Solidarity Actions Support Grassy Narrows Forest Blockade
In an unprecedented act of the defense of their lands, the First Nations communities of Aroland, Hornepayne, Constance Lake, and Mishkeegogamang have erected blockades [ 1 | 2 ] of foresty operations across northern Ontario in solidarity with Grassy Narrows First Nation, who have been blocking a forest access roads near their reserve since December. In the meantime, about 40 indigenous women and children from Grassy Narrows protested the clearcutting of their land at the Abitibi-Consolidiated Inc. pulp mill in the city of Kenora. This mill processes the millions of trees removed from the Whiskey Jack Forest, which is also the reserve's traditional land use area, to make newsprint for the Washington Post and the New York Times. Men from Grassy Narrows and a few members of Keechita Warriors Society stood vigil on the sidelines during the demonstration for support and protection. "You can not separate us and the land, we need it for our way of life," said blockader Joe Fobister, "the destruction of this land effectively amounts to cultural genocide, the destruction of us."
Read: entire feature | December 17 feature | Dec 25
[ Thunder Bay IMC ]
