Barriere Lake #OCT7 Brochure
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Transcript of Barriere Lake #OCT7 Brochure
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7/27/2019 Barriere Lake #OCT7 Brochure
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The Algonquins of Barriere Lake
Wa s To Address Communit Needs:
For more information about how you can support our cummunity in ourstruggles, please contact us at [email protected] or check outwww.barrierelakesolidarity.org for updates.
About 450 Michikanibikok Inik (Barriere Lake
Algonquins) live within ourtraditional territory (now known as the La Vrendrye Wildlife Reserve). Wehave attempted to promote co-existence with other users of the territorythrough the 1991 Trilateral Agreement signed with the Canadian andQuebec governments.
This agreement was supposed to give the community a say in forestry andwildlife management, in order for the community to protect wildlifebreeding areas, fish spawning areas, and sacred or historical sites. So that, wecan continue relying on our land to feed our families and preserving our
culture. While an estimated $100 million worth of resources is extractedfrom our traditional territory every year, the community does not deriveany financial benefit. In recent years, Quebec has allowed the destruction ofsensitive areas and Canada has interfered with community governance. Bothgovernments have refused to adequately address the extremely difficultliving conditions in the community.
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1. By having a voice in the management of our traditional territory,particularly the 10 000 square kilometers recognized under theTrilateral Agreement;
2. Through government support forthe implementation of the
Integrated Resource ManagementPlan.
3. Through increase communitymembers participation in theregional economy.
4. Reserve expansion andconstruction of much needed newhousing.
CURRENTLY AROUND 50 SMALLHOUSES IN THE COMMUNITY
SERVE APPROXIMATELY 400PEOPLE LIVING ON THE
RESERVE.
5. Resource revenue sharing fromforestry, fishing, hunting andrecreational activities to assist people who are in transition and helpthe community address dire needs.
Our Current Demands
1. No forestry without the communitys voices2. No mining without consent
3. No electrical hookup without a community plan
http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected] -
7/27/2019 Barriere Lake #OCT7 Brochure
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1. No Forestry Without The Communitys Voices
Families in our community arethe key decision-making units.Barriere Lake families wouldprefer not to have clear-cuts intheir hunting and harvestingterritory. However weunderstand that some loggingwill take place. In a spirit of co-existence and to ensure oursurvival, community memberswho wish to negotiate loggingon their family territories have aright to secure the protection ofsignificant cultural and wildlifeareas.
The destruction at Poigan
In the Poigan sector, for example, ResoluteForest Products destroyed historical, culturaland sacred sites in 2012, following a long
struggle with community members.SUCHSITES ARE VITAL TO THE CULTURALSURVIVAL OF THE NEXT GENERATION.
THE COMMUNITY DEMANDS THAT THEIR VOICES BE HEARD
IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE AREAS,DRAWING ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND NEEDS OF COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AND ON THE INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PLAN ALREADY PREPARED.
The conflict and destruction has alsoopened deep wounds for our residentialschool survivors who rely on theirconnection to the land for their health and
This devastation has affectedcommunity relations, including
relationships within families. Howcan young people understand thevalue of sacred sites identified by
their parents when they aredestroyed by a forestry company?How can parents choose betweenbeing thrown in jail for trying to
protect these sites or standing aside?
2. No Mining Without Consent
The mining company Copper One have stated that they plan to continueexploration in Rivire Dor in the heart of our hunting territory. This is despiterepeated statements that the company does not have our consent to operate in
our territory.
OUR COMMUNITY SEES THE POTENTIAL
MINING EXPLOITATIONAS KILLING OUR IDENTITY.IT IS LIKE
BURYING US ALIVE.
Our identity is still alive through our connectionto the land and to the sacred, historical andoffering sites that our elders have shown us.The proposed mine would cause irreparable
damages to these significant sites and thereforeto our existence as human beings.
The mining project if going ahead would alsodestroy the sturgeon population by disrupting
their spawning areas, which have already beenidentified by the community through the 1991Trilateral (co-existence) Agreement.
Furthermore, Copper Ones mining operations would take place near theheadwaters of the Ottawa and Gatineau rivers affecting many communities,
downstream including ours.
3. No Electrical Hookup
Without A Community Plan
For many years, our community has been powered by a number of large dieselgenerators. While our lands were flooded for hydro development, we are not
connected to the grid. The electricity on the reserve is paid collectively by thecommunity. Recently, the Quebec and Canadian governments signed anagreement to electrify the community on the reserve so each individual familywould have to pay for their own hydro bills. This agreement made withoutengaging with our community would push many of our families further intohardships as unemployment is very high. Already, many children are removedfrom the community and from their culture under Quebecs Youth ProtectionAct due to poverty and poor housing.
MORE NATIVE CHILDREN IN CANADA ARE CURRENTLY INGOVERNMENT CAREAND REMOVED FROM THEIR COMMUNITIESTHAN AT THE HEIGHT OF THE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL ERA.
THE COMMUNITY DEMANDS THAT OUR CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSEDTHROUGH A COMMUNITY PLAN (CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED).
