intimidate and deter individuals from speaking out. But no one in the YK Ceasefire group stands alone against any threats or intimidation. No anonymous bullies or other attempts to scare people from speaking up for human rights will silence or erase the Palestinian people or their supporters.
The YK Citizens for Ceasefire group is a peoples’ movement rooted in and motivated by love, care, and outrage at injustice. Ceasefire supporters are committed to the principles of peace and honouring human rights which are reflected in thoughtful, inclusive approaches to education, information, solidity, non-violent direct actions, and community-building. As the western world begins to wake up to the realities of settler colonial violence, inequity, climate breakdown, and the fragility of both democratic institutions and international law, it is vital that we understand that these issues are not separate from one another. They are all connected. Just as we are all connected. The actions of a small group of people in Canada’s subarctic are proof of this connection. YK Citizens for Ceasefire continues to stand with the people of Gaza as though our collective humanity depends on it – because it does.
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