CPTnet
11 April 2008
ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, ROBERTSVILLE UPDATE: March 2008

The CPT Aboriginal Justice team continued to support local peacemakers (Algonquin and settlers) in their struggle against uranium exploration and mining on Algonquin land. They participated in community efforts to prepare for and organize around the trials of Algonquin leaders and settlers held on 18 March at the Kingston Courthouse. The team also continued efforts to enlist local churches by visiting congregations, building relationships with local leaders and encouraging dialogue around issues of aboriginal justice and uranium mining.

CPTers on team in Sharbot Lake during this period were Joel Klassen, Rosemarie Milazzo, John Funk, Bob Holmes, Christie Schmid, William Payne, Murray Lumley and Char Smith. CPT reservists, John and Carolyn Hudson, acted as resources for the team in Sharbot Lake.


4 March 2008
Perth - The team joined a well-attended Community Coalition Against Uranium Mining meeting. (www.ccamu.ca <http://www.ccamu.ca>). CCAMU is a community-led organization that facilitates information distribution regarding and community organizing against uranium mining.

Members of the MELT (Major Events Liaison Team) of the Ontario Provincial Police discussed their role. MELT works to maintain communication with protestors.


7 March 2008
Kingston - The team attended a Queen’s University forum following the imprisonment of professor Bob Lovelace (former chief and lead negotiator of the Ardoch Algonquin). Five panelists spoke on history, legal and public policy considerations regarding mining issues, Algonquin relationship to the land, governmental obligations to aboriginal peoples and an update from Bob Lovelace in jail. Co-chief Paula Sherman spoke about Algonquin identity: “autonomy comes from our relationship to the land, not the oppressor. Destroy the land and you destroy us.”

Sixty students and the CPT members followed the “Three Sisters” drumming group to the office of John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, where they presented a letter to Gerretsen calling on the provincial government to consult with the Algonquins about mining issues.

11 March 2008
The team visited and had dinner with a local Ardoch elder and his wife at their home.

In the evening, the team traveled to an interfaith group meeting at the Kingston Unitarian Church to reflect on how faith informs action in the present conflict.


18 March 2008
Kingston - The team attended and helped organize a rally of two hundred people to show support for the Algonquins and settlers facing court cases. Algonquin War Chief Mitch Shewell shared an Algonquin prayer before court including thanksgiving for the land, community, peace, and participants in the court process. See 28 March 2008 CPTnet release, "KINGSTON, ON: Ontario declines to prosecute non-Aboriginals but convicts Algonquins for same acts of protest against mining on First Nation lands," <http://cpt.org/node/6965> .


19 March 2008
The team met with local leaders in the afternoon and discussed the outcome of the court proceedings earlier in the week. They expressed sadness about the racism in the courtroom on 18 March and said they felt the proceedings were an effort to “cripple them individually and communally.”

They spoke about traditional practices that maintain connection with the land, as well as their deep desires to share their culture for generations to come.


20 March 2008
The team organized a Good Friday Prayer Vigil 200 meters from the gate that First Nation communities had secured in June 2007 to protect their land from uranium mining. A local pastor read the powerful words of a hymn, “Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets. Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets where injustice spirals and real hope retreats. Jesus Christ is healing, healing in the streets where each sign of hatred, he with love defeats.” Sixteen people joined hands and prayed for justice, peace, and protection of Algonquin Land. The event marked the beginning of a weekly prayer vigil at the site.


23 March 2008
The team celebrated Easter with a local settler family, partaking of a large Easter feast and holding baby lambs recently born on the farm.


24 March 2008
Beaverton - The team participated alongside Algonquins and settlers on a panel discussing aboriginal justice and uranium mining with local churches and community members who have been regionally isolated from information about the issue. Algonquin community members talked about their call to protect the land: “We are a part of the land and the land is a part of us. Algonquin women are responsible for protecting the watersheds. We must uphold Algonquin law or we will cease to exist.” Participants highlighted human rights violations and resource molestation on indigenous lands around the world. The panel called Christians to action around this issue.


27 March 2008
Perth - The team joined a family action against uranium mining. Children and parents marched through the streets holding signs and banners, and distributing leaflets. The action culminated on the courthouse steps in a call for the release of political prisoner Bob Lovelace.