Montréal Contre-information
Montréal Contre-information
Montréal Contre-information

Migrant Prison: noise demo blocks site visit, and an update on implicated companies and the ongoing bidding period

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Feb 212019
 

Anonymous submission to MTL Counter-info

Much of the ground may be covered in a thick sheet of ice right now, and piles of snow have been growing around the construction site for the new migrant prison in Laval for weeks, but that doesn’t mean the Canadian government isn’t hard at work preparing the next stages of construction for this monstrosity, nor that we should turn our attention away until after the spring thaw.

Early in February, it became public that the bidding period for the General Contractor contract had opened for the project, and that there would be a site visit held on February 20th at 10am for all interested bidders. So, early in the morning on February 20th, a group of people gathered to take a bus out to the construction site in Laval.

The group quickly made their way to the road leading to the security check-in for the bidders, and set up a picket, blocking the bidders’ vehicles from getting to the site. People there to pick up loved ones from the neighbouring prisons were welcomed through, and responded in kind with cheers and honks of support for the demo. Those present loudly communicated the deplorable nature of the prison project, and registered to all those considering working on it that there would be people standing in the way of the project at every stage.

People shouted, banged pots and pans, and blew on horns for over an hour, and had banners and signs against prisons and borders, as well as silhouette posters with the names of people deported in recent years. Company representatives present were personally called out, to let them know opponents of the project are aware of who they are. Some of the company representatives, sent by their bosses to attend the visit, expressed support for the demo following conversations with those in attendance. Over the course of an hour, most of the bidders had turned their cars around and left, accepting that they would not be allowed through. By 11am, an hour after the visit had been scheduled to begin, the group packed up their banners and left the area, leaving behind only a couple of cars – mostly Laval police.

With a month of bidding left, it’s time to assess what we know and what we can do next to disrupt the project. Read on for important updates on the state of the prison project, and newly public information about other companies involved.

What’s happened so far

Since the summer of 2017, Montreal based Lemay and Quebec City based Groupe A have been working on the architectural plans for the prison. In December 2018, Englobe Corporation and Excavation Loiselle completed their environmental remediation work on the sprawling CSC grounds that may become home to an additional prison on Montee St-Francois, already host to the current migrant prison, the minimum and medium federal men’s prisons, and the provincial Leclerc institution. For quite some time, the timeline for construction to begin in earnest on the project has been unclear.

On January 31, 2019, however, Public Works and Government Services Canada posted their call for tenders for who will be in charge of the largest chunk of work on the prison – the General Contractor. The documents provided to interested bidders provide important information about the next phases of work, and offer ideas about where to intervene.

The ongoing bidding period

January 31st marked day one of the six-week bidding period for the General Contractor position. Bidding will be open until March 20th, at which time the company with the lowest bid will get the contract.

During the bidding period, companies interested in bidding on the project are invited to post their information on the publicly available “List of interested suppliers”. On this list, accessible on the government buy and sell website, one can find the company name, contact person, email, and phone number for each company who publicly discloses their interest in the project, though some companies do not publicly state their interest using this list. Many more tried to attend the site visit on February 20th.

As of February 20th, the following information is available for six interested bidders. :

1. Contact Shane Ross, President
Company Standard Building Contractors
Email shane@standard.builders
Phone 6138477258

2. Contact Richard Paradis, Estimateur Senior
Company Construction SOCAM ltée
Email r.paradis@socam.ca
Phone 450-662-9000 #223

3. Contact Matthew Poplaw, Sales
Company Securassure
Email matthew@securassure.ca
Phone 5143733131

4. Contact Lina Tremblay, Estimateur
Company Groupe Geyser
Email ltremblay@groupegeyser.com
Phone 4506252003

5. Contact Richard A. Germano, Président
Company Corporation de construction Germano
Email info@germanoconstruction.com
Phone 450-668-7807

6. Contact Jacques Hosson, Estimateur
Company Tisseur Inc.
Email estimation@constructiontisseur.ca
Phone 8193221523 #258

Also present for the site visit were representatives of the following companies:

Company Bruneau électrique Inc.
Email info@bruneauelectrique.com
Phone 514 353-4343, 450 759-6606

Company Construction CYBCO
Email info@cybco.ca
Phone 514 284-2228

Whoever gets this contract, they will be involved in the project until the projected end of construction (the end of March, 2021). They will be responsible for subcontracting out smaller parts of the construction work – these contracts will likely not be made public.

Other companies involved in the project

Included in the documents released with the call for tenders is a list of other companies with contracts related to the prison, as well as the person responsible for the contract at each company. Some, like Lemay and Groupe A, are names we’ve seen before, as their contracts have been public for a long time already.

Lemay and Groupe A

Lemay and Groupe A are jointly listed as in charge of architecture for the project, with architect Pierre Larouche representing Lemay and architect Patrice Beauchemin representing Groupe A.

Mylène Carreau, a landscape architect with Lemay, represents her firm on the documents for their additional role in charge of the landscape architecture for the project.

LEMAY
3500, rue Saint-Jacques
Montréal (QC) h4c 1h2
t. (514) 932-5101
f. (514) 935-8137

Groupe A
819, avenue Moreau
Québec (QC) g1v 3b5
t. (418) 653-8341
f. (418) 653-1989

Other companies listed are new names – possibly members of a collection of firms with whom the government has what’s called a “standing offer” to work.

KJA Consultants Inc.

Engineer Louis Beauchemin, from the Montreal office of KJA Consultants Inc., features on the documents representing his elevator and escalator design company in their work on conveyor systems for the prison.

KJA CONSULTANTS INC .
1410, rue Stanley, bur. 1003
Montréal (QC) h3a 1p8
t. (514) 284-3119

BPA (Bouthillette Parizeau)

The engineering consulting firm BPA, otherwise known as Bouthillette Parizeau, will be involved in food services and commissioning for the prison. For food services, engineer Sylvie Savoie is representing the company, and for commissioning engineer Dalia Ramy appears to be in charge.

BPA
6655, boul. Pierre-Bertrand
Bureau 250
Québec (QC) g2k 1m1
t. (514) 383-3747

Stantec

Stantec, a huge design, consulting and engineering firm with an office in Longueuil, appears to be heavily involved in many aspects of the project.

For their roles related to electrical and fire alarm work, and fire protection, engineers Alexandre Manseau-Nguyen and Bruno Lehoux are in charge, respectively.
For their telecommunication work, engineer Jonathan Hallee is listed.

Stantec is also involved in many aspects of the engineering work, with the following representatives related to different subsections. Louis-Stephane Racicot’s role is as Engineering Project Manager. Engineer Alexandre Jean is in charge of mechanical, Michel Gendron in charge of electrical, Patrick Bourgeois is listed for structure, and for civil Martin Charron.

STANTEC
400-375, boul. Roland-Therrien
Longueuil (QC) j4h 4a6
t. (514) 281-1033

Work schedule and site security

While it may not be clear what specific work will be happening when, the bid documents indicate that when the construction begins, work will be occurring until 9pm maximum from Monday to Saturday, with noise-generating work happening only 7am to 6pm these days, and no work at all occurring on Sundays or statutory holidays.

There will be offices on site to securely store documents, as well as two site cameras which will be constantly livestreaming work and the site to a private website accessible to a government representative at all times.
Fences obscuring the view into the site will be erected. The documents mention that all workers will have to pass security clearance and will be prohibited from speaking to any Leclerc Detention facility prisoners (who are held just beside the site).

What to expect in the near future

It is reasonable to expect re-excavation and foundational work to begin very quickly following the awarding of the contract to the General Contractor at the end of March. This means that those opposed to the construction of yet another piece of infrastructure solely designed to bolster the government’s capacity to detain and deport migrants must be hard at work as well, as construction may start in earnest in the next month.

Companies considering involving themselves in this entirely unacceptable project, serving only to rip apart families and communities, would do well to stay far away from this project. They may risk their reputation, their clients, and their money by choosing to lend their expertise to this unambiguously racist and violent project in a moment where it is extremely important for everyone to pick a side: against white supremacy and xenophobia. Companies providing materials for the construction, or interested in being subcontracted to work in a more limited role should also think long and hard before making an unethical and indefensible choice.

For a world without prisons or borders.
For freedom of movement and freedom to live for all.

For more background information on the migrant prison project, and to download materials and research documents related to the struggle against it, visit stopponslaprison.info.

To read the documents summarized in this piece, you can download them directly from the government website using these links. We recommend using TorBrowser to avoid giving your IP address.

Migrant Prison: Excavation Company Loiselle’s Offices Redecorated

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Feb 072019
 

Anonymous submission to MTL Counter-info

According to this article in a local Salaberry-de-Valleyfield newspaper from January 29th, the building facade of the excavation company Loiselle, located at 280 Pie-XII Boulevard in Saint-Timothée, was redecorated. The words “NO TO THE MIGRANT PRISON” can be read.

The article indicates that this crime was committed with racist intentions, specifying that the company has no idea why it would have been targeted.

We do not know the intentions of the vandals, but we know that a new prison for migrants is supposed to be constructed in Laval, and that this company received the contract for decontamination and excavation for this project. Is it not the fact of imprisoning and deporting more migrants that is racist? It’s only logical that the companies involved in the construction of this prison would be targeted.

FUCK LOISELLE, FUCK THE CANADIAN BORDER SERVICES AGENCY, FUCK PRISONS.
SOLIDARITY WITH MIGRANTS WITH OR WITHOUT PAPERS

Mobilize Against the Pro-Pipeline Truck Convoy

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Feb 052019
 

From Ottawa Against Fascism (Facebook)

Call to Action from Ottawa Against Fascism

Currently, pro-pipeline reactionaries are planning a truck convoy from Alberta to Ottawa. This intended show of force is meant to pressure the federal government into taking more forceful actions to get major new oil and gas pipelines built. At a time when Indigenous peoples are heroically resisting massive industrialization in the Pacific Northwest, we must fight back against this foray of far-right forces into pro-pipeline activism before it becomes a real threat.

We call for mass actions in support of Indigenous sovereignty to be organized in Ottawa and in all the cities along the planned route of the truck convoy, from February 14 to 19.

While it may turn out that moving hundreds of oil trucks across the continent will be too tricky and expensive for these inexperienced organizers to pull off, we believe it is important that such an initiative does not go unopposed.

We call for a counter show of force by all anti-colonialists and anti-fascists to push back this movement for further theft and destruction of Indigenous peoples’ territories, and to maintain the mobilization in support of the Wet’suwet’en people who are currently fighting a vital battle against Canadian armed forces and an energy company to preserve their territory.

The truck convoy, which was originally conceived by industry-sponsored institutes, was quickly taken over by far-right organizers, who intend to use this convoy to advance an agenda including anti-Muslim, anti-immigration and white supremacist elements. Their participation, along with the realization of the logistical difficulty of the initiative and the presence of notorious scam artists pushing their own fundraisers under its name, led the industry groups to officially disassociate themselves from the convoy, leaving all the room to the far-right elements. As such, the goal behind the truck convoy is no longer only about pipelines, but also the promotion of a racist, anti-immigrant agenda. Let us seize this occasion to unite the anti-colonial and anti-fascist forces in a mass deployment!

The itinerary of the convoy is as follows:

February 14 – Red Deer

February 15 – Regina

February 16 – Dryden

February 17 – Sault Ste. Marie

February 17-18 – Arnprior February 19 – Ottawa

Participants in this convoy will be looking to book hotels, truck stops and other accommodation facilities to make the journey possible. We anti-fascists will be doing our best to monitor these plans and intervene when necessary, and we encourage people along the convoy’s route to do so also, and to share information with us.

The far-right organizers intend to use the town of Arnprior as a staging ground before the arrival of their caravan to Ottawa. To this end, they have enlisted the support of the Greater Ottawa Trucking Association, with the support of that organization’s ultra-conservative president Ron Barr. The presence of a truck stop right by the Trans-Canadian highway makes Arnprior a strategic location for entering Ottawa from the West.

As we get closer to the date and continue to monitor the far-right planning, we encourage all anti-fascists to join actions in support of the Wet’suwet’en people, as well as other anti-colonial struggles. TransCanada’s recent decision to hire RBC to sell its stake in the Coastal GasLink pipeline strongly suggests that the Wet’suwet’en are winning. If pressure can be maintained and increased, CGL may be forced to abandon their plans. Colonialism is the main system breeding fascism on this land, and so any struggle to smash fascism must include a fight to destroy the colonial state and the capitalist corporations in its midst.

Sources on truck convoy organizing:

https://anti-racistcanada.blogspot.com/2019/01/conflicting-ottawa-convoy-commitments.html

https://anti-racistcanada.blogspot.com/2019/01/guest-article-from-ottawa-yellow-vests.html

https://rdnewsnow.com/article/612246/pro-pipeline-convoy-ottawa-cancelled

https://edmonton.citynews.ca/video/2019/01/25/organizer-of-yellow-vest-convoy-leaves-group/

To contact Ottawa Against Fascism: ottawa.againstfascism@gmail.com

RCMP FUCK OFF: Hamilton in Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en

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Feb 042019
 

Anonymous submission to North Shore Counter-Info

Late last night as many had their eyes glued to screens cheering on the Patriots in the Superbowl, a small crew of pals got busy taking on one symbol of so-called Canada’s nationalism: the RCMP. Within just minutes a handful of determined folks had destroyed all electronic keypad entries to the building, filled the manual locks with superglue and toothpicks, and dismantled the entry and exit systems to their gated police vehicle lot. Along the west windows we left what we came to say: “RCMP OFF WET’SUWET’EN LAND”.

It has been 21 days since the violent invasion of RCMP into unceded Wet’suewet’en territory, but the armed siege has not ended. This action was intended to bring the battle a little closer to home, so we targeted the Stoney Creek detachment. It’s easy to de-prioritize the many struggles taking place across continents, but it’s always worthwhile to trace the roots of broader struggles closer to home. The RCMP continue to enforce a court order that has no legitimate standing, allowing TransCanada and Coastal GasLink to begin pre-construction for a 670km pipeline through unsurrendered homelands and a healing centre. While the initial spectacle begins to fade urgency remains; people are being removed and kept from their homes at gunpoint, traditional traplines are being destroyed, medicine and berry gathering areas bulldozed, and the pristine land and waters are becoming contaminated with diesel. The RCMP are doing their job as per usual, protecting state and capital. By having the audacity to set up a temporary detachment and checkpoint, they are only further criminalizing those trying to live on and protect their own territories.

Things cannot go on like this: let this action serve as a reminder of the importance of taking action – no matter how small – in the face of colonial capitalist exploitation. The Wet’suwet’en being forced to open their gates to industry under threat from the state was not consent, it is merely an opportunity for allies and accomplices to take action.

Get your friends together, stay up all night scheming, and even when you’re tired GET EVEN!

29 January: Day of Action against Islamophobia

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Jan 262019
 

From Montréal Antifasciste

Almost two years ago, on January 29, 2017, Alexandre Bissonnette entered a mosque in Quebec City in Canada and in the course of a few minutes, murdered Azzeddine Soufiane, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Aboubaker Thabti, Ibrahima Barry and Abdelkrim Hassane. Nineteen others were injured, many severely.

What follows is a list of events commemorating the massacre on Tuesday, January 29, that we at Montréal Antifasciste are aware of. Please note that inclusion of an event does not necessarily indicate endorsement of the event or organizers. Thank you to those comrades who helped put this list together.

Presence in front of the offices of François Legault
8:30am to 9:30am in front of the HBSC building; corner avenue McGill College and Sherbrooke

Commemoration Event: Victims of the Quebec City mosque shooting
noon at the mezzanine of the McDonald Engineering building, McGill University
https://www.facebook.com/events/557027084765626/

Rally/Vigil in Montréal Nord
4:30pm at the corner of Henri Bourassa and Lacordaire
www.facebook.com/events/1203012229847708/

Commemorative Vigil and Workshop on Islamophobia in Côte des neiges
Vigil at 5:30pm at the corner of Plamondon & Van Horne (Plamondon metro)
To be followed by a workshop on opposing Islamophobia at 4755 Van Horne, office 110, at 6:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/381473549078387/
info: cdnseleve@gmail.com

Rally/Vigil in Verdun
5:30pm in front of Verdun metro
after the rally, we are invited to warm up at the Islamic Centre of Verdun, refreshments will be served
www.facebook.com/events/1927861947311168/
info: verdunlibre@gmail.com

Panel, “Face à l’islamophobie: lutte et résistance”
6pm in room D-R200, Pavillon Athanase-David, UQAM
Panel with Arij Riahi, Laïty Fary Ndiaye et Idil O. Kalif
www.facebook.com/events/365849160865598
Inscription obligatoire (sans frais): criec2@uqam.ca

Other events will be added here : https://www.facebook.com/January29Action/

Also, on February 2:

Community Dinner at the Khadijah Mosque in Pointe Saint-Charles
2385 Centre St, Saturday February 2, 2019, 17:30-19:00

This event is meant to bring the different religious, local and activist communities together to discuss issues and social problems that concern us all. This event is also being held to commemorate the victims of the January 2017 shooting at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Québec City and in solidarity with Muslims who are targeted every day in small and large ways, including as targets of the so-called secularism law that the current CAQ government intends to pass. There will be short presentations from local activists and community members addressing a number of pertinent topics, followed by a community dinner. To help us determine how much food to prepare, please RSVP! soupercommunautaire2019@gmail.com; Khadijah Mosque 514-691-8331

Also check out the list of events during Muslim Awareness Week (January 25-31) : https://ssm-maw.com/activities/

Ibrahima Barry
Mamadou Tanou Barry
Khaled Belkacemi
Abdelkrim Hassane
Azzedine Soufiane
Aboubaker Thabti

We refuse to forget. We reject Islamophobia and racism.

Attacks against OSHA Condo Advertising Billboards

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Jan 262019
 

Anonymous submission to MTL Counter-info

Last night and the one before, different crews bombarded the colonial-themed advertising billboards for the new condo project OSHA with paint.

The OSHA Condo project is simple: the destruction of Hochelaga. How? With the arrival of more than 200 condo units (selling for between $200 000 for a 2 and a half and more than $500 000 for a 4 and a half). Meaning 300 to 500 more yuppies in our neighborhood, and in a particularly sensitive location home to many of those tossed aside in recent decades by different real estate developments. The arrival of opulence, where misery reigns. Raising the number of cops and patrols, of expensive eco-ethico-responsible-biodegradable stores, of chic restaurants daring to name themselves “Les AffamÉes” (“the starving”) in one of the largest food deserts in Montreal. A social cleansing in every respect.

Adding insult to injury, the owners decided to use an indigenous theme. The billboards’ use of an image of the encounter between peoples reinforces the idea of a peaceful and consensual exchange between colonizers and first peoples. We shatter this image. The Americas were built in violence. Montreal is a city made possible by a genocide. Its modernization rests since its foundation on the exploitation of stolen land. The OSHA condo project is only the latest, most pathetic example.

And you thought we would let you do as you like? The plurality of groups currently organizing against the construction of these condos testifies to the feeling of anger, widely shared in the neighborhood, against this latest offensive of gentrification. In the months to come, the forms of contestation and sabotage will multiply. Despite the advances of gentrifying projects in Hochelaga, an expertise of struggle against them has developed, and there is no doubt we will put it to use.

These attacks are just a first warning
We are many and we are determined
These condos don’t stand a chance

Jacques Cartier Bridge Blocked in So-Called “Montreal”

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Jan 132019
 

From sub.Media

At 8:00am on the morning of Jan 8th, a group of roughly 25 people shut down the Jacques Cartier Bridge – a vital transportation corridor in so-called “Montreal” – in response to the RCMP’s attack on the Wet’suwet’en.

ACTION ALERT – International Call to Action for Gidimt’en Access Checkpoint

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Jan 072019
 

Alert – RCMP attack imminent – Stay up to date (7 January, 11am)

From Unist’ot’en Camp

The 22,000 sq km of Wet’suwet’en Territory is divided into five clans and 13 house groups. Each clan/house group manages the use of their own territory. Unist’ot’en homestead sits on Gilsteyu Dark House Territory and manager of this territory is  house group better known as Unist’ot’en. From the Widzin Kwa bridge at 66 km passing the bridge going down to 44 KM it becomes Gidimt’en Territory. The Unist’ot’en clan cannot decide or make decisions regarding Gidimt’en Territory. That would be against Wet’suwet’en Law.

______

UPDATE: THIS IS THE EVENT PAGE for International Solidarity with the Wet’suwe’ten. Please follow for updates. 

⭐When conducting solidarity actions, you MUST follow the action protocols as laid out by the Gitimt’en

  • Take action against the provincial government in B.C, federal government of Canada, and Canadian consulate internationally.
  • Demand that the provincial and federal government uphold their responsibilities to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and ‘Anuc niwh’it’en (Wet’suwet’en law).
  • The Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidumt’en Territory are conducting peaceful actions as sovereign peoples on their territories, and ask that all actions taken in solidarity are conducted peacefully and according to the traditional laws of other Indigenous Nations.

______

The following is a statement from neighboring Wet’suwet’en nation and secondary checkpoint heading towards the Unist’ot’en Territory, Gidimt’en Access Point:

Yesterday, members of the RCMP’s Aboriginal Police Liaison met with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and indicated that specially trained tactical forces will be deployed to forcibly remove Wet’suwet’en people from sovereign Wet’suwet’en territory. Police refused to provide any details of their operation to the Dini’ze and Tsake’ze (hereditary chiefs) including the number of officers moving in, the method of forcible removal, or the timing of deployment. By rejecting the requests for information by the Dini’ze and Tsake’ze the RCMP indicated that they intend to surprise and overwhelm the Wet’suwet’en people who are protecting their territories on the ground.

The RCMP’s ultimatum, to allow TransCanada access to unceded Wet’suwet’en territory or face police invasion, is an act of war. Despite the lip service given to “Truth and Reconciliation”, Canada is now attempting to do what it has always done – criminalize and use violence against indigenous people so that their unceded homelands can be exploited for profit.

The RCMP were advised that there are children, elders, and families visiting and present at the Gidimt’en Access Point, to which they did not respond. Since it was established, the Gidimt’en Access Point has hosted gatherings, workshops, and traditional activities for Wet’suwet’en, and provided an essential space for Wet’suwet’en to reconnect with their traditional territories.

Article 10 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples clearly states “Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their land or territories.” Any removal of Wet’suwet’en peoples by the RCMP, or any other authoritarian forces, will directly violate UNDRIP and the Trudeau government’s promise to implement UNDRIP. We are now preparing for a protracted struggle. The hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en and the land defenders holding the front lines have no intention of allowing Wet’suwet’en sovereignty to be violated. In plain language, the threat made by RCMP to invade Wet’suwet’en territories is a violation of human rights, a siege, and an extension of the genocide that Wet’suwet’en have survived since contact.

Canada knows that its own actions are illegal. The Wet’suwet’en fought for many years in the Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa court case to have their sovereignty recognized and affirmed by Canadian law. In 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Wet’suwet’en people, as represented by their hereditary leaders, had not given up rights and title to 22,000 km2 of Northern British Columbia. Knowing that further litigation would be prohibitively expensive to Indigenous plaintiffs (and that pipeline construction could be completed before any significant legal issues could be further resolved) TransCanada and the provincial and federal governments are openly violating this landmark ruling.

The creation of the Gidimt’en Checkpoint was announced in the Wet’suwet’en feast hall, with the support of all chiefs present. Under ‘Anuc niwh’it’en (Wet’suwet’en law) all five clans of the Wet’suwet’en have unanimously opposed all pipeline proposals. TransCanada lawyers have argued that the Unist’ot’en are essentially a rogue group without a rightful claim to Aboriginal title. The Gidimt’en intervention shows that the Unist’ot’en are not alone, and that the hereditary chiefs of all clans are prepared to uphold Wet’suwet’en law in refusing CGL access.

The Wet’suwet’en have laid out a path toward the implementation of UNDRIP, and the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent requirement of international law. Canada has chosen to ignore this path toward reconciliation. We call on all people of conscience to act in solidarity through an international day of action on Tuesday, January 8th, 2019.

Support the Wet’suwet’en by offering physical support to the camps, monetary or material donation, or by taking action where you stand. We are conducting peaceful actions as sovereign peoples on our territories, and ask that all actions taken in solidarity are conducted peacefully and according to the traditional laws of other Indigenous Nations. Forcible trespass onto Wet’suwet’en territories and the removal of Indigenous peoples from their lands must be stopped. Provincial and federal governments must be confronted.

– Gidimt’en Access Point

Donate to Gidimt’en Access Point

Donate to Unist’ot’en Legal Fund

Guiding principals on how to support, and a fact sheet on the Gidimt’en Access Point

Follow and share! Wet’suwet’en Access Point on Gidimt’en Territory

#Notrespass #Wedzinkwa #Wetsuwetenstrong #unistoten #thetimeisnow

The Time Is Now: How to Support Gidimt’en Camp

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Jan 022019
 

Anonymous submission to MTL Counter-info

At this very moment a standoff is unfolding, the outcome of which will determine the future of Northern BC for generations to come. Will the entire region be overtaken by the fracking industry, or will Indigenous people asserting their sovereignty be successful in repelling the assault on their homelands?

The future is unwritten. What comes next will be greatly influenced by actions taken in the coming days and weeks. This is a long-term struggle, but it is at a critical moment. That is why we say: The Time is Now. If you are a person of conscience and you understand the magnitude of what is at stake, ask yourself how you might best support the grassroots Wet’suwet’en. For different people, this may mean different things. For some people, it means traveling to the front-lines. For others, awareness-raising efforts or cash/material contributions.

BACKGROUNDER:

The Unist’ot’en Camp has existed since 2009, and has been continuously occupied since 2012. It was built directly in the way of a proposed pipeline corridor that included multiple mega-projects, including the previously proposed Northern Gateway and the Pacific Trails Pipeline.

The Unist’ot’en, known as the People of the Headwater, are a family group within one of five clans of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. Their territories encompass a wide swath of Northern British Columbia. In 2005, a number of large oil and gas companies announced plans to build a massive pipeline corridor through these lands, some Wet’suwet’en people made it their mission to ensure that the future envisioned by these capitalists would never come to pass. Of the five Wet’suwet’en clans, the Unist’ot’en were the first to officially declare themselves opposed to ALL pipelines being proposed to cross their territories. Today, all five clans stand united in this opposition. This unity was achieved through years of consistent diplomacy and consensus-building on the part of the grassroots Wet’suwet’en. The success of their resistance is attributable, in large part, to a steadfast commitment to the traditional Wet’suwet’en governance structure.

In 2009, a cabin was constructed on the exact GPS coordinates of the proposed path of the proposed energy corridor. Because of the geography of the region, which is rugged, mountainous, and seismically active, rerouting the corridor has never been proposed. The site is situated in the Unist’ot’en territory known as Talbits Kwa, whose boundary follows the bank of the Wedzin Kwa (known colonially as the Morice River). A single-lane bridge is the only way in and out of the territory, and can only be accessed by a logging road running south from Houston, BC. For years, the Unist’ot’en Camp has been maintaining a checkpoint on this bridge. The camp leadership is clear that this not a blockade, as they will grant access to various parties, including logging companies, fishers and hunters, provided that they follow the Free, Prior and Informed Consent protocol.

What is the Coastal GasLink pipeline?

The Wet’suwet’en people, under the governance of their hereditary chiefs, are standing in the way of the largest fracking project in Canadian history. The Coastal Gas Link pipeline (CGL) aims to connect the fracking operations of Northeastern B.C. with a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility in the coastal town of Kitimat. This export terminal, called LNG Canada, is owned by a consortium of multinational oil giants (Shell, PetroChina, Petronas, KOGAS, and Mitsubishi). Although there are propaganda attempts to lead citizens to believe that this 41 billion dollar investment is inevitable; the global market for LNG is unstable, as there are several countries currently established in this extremely competitive market.

CGL is the first of many proposed pipelines attempting to cut across the Wet’suwet’en traditional territories. If built, it would expedite the construction of subsequent bitumen and fracked gas pipelines, and create incentive for gas companies to tap into shale deposits along the pipeline right of way. This project aims to blaze a trail, in what has been envisioned as an “energy corridor” through some of the only pristine areas left in this entire region. If CGL were to be built and become operational, it would irreversibly transform the ecology and character of Northern B.C.

What is the Gitimt’en Camp?

The Gitimt’en is one of five clans of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. The creation of the Gitimt’en Camp was announced in the Wet’suwet’en feast hall, with the support of all chiefs present. In response to CGL’s injunction, the Gitimt’en Camp was established on the road leading to the Unist’ot’en Camp, as a way of creating a new front line. CGL’s lawyers have been arguing that the Unist’ot’en are essentially a rogue group without a rightful claim to aboriginal title. The Gitimt’en intervention shows that the Unist’ot’en are not alone, and that the hereditary chiefs are prepared to uphold Wet’suwet’en law in refusing CGL access. The Gitimt’en Camp is clear that this not a blockade, as they will grant access to various parties, including logging companies, fishers and hunters, provided that they follow the Free, Prior and Informed Consent protocol.

On Friday, December 21st, a judge granted CGL an extension to their injunction against the Unist’ot’en Camp, applying it to all resistance camps South of Houston. For this reason, the Gitimt’en Camp is on high alert, prepared to defend their unceded territory from the threat of police invasion. Currently, the front-line is being held by a number of Wet’suwet’en chiefs, families, and experienced front-line activists, and the camp is growing by the day. It is a remote and outdoor camp, inhabited in subzero temperatures. Of course, there are costs associated with this. Surviving, let alone organizing, in a remote area in the Northern winter is difficult. Infrastructure at camp will greatly contribute to the ability to organize effectively.

Ways to Support

With an injunction in place, police action could come at any time. Local intelligence suggests threat escalation in early January. Wet’suwet’en leaders are asking supporters to treat this situation as urgent.

– Come support on the front lines.*
– Sponsor a member of your community to come support on the front lines (giving Indigenous folks priority).
– Plan a work party. Get a group of friends together and come to camp with a project in mind, such as building a structure. This option is ideal for people who want to support but who can’t be away from home for long periods of time. Examples of building projects that would be appreciated are: a yurt, a prospector tent, a woodshed, a watch house. Keep in mind that all structures will need to be heated, so wood stoves are in high demand.
– Create a pamphlet (about fracking, LNG, the Coastal GasLink pipeline, the Unist’ot’en and Gidimt’en resistance camps, etc) that could used to spread information in person. If a ready-to-print PDF file is posted online, it can be easily reproduced by people far and wide. Have your pamphlet approved through yintahaccess@gmail.com
– Translate existing texts about the camp into other languages.
– Plan a solidarity action. If police and industry move in, it is time to block highways, bridges, and rail lines. It is time to occupy offices, be disruptive, and send a strong message that cannot be ignored. Start thinking about appropriate actions you can take close to home. Bear in mind that using secondary and tertiary targeting (i.e. targeting the business partners of the company you are protesting) is sometimes more effective than appealing to politicians.
– Plan an awareness-raising/fundraising event. Consider a film screening.
– Donate cash or material goods. Current needs are for building supplies, a camp truck, a snowmobile, food, fuel, and transportation costs.
– If you a part of an organization, such as an NGO or union, advocate that your organization issue a public statement of support for the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs.
– If you are a public figure, please use your influence to raise the profile of the issue. For example, if you have a large social media following, post in support.
– If you are part of an organization that deploys human rights observers to conflict areas, please immediately contact yintahaccess@gmail.com.
– Signal boost by using social media to share media links and hashtags. The 3 official hashtags of the Yintah Access Checkpoint are #notrespass, #wedzinkwa, and #wetsuwetenstrong.

Ways to donate to the Wet’suwet’en Access point on Gidimt’en Territory:

– (Preferred) Send an e-transfer to yintahaccess@gmail.com
– Mail a cheque. Write yintahaccess@gmail.com for name and mailing address.
– Paypal – codym@uvic.ca
– Donate to the GoFundMe campaign here: https://www.gofundme.com/gitdumt039en-access-point
– If you are fundraising, consider setting a goal of a particular item – for example, a camper, a snowmobile, a chainsaw, a generator, or a welder. Having a tangible goal can help make fundraising feel more rewarding.

Note: Gidimt’en Camp and the Unist’ot’en Camp support one another. It is important to note, however, that the two are separate and distinct camps. The two camps are located on the territories of two different clans, and answer to their respective chiefs. This is important for legal reasons. The injunction fails to differentiate between the two camps, but this is not accurate or defensible. The finances of the two camps are separate. If you want to donate to the Unist’ot’en Camp, which is encouraged, please donate to them directly. You can do this via their website at unistotencamp.com

*As life on the front lines can be very difficult physically, emotionally, and mentally, not everyone is encouraged to come. Ask yourself questions like: “In an intense, high-stress situation, am I able to think rationally and act intelligently? Am I prepared for the risk of arrest? Do I bring useful skills? Is the Front-Line the place where I can be the most useful? Is there an Indigenous person that could attend in my place?”

Anyone wishing to come should contact yintahaccess@gmail.com in advance. Visit the camp’s Facebook page by searching Wet’suwet’en Access point on Gidimt’en territory.

Santa’s Rebel Elves wish you a Merry Anti-Colonial Christmas!

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Dec 252018
 

Anonymous submission to No Borders Media

John A. Macdonald & Queen Victoria statues vandalized (again) in Montreal, with red and green paint

December 24, 2018 — On Christmas Eve, Montreal-area vandals have covered the John A. Macdonald Monument (1895) and the Queen Victoria Statue at McGill (1900) with red and green paint respectively.

This action, claimed by Santa’s Rebel Elves, continues a series of paint attacks on symbols of racist British colonialism in Montreal. The Macdonald Monument has been vandalized at least six times, while the two Queen Victoria Statues in Montreal have been painted at least three times (including in green paint on St. Patrick’s Day 2018).

Concerning the Queen Victoria statue, the Delhi-Dublin Anti-Colonial Solidarity Brigade, responsible for the St. Patrick’s Day vandalism, wrote:

“The presence of racist Queen Victoria statues in Montreal are an insult to the self-determination and resistance struggles of oppressed peoples worldwide, including Indigenous nations in North America (Turtle Island) and Oceania, as well as the peoples of Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, the Indian subcontinent, and everywhere the British Empire committed its atrocities.The Queen Victoria statues are also an insult to the legacy of revolt by Irish freedom fighters, and anti-colonial mutineers of British origin. The statues particularly deserve no public space in Quebec, where the Québecois weredenigrated and marginalized by British racists acting in the name of the putrid monarchy represented by Queen Victoria.Queen Victoria’s reign, which continues to be whitewashed in history books and in popular media, represented a massive expansion of the barbaric British Empire. Collectively her reign represents a criminal legacy ofgenocide, mass murder, torture, massacres, terror, forced famines, concentration camps, theft, cultural denigration, racism, and white supremacy. That legacy should be denounced and attacked.”

Concerning the Macdonald Monument, a poster seen on the streets of Montreal concisely sums up his racist legacy as follows:

“John A. Macdonald was a white supremacist. He directly contributed to the genocide of Indigenous peoples with the creation of the brutal residential schools system, as well as other measures meant to destroy native cultures and traditions. He was racist and hostile towards non-white minority groups in Canada, openly promoting the preservation of a so-called “Aryan” Canada. He passed laws to exclude people of Chinese origin. He was responsiblefor the hanging of Métis martyr Louis Riel.Macdonald statues should be removed from public space and instead placed in archives or museums, where they belong as historical artifacts. Public space should celebrate collective struggles for justice and liberation, notwhite supremacy and genocide.” (Poster Link: http://bit.ly/2L0v7a0)