Introductory remarks for Indigenous Struggles Solidarity Day, June 28 in Sudbury

By Clarissa Lassaline

Good morning. Bonjour. Anni. Welcome everyone.

Today’s activities have been initiated by a local group called Sudbury Against War and Occupation (SAWO). We are a mixed group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks concerned with all forms and consequences of war and occupation. While this includes working against Canadian involvement in war and occupation all over the world, SAWO sees it as central to recognize that Canada itself exists as an occupation of First Nations’ territory and that struggles of Indigenous Peoples against that occupation must be supported. There is an urgent need to support communities standing up for their lands and for their sovereignity and understand how non-indigenous people are a part of and contribute to the continuing violations of that soveriegnity. Mohawk activist of Tyendinaga, Shawn Brant, called for a different way of doing things on National Aboriginal Day last year when he cried out: “We bury our children in this country every day. We have to force them to drink polluted water. We’re sick and tired of it. It’s going to end-June 29 is going to mark the time when First Nations people are going to be in a different relationship with the rest of the country.”

By Angela Scappatura, The Sudbury Star

Indigenous and non-indigenous people gathered at Victory Park to assert their support for the struggles of aboriginals in Canada on Saturday.

Heavy rain did not prevent more than a dozen people from attending the day-long event, which included a drumming workshop, personal stories and musical performances.

The event was organized by Sudbury Against War and Occupation and was designed to raise awareness of aboriginal issues.

Gary Kinsman is a member of Sudbury Against War and Occupation and said the inaugural event displays solidarity between both indigenous and non-indigenous people.

"I think it's important because what we're showing is that the government's apology around residential schools was not enough," he said while standing beneath a tarp protecting a barbeque and food from the rain.

"The government policies around indigenous people are, in general, pretty bad."

Many of the day's events highlighted the group's concern surrounding First Nations land claims. Kinsman, who is not an aboriginal, said there needs to be justice for the community.

Saturday, June 28, 11am to 5pm

Learn about John Moore’s struggle against racism in the criminal justice system.

Find out more about the importance of First Nations land claims and struggles with Ed Sackaney.

Participate in workshops on Native Music with Eric Landry; on the Native Youth Movement; and on the questions that settlers interested in supporting indigenous people need to address.

Hear Shadakii drum. From Atikameksheng Anishnawbek (Whitefish Lake First Nation)

Hear speakers, watch videos, and listen to music by Eric Landry. Food and refreshments will be available for lunch, as a fund-raiser for John Moore’s campaign for justice.

Myths and Mirrors
in Victory Park off Frood Road,
north of Kathleen
Myths and Mirrors is the painted building (a community artspace) located in
Victory Park in the Donovan. It is between Dupont St. and Schevchenko Ave.

All Are Welcome

Initiated by Sudbury Against War and Occupation
with the support of Myths and Mirrors Community Arts.
For more information, call 705 675-8479 or email sudburyawo@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 14th at 7pm sharp.
Laurentian University, Class Room Building (between the Library and the Arts Building), Room C-304. This is a wheel-chair accessible location.

A discussion of hip hop sparked by the "It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop" interview with Mutula Olugbala ( M-1) from the revolutionary hip hop duo Dead Prez in Upping the Anti 6. This event will include speakers, discussion, and music videos. Copies of Upping the Anti 6 will be available for $5 each.

Speakers:

Shana Calixte -- "Your Revolution Will not Happen Between these Thighs": Forwarding a Hip Hop Feminist Pedagogy.
Shana, queer mom/black feminist/academic is a lecturer in the Women's Studies department at Laurentian University. She has recently reconnected with her love of Hip Hop music, and currently teaches a course entitled: Theorizing Hip Hop Feminisms: Race, Gender and Sexuality at York University. She lives with her partner and son Dré in Sudbury.

Kaili Beck -- Music and the Movement: Using music as pedagogy for social change.

The Gkendassawin Trail Speakers Series and the Humanities MA Colloquium Series welcome Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz to Laurentian University and Sudbury.

As part of the Gkendassawin Trail Speakers Series, the Office of Native Student Affairs and Office of Academic Native Affairs are presenting a public lecture on "Indigenous Struggles in the Americas" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, on Monday March 3, 2008 at 7 p.m., in the Fraser Auditorium of Laurentian University.

The Interdisciplinary Humanities MA in Interpretation and Values presents its fourth public lecture of the 2007-08 Colloquium Series exploring “Memory and the Environment” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz on "Memory and the Environment of Poverty," Tuesday March 4, 2008 at 7:30 in the Senate Chambers on the 11th floor of the Parker Building at Laurentian University.

All are welcome to attend. Admission is free.

The following statement was delivered by a member of Sudbury Against War and Occupation at a recent event in Sudbury honouring the memory of indigenous women murdered and gone missing in Canada.

My name is Clarissa Lassaline and I’m involved with a group of Sudbury folks firmly opposed to war and occupation. The fact that Canada exists as an occupation of First Nations Lands has become increasingly important to our thinking about indigenous struggles and white settler solidarity and responsibility.

January 14th, 2008 by jef costello, http://libcom.org/news/canada-bank-workers-strike-over-pay-14012008

62 workers at CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) in Sudbury went on strike today.

Workers voted in favour of action by only 52% although pickets were out and observance was high. Picketers attributed the close vote to the time of year. Only one of the five branches in Sudbury was open with managers running a scab service.

The main dispute is over pay and the pension schemes with workers feeling that their increased responsibilities should be recompensed. Workers are also demanding a fairer salary scheme. Workers had voted 90% in favour of strikes if the negotiations failed.

Workers from the same local (USWA 2020) at TD Canada Trust, another bank in Sudbury struck for five weeks last year. Eventually winning a salary increase but not managing to get rid of performance related pay.

Come see "In the Shadow of 9-11," a short film of a recent talk by Sunera Thobani, former president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) who is interviewed in Upping the Anti #5. Join a discussion with local feminist activists and thinkers sparked by Thobani's interview ("The Fight For Feminism") on feminism in Canada.

Wednesday November 28th 2007, 7pm. St. Andrew's Place, 111 Larch Street, 4th Floor Resource Centre; A wheelchair accessible location.
All Welcome!

This film details the struggle of a remote native community to protect the land from exploitation by corporate logging companies. It shows how the community had to take action into their own hands; shows how even school children can effectively defend the land. Film produced by Rainforest Action Network and Thunder Bay Indymedia.

Commentary by: NYM North*Shore
Sponsored by:
Sudbury Against War and Occupation (SAWO)
Common Cause (Sudbury)

Come see "In the Shadow of 9-11," a short film of a recent talk by Sunera Thobani, former president of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) who is interviewed in Upping the Anti #5. Join a discussion with local feminist activists and thinkers sparked by Thobani's interview ("The Fight For Feminism") on feminism in Canada.

* Thursday, Nov. 22, 7pm, Myths and Mirrors space, (in Victory Park. on the right side of Frood Road, three blocks north of Kathleen). For more info. and for travel and childcare subsidization funds call Gary at 523-2205.