Aboriginal Justice delegation - Asubpeeschosweewagong (Grassy Narrows, Ontario)

08/14/2009 3:27 pm
08/23/2009 3:27 pm
Location: 
Ontario, Canada

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks participants for a delegation to the First Nations community of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows), located in the Treaty 3 territory, with visits to other nearby First Nations communities and the northwestern Ontario town of Kenora.

In 1999, the Ontario government granted a 20-year license to Abitibi Consolidated allowing them to clear-cut Asubpeeschoseewagong traditional lands. Grassy Narrows community members started blockading Abitibi logging contractors in November 2002 with CPT accompaniment through that winter. The blockade met with partial success; nevertheless, nearly 50% of Asubpeeschoseewagong territory has been clear-cut, further destroying traditional hunting, trapping, food and medicine gathering activities    
In May of 2008, Grassy Narrows First Nation signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ontario government to negotiate over several years a long-term agreement for the protection, management and use of the forest. On June 3, 2008, the recently merged company Abitibi-Bowater announced that it will withdraw from logging the territory in question. No long-term agreement has yet been signed with the government; the threat of corporate clear-cut logging continues; and First Nations members are criminalized for activities on their traditional territory

Kenora (pop.16,000) is an important regional center for thirteen Anishinaabe communities who are members of the Grand Council Treaty 3. Situated on the rocky shores of Lake of the Woods, Kenora's economy is sustained by summer tourism and resource extraction. There is a strong sense of division between non-aboriginal and aboriginal residents and visitors, with aboriginal residents and visitors frequently experiencing racially-based mistreatment.

Click here to apply.

The delegation will spend time on traditional Asubpeeschoseewagong territory, document the effects of clear-cutting and learn about Anishinaabe struggles for justice. In Kenora, the delegation will meet with aboriginal and non-aboriginal community leaders who are working to improve relations between non-aboriginal and aboriginal residents. Delegation members will develop an analysis of colonialism, participate in undoing racism training, and plan a public witness/direct action focused on Aboriginal sovereignty issues.

Fund-raising expectation: $425 US or $500 Canadian; delegates arrange and pay for their own travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba or Kenora, Ontario.