This week, I visited the Kanehsatà:ke Pines, where I met members of the Long House, activists and land defenders. Ellen Gabriel, Al Harrington and Teiawenniserate Tomlinson.
Together, we visited a section of their territory known as Pins, which is threatened by a private developer building houses closer and closer to the forest. This encroachment on native lands has given rise to many tensions and demonstrations, but very little open dialogue and negotiation. In 1990, the federal government deployed the army on the territory, as part of a related territorial dispute. When the troops withdrew, after months of violence and intimidation of the community, the federal government agreed to settle the land claims once and for all. Now, 30 years later, nothing has changed. The people continue to fight for the Pines and their land, while the federal government continues to resist their demands, which are entirely reasonable and legitimate.
During my visit, I had the chance to see the Pines up close. It's a beautiful forest that needs to be protected. I wanted to meet members of the Longhouse to learn more about this land dispute and support their protests against development on their land. The reality is that the whole country used to belong to indigenous communities. Colonialism pushed them into small reserves scattered across the country. Many aboriginal communities are no longer able to practice their traditional activities, and even lack space in which to live.
Reconciliation requires action, not empty words. Reconciliation means settling this land dispute once and for all, by accepting the demands of the Long House and the people of Kanehsatà:ke. The Indian Act has imposed a top-down decision-making structure on the community. Many natives do not recognize this 1876 law and continue to practice traditional governance. Their voices are just as important, if not more so, than those that enjoy official recognition from the federal government. Any land claims reconciliation process must include recognition of traditional governance and the Longhouse.
While the developer is attempting to negotiate the transfer of the land to the people of Kanehsatà:ke, this process has been very non-transparent. It has also dismissed the opinions of the Longhouse and chosen to negotiate with people recognized by the federal government and the Indian Act. Longhouse members fear that the transfer of these lands will be used as a concession to develop other lots near the community. They are calling for a moratorium on development on their territory.
The solution to this long-standing conflict can only be found through dialogue, recognition of traditional governance, a willingness to decolonize and to correct ongoing and historical injustices against indigenous peoples.
To this end, I call on the federal government, Justin Trudeau, and ministers Marc Miller and Caroline Bennett to act in good faith in accepting the demands of the Longhouse and the people of Kanehsatà:ke.
The Liberal government campaigned on the defense of aboriginal rights. It's time for them to back up their commitments with action, not words.
In solidarity,
Alex Tyrrell
Leader of the Green Party of Quebec
