Voices from the Sacred Fire: Indigenous Land Defenders Speak

Friday March 24th at 6:30 pm
1803 East 1st Ave, Vancouver

Unceded xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories.

Indigenous land defenders from frontline struggles speak on protecting lands and waters and asserting nationhood on their territories. From No Kinder Morgan and Unist’ot’en to Lelu Island and Madii’Lii, these communities are exercising traditional laws and jurisdiction and taking courageous actions to stop extractive development on their lands.

Land defenders are traveling far to be here so we encourage and welcome all to attend, learn and show support to these various sites of struggle.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

* FREDA HUSON: Freda is the spokesperson of the Unist’ot’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en. The Unist’ot’en are blocking the pathways of multiple pipelines on their Yintah.

* RICHARD WRIGHT is the spokesperson for the House of Luutkudziiwus of the Gitxsan Nation. In August 2014, Luutkudziiwus permanently closed their Madii Lii territory to fracked gas pipeline development, are re-occupying their territory, and have recently filed a Judicial Review against the approval of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Line.

* BRANDON GABRIEL and MELINDA KACHINA BIGE: Brandon (Kwantlen First Nation) and Melinda (Cree and Dene from Lutsel K’e, Northwest Territories) will be speaking on the history of colonization and dispossession of Kwantlen First Nation and their current stand against Kinder Morgan.

* SAKEJ WARD: Sakej is Mi’kmaw from the community of Esgenoopetitj (Burnt Church First Nation) and Wolf clan. Sakej has spent three decades fighting the government and industry and has organized, advised and led various warrior societies.

* KANAHUS PELKEY: Kanahus of the Secwepemc Women’s Warrior Society has been active against and arrested for fighting Sun Peaks Resort, Imperial Metals, 2010 Olympics, Kinder Morgan and a number of development projects. She has worked with many Indigenous Nations throughout Turtle Island with a clear mission to defend territory and protect clean water, food, and land.

* Representatives from Lax Kw’alaams: In May 2015, the Lax Kw’alaams community voted no unanimously against an LNG facility and marine terminal on Lelu Island. In a tremendous show of strength, the Lax Kw’alaams rejected a $1 billion payout offered by Petronas in exchange for their support of the project. Instead, members of the Lax Kw’alaams re-occupied the proposed site to stop test drilling.

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ACCESSIBILITY:

Event is child-friendly and childcare will be available on-site.

ASL interpretation is in process of being confirmed by volunteer student interpreters from douglas college.

Scent-Reduced Space: To help make this a safer space for those in our communities who have chemical sensitivities or allergies, please refrain from wearing perfume and other scented-body products. For more information visit: http://www.peggymunson.com/mcs/fragrancefree.html.

Grandview Calvary Baptist Church’s kitchen’s entrance is at street level, which gives access to washrooms, kitchen and lower hall. One washroom has a stall that can accommodate a wheelchair. The washroom door opening is 86 cm, and the stall door is 61 cm.

Two gender neutral washrooms on-site