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Have you heard about these 3 Land Defenders Potentially Facing Life?

September 22, 2016

On the morning of December 21st 2015 Vanessa Gray, a young woman from
Aamjiwnaang First Nation, with the support of Stone Stewart and Sarah
Scanlon, shut down Enbridge’s Line 9 on Anishnaabe Territory just
outside of Aamjiwnaang and Sarnia.

At approximately 7:30am the three arrived at the valve site and
called Enbridge Inc. to inform them of the action and requested that the
pipeline, and its flow of oil, be turned off. At this point, the three
shut down the pipeline’s manual hand wheel and bike locked their necks
to the valve in an act of civil disobedience to prevent the operation of
the pipeline.

The Charges

They were arrested, held overnight and released with minimal
conditions. All three were charged with counts of Mischief Over $5,000
(maximum sentence of 10 years in prison) and Mischief Endangering Life
(maximum sentence of life in prison). Stone Stewart was also charged
with Resisting Arrest.

There are no known prior accounts of activists being charged for
Mischief Endangering Life, which leads us to believe it is a scare
tactic to discourage land defense and resistance against the fossil fuel
industry.

Vanessa, Stone and Sarah are currently awaiting trial to fight these charges.

Stone Stewart is arrested. Photo: Mike Roy

Line 9 is a highly contested tar sands pipeline that began shipping
diluted bitumen in December 2015 between Sarnia and Montreal. Those
involved in this action assert that the operation of Line 9 is a
violation of Indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights.

“The crown is failing in their obligation to consult with first
nations about pipelines,” said Sarah Scanlon. “As settlers it’s our
responsibility to respect Indigenous land rights and support those
protecting the land and water on the front-lines.”

Line 9 has faced opposition from several of the 18 First Nations
along its route. Chippewas of the Thames First Nation is currently
challenging the pipeline in Supreme Court, on the basis of
non-consultation. Aamjiwnaang First Nation, among others, testified to
the National Energy Board that they were never consulted with when Line 9 was built.

“The fact that line 9 is currently in operation really just adds to
the urgency for people to act. I’m here because the negative impacts of
the oil industry are taking place right now, every day,” says Stone
Stewart.

The tar sands are known to be the second leading cause of
de-forestation in the world and permanently contaminate over 7 million
barrels of water every day.

Locally, Aamjiwnaang First Nation experiences skewed sex ratios and
high rates of cancer, respiratory illness, and developmental disorders
as a result of pollution from nearby petrochemical refineries.

“It’s clear that tar sands projects represent an ongoing cultural and
environmental genocide,” Vanessa Gray asserts. “I defend the land and
water because it is sacred. I have the right to defend anything that
threatens my traditions and culture.”

Vanessa Gray with Elder Mike Plain at a 2015 protest near Aamjiwnaang First Nation. Photo: Michael Toledano.

Line 9 Shut Down In Sarnia – Ricochet Media:

Activists Shut Down Enbridge’s Line 9 in Canada Again! – The Indignants

Courthouse Rally: Line 9 is Scarier than Prison – Submedia.tv

Front Line Family Needs Your Support

September 15, 2016

Our friend Goot-Ges is selling tickets to raffle off the prints pictured below by Jaalen Edenshaw. Winners choice as to which print they would like.

Proceeds will
help Goot-Ges and her children travel to the Indigenous Life School coming up next
week. She is also needing to travel to another capacity building workshop with her kids next month, and a trip home to Haida Gwaii.

Will also be selling photo
cards from #skeenariverfishing- coming soon.

Tickets are $20 each. And once all tickets are sold, raffle would be done for one print. You can purchase a ticket through email transfer.

etransfer: yakguudang@gmail.com

Howaa for all your support.

September 15, 2016

On August 25th we drove out of Lekwungen Territory to go visit our friend Sacheen, a Grandmother, medicine maker, traditional midwife, writer and unwavering land defender.

Sacheen and her husband Crow, of Ancestral Pride and the Yaakswiis warriors live in the village of Ahousaht on so-called Flores Island with three of their children. The village is a short boat ride from the yuppie surfer tourist bon-iver listening culturally appropriative hell of Tofino. Surrounded by the ocean and one of the last standing temperate rain forests still intact Ahousaht is watched over by Chitapii Mountain from across the waves.

We arrived a few days after Sacheen, Crow, their niece Havannah and friend Lenny, all Ahousaht members, were arrested for attempting to stop the restocking of a Cermaq fish farm. This fish farm was the site where over a million fish were culled when it was shut down in 2012 due to risk of disease spreading to wild fish. Fish farms are responsible for devastating Wild Salmon runs particularly in the Fraser River. This has had terrible impacts on dozens of communities not just along the coast, but the whole length of the river. The corporations responsible are heavily subsidized and protected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the ‘federal government’ of so-called canada.

After spending the night catching up and preparing for the next day we all threw down with a demo at the DFO in solidarity with those arrested for defending their land. The DFO was shut down for the day due to the presence of Land Defenders and their supporters. Those arrested were present and affirmed that although RCMP had forced them to sign conditions they would not back down in the defense of Wild Salmon.

Upon returning home to Ahousaht we arrived to a dozen wild salmon gifted to Sacheen and Crow for their protection of land, waters and life. We spent the next dozen hours together processing and canning these life giving fish. Salmon are a crucial species for the ecosystems of which they are apart. They are also a primary food for many people all over Turtle Island. The destruction of our relationships to the animals and plants that are our foods is a form of colonialism and genocide that goes back to the very beginnings of the occupation of turtle island. It escapes none of us that the destruction of wild salmon is similar to the slaughter of the buffalo.

The rains came as we visited and most of our days were spent playing with Chevayo, Sacheen and Crows youngest, making big meals for the dozen of us in the house while sharing stories and planning for continued resistance to both Fish Farms and Imperial Metals a company with mineral rights to Chitapii mountain. The rain did let up enough so that we were able to explore the beaches and forests and harvest black berries, huckleberries, blueberries and cranberries.

Sacheen and her family live resistance each and every day. It is not a job or something that can ever be put down and returned too. It is always such a gift to spend time with this family who are so dear to our hearts and to join in resistance to the corporations, whether industry or the so-called government of canada that threaten their lives and home.

If you too are interested in supporting Sacheen and her families work we suggest signing up for a monthly donation through their website. We all know the monthly hustle to pay to live is real especially when we have people dependent on us and our contributions to relieve Sacheen and Crow of this monthly hustle is a huge strength to our collective movement towards liberation.

Make a monthly donation.

You can also support the campaign Imperial No More.

…and learn more about Ancestral Pride’s work on their website.

Lastly if you live nearby we’re planning a big bus ride with some pals to head up to Tofino for Sacheen, Crow, Lenny and Havannah’s court date on November 7th. If you interested shoot us an email as we would love to have you join us.

xo beyon and Wulfgang.

https://www.voicesfrontlines.com/on-august-25th-we-drove-out-of-lekwungen-territory/

Update <3

September 8, 2016

We have been reflecting on the work we have been engaged
in over the last several months supporting front lines and gathering
interviews and photographs for the book. Based on these reflections and
considerations for our capacities to follow this project through in the
best way possible we have decided to postpone the residency at the
Roberts Street Social Center, where we will be printing and binding the
book, until next summer instead of this October. This will allow Beyon
the time to sit with her illustrations and give them the time and
attention necessary for them to be truly incredible and for Wulf to work
with the interviews and dialogue with the Land Defenders included in
the book to ensure the most powerful voices possible.

Our
commitment to this project has not waned and has only grown stronger
over the last months as we met with the Women and Two-Spirit Land
Defenders we love on their territories and forged new relationships of
friendship and solidarity. We will continue to share on our website and
social media to amplify the work you and others are doing on front
lines, ensure we are updating on our progress and remain accountable to
you and everyone who has supported us along the way. This also means
that we will have more time to focus on ongoing support for all the
Women and Two-Spirit Land Defenders on their territories while taking
the time we need to rest, nourish ourselves, support our families at
home and do our pieces for the book.

If you have any questions, concerns, needs or ideas please do connect with us.

xo beyon and Wulfgang

September 2, 2016

On
August 4th we rolled up to YUCT
NE SENXIYMETKEW on unceded Secwepemc territory to join
the gathering organized by the Secwepemc Womens Warrior Society to mark the
2-year anniversary of the Mount
Polley Disaster.

Around
the sacred fire Sacheen of Ancestral Pride and Chrissy of the
West Coast Women’s Warrior Society led a workshop discussing how allies can throw down, supporters prepared wild
salmon, elders shared stories and we joined a dozen kids playing in the nearby
woods so their mamas could complete the skill shares they were leading and
start the blockade.

Under
the direction of Secwepemc Women, Elders and organizer Harsha Wallia a blockade
was set up at the entrance to the road leading to Mount Polley. Workers
were permitted to leave and no one was permitted to enter. We joined in
with kids on our shoulders while Kanahus of the Secwepecm Women’s Warrior
Society approached vehicles to inform them they were breaking Secwepemc law and
supporters stood strong in soft blockade. Despite the assault committed by one of the mine-workers on land defenders and
the injury of Sacheen, the Sewepecm Womens Warrior Society
with their allies including Ancestral Pride, Downtown Eastside Power of Women,
Native Youth Movement and No One Is Illegal, successfully shut down the mine
for hours.

That
evening a thunderstorm rolled in, lightning struck setting fire to a nearby power line and the
temporary camp was packed up so folks could return home. It was as if creator was telling us it was time to leave. We stuck around
the William’s Lake area for a couple nights as Sacheen attempted to file a police report and was met with some
fucked up, typical and boring as hell racist bullshit from the RCMP.

We
returned to Lekwungen Territory only to jump back on the ferry the very next
day to throw down with Sacheen, Kanahus and Chrissy on Musqueam
Territory. On August 9^th a solid crew successfully occupied
the offices of Imperial Metals until cops stormed in, beat the shit out of our
friends and arrested four of us: beyon and our friends Julie Anne and Noah among
them. While some of us headed to the cop shop to do jail
support Kanahus, Sacheen and other West Coast Warrior Women went and occupied
the offices of the BC Mining Association.

The
following evening Sacheen and Kanahus hosted a debrief delivered to a packed
room. At this event Sacheen’s father, Tytun (Shane) Pointe honoured those
arrested, there was a blanketing ceremony for Julie Anne, beyon, Noah and David, thanking them for their work
supporting his daughter and affirmed they now shared the same canoe.

The
creeks, rivers, lakes and ocean are all connected. The poisons being discharged
into Hazeltine Creek by Imperial Metals flow through the connected waterways.
The salmon which return to the rivers from the oceans must pass through the
toxins never cleaned up by Imperial Metals. This is not just an Indigenous
issue, we all live downstream. The destruction of the land by mining is violence
and enough is enough.

Two
full years after the catastrophic breach of Mount Polley’s Tailings Pond,
Imperial Metals continues to operate illegally destroying the land and
endangering the lives of all the surrounding people.

Support
the work of Indigenous Women to shut down Imperial Metals.

And learn more here.

Xo
beyon and Wulfie

https://www.voicesfrontlines.com/on-august-4th-we-rolled-up-to-yuct-ne-senxiymetkew/

August 31, 2016

Even though [as land defenders through out so-called BC] we might not physically be there all the time
with each other we know we’re all in it together. We know that we’re fighting the same fight
and that we’re fighting for freedom.
We’re not fighting to save one area from one pipeline, we’re not
fighting to save one thing, like a lake or the ocean, we’re all fighting for
freedom from colonization. We’re
fighting to live as sovereign people, to be connected to our lands, to have
healthy families, to have healthy Nations. That’s what we’re fighting for. We know that healthy lands are essential to
our existence. It feels really good to
know that we’re not alone.

-Molly Wickham

Molly Wickham is a Wet’suwet’en land defender, mother and hunter from
the Gitemden clan’s Spookw house. She lives with her husband and two
children at Lhudis Bin, “The Lake Way Out There,” a place where her
ancestors and elders lived, hunted, gathered medicine and fished.
Lhudis Bin was the planned site for a tailings pond that would hold
chemicals from mining operations on Nanika Mountain, a project that has
never moved forward. Through her work with the Life School and
leadership with the Wet’suwet’en drum group Molly shares stories of
resistance with the next generation, passes on skills and creates the
songs that will tell the stories of these times.

Learn more about the Life School at the Cedars R.I.S.E Society.

Donations and offers of support can be made to ror.wickham@gmail.com

And cheques can be sent via snail mail to Box 3664 Smithers BC V0J 2N0

https://www.voicesfrontlines.com/even-though-as-land-defenders-through-out/

August 29, 2016

I think that we have so much to gain from living on our
territories and living the way our ancestors did. That is why they were so strong. That is why
they were so smart and so strong physically and mentally and spiritually. We need it, not only do we need it, but we’re
gonna be an even bigger force to be reckoned with when more of our people gain
that strength.

We can’t be Wet’suwet’en if we don’t have the Wet’suwet’en
lands.

-Molly Wickham

Molly Wickham is a Wet’suwet’en land defender, mother and hunter from the Gitemden clan’s Spookw house. She lives with her husband and two children at Lhudis Bin, “The Lake Way Out There,” a place where her ancestors and elders lived, hunted, gathered medicine and fished. Lhudis Bin was the planned site for a tailings pond that would hold chemicals from mining operations on Nanika Mountain, a project that has never moved forward. Through her work with the Life School and leadership with the Wet’suwet’en drum group Molly shares stories of resistance with the next generation, passes on skills and creates the songs that will tell the stories of these times.

Learn more about the Life School at the Cedars R.I.S.E Society.

Donations and offers of support can be made to ror.wickham@gmail.com

And cheques can be sent via snail mail to Box 3664 Smithers BC V0J 2N0

https://www.voicesfrontlines.com/i-think-that-we-have-so-much-to-gain-from-living/

August 18, 2016

Time does not make its way through our lives in a linear movement and so we begin our updates with the winding down of the work on the Youth Art Mural. The mural painting was part of the Unist’ot’en’s first Youth Art Camp and we took a rare quiet opportunity to visit Molly Wickham and her family at their home on Gitemden Territory.

The territories of the Gitemden Clan of the Wet’suwet’en located next to that of the Unist’ot’en’s unceded Yintah of Talbits Kwa. Past sprawling lakes, fields of wild medicines, tangles of berries and painful clear cuts we made our way to Lhudis Bin meaning “The Lake Way Out There,” where Molly and her partner Cody with their two kids, Liam and Lily have made their home at the request of their Elders.

Lhudis Bin, the lake way out there, is located at the center of the Casyex House Territory, the Grizzly Bear House. It is a place where the Elders and the Ancestors once lived, where the earth hides caches and the hills grow medicine, the lake is home to Chard and the lands nourish Bear, Moose, Dear and Coyote. The waters of this lake are fed by the Nanika river, where Molly and her family get their drinking water from, which flows from the glacier of nearby Nanika Mountain. Nanika Mountain holds within her mineral deposits at risk of industrial extraction. If Nanika mountain were to be mined it would turn Lhudis Bin into a tailings pond. (The term “pond” can be a little misleading, as the structures can grow to be the size of Central Park.) Lhudis Bin is connected to Wetzin Bin, which drains into Wetzin’kwa, where Freda and everyone at the Unist’ot’en camp get their drinking water, which is connected to the Bulkley and eventually to the Skeena and on to the sea.

Molly, Cody and their son Liam began living on their territory and in close relationship to the land as defenders and caretakers in 2012. This has ensured that a proposed ‘sling site’, where materials and workers for the proposed pipelines on Unist’ot’en territory would be brought in, has not been established. Returning to their territory has not only created the possibility for the land to heal from years of colonial devastation through logging it has also made it possible for the growth of the Life School.

The Life School is an initiative of grass roots Indigenous families raising their children decolonized, in relationship to the land, and learning their own histories of resistance instead of the assimilation fed to youth in colonial public education institutions. Seasonally these families come together to offer support to one another, share skills, put away food and connect their children with other kids like them.

“Really we’re just living Indigenous lives, we’re
living an Indigenous existence and that’s the education that we want to be
giving our kids. We want to be able to
be out on the land with our kids and teaching them in an experiential way according to our own tradition.” -Molly Wickham

If you are interested in supporting Molly and the Life School’s work they are always in need of both monetary donations, assistance with grants, and support approaching businesses for in kind donations in order to make their seasonal gatherings possible.

You can learn more about their work at the Cedars R.I.S.E Society.

Donations and offers of support can be made to ror.wickham@gmail.com

And cheques can be sent via snail mail to Box 3664 Smithers BC V0J 2N0

If you have questions feel free to contact us.

xo beyon and wulfgang <3

https://www.voicesfrontlines.com/time-does-not-make-its-way-through-our-lives-in-a/

Updates from our Travels

August 14, 2016

Hello sweet friends,

We are currently back on Lekwungen Territories after 4 weeks of visiting and holding it down on the front lines. We have lots to share with you with regards to where we have been, the incredible work Two-Spirit and Indigenous Women are doing on the front lines and how you can support upcoming work and travels.

Over the coming days we will post a series of Updates about:

• Our work at the Unist’ot’en Clan’s first Youth Art Camp and the coming work they are doing to protect another of their territories.

• While out on Unist’ot’en territory we visited our friends Molly and Cody who live on their traditional Gitemden territory which neighbours Unist’ot’en to the North. We are excited to get to share Molly’s work with the Life School and how you all can support this transformative initiative.

• The work Ancestral Pride and the Secwepemc Women’s Warrior Society have been doing to shut down Imperial Metals over the last week and a half. From the blockade we supported on Secwepecm territories to the occupation of Imperial Metal’s office on Musqueam territory and the launching of their Imperial No More campaign.

Also, thanks to our magical as fuck fam pictured below (wulfie’s the one behind the camera), for throwing down so solid out on the front lines and to all of you for all the support to help us get there.

xoxoxo Wulfgang and Beyon <3

August 12, 2016

These are our friends who we have been throwing down with for the past couple weeks. last night we collaborated together to create this gofundme in order to get the resources that these warriors need to fight off these billion dollar companies. please consider donating <3

Today the Secwepemc Women’s Warrior Society and Ancestral Pride launch the Imperial No More Campaign. We are launching this campaign to stop Imperial Metals before they cause any more violence and devastation to the lands, waters and our lives. We are seeking support to protect our unceded territories and to ensure the children of all people can eat the salmon and breathe the air, we cannot do it without your support.

“We the people are the Protectors and Land Defenders and with our allies supporting this indigenous-led resistance, we will make a stand to stop Imperial Metals from violating our rights. Not one more mountain will be mined, not one more water way destroyed in the name of profit, not one more tree logged to create roads for these mines.” –Kanahus

Kanahus Manuel of the Secwepemc Women’s Warriors Society, mother and artist and Sacheen Seitcham of Ancestral Pride, Grandmother, medicine maker and traditional midwife have been organizing resistance to the illegal mining operations of Imperial Metals on their territories since before the devastating tailings pond breach in 2014. We stand to protect Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe and Chitaapi Mountain from Imperial Metals.

Despite their efforts Imperial Metal’s Mount Polley mine continues to operate and in November 2015 the province issued a permit for the company to discharge their toxic tailings into Hazeltine Creek, the same waterways affected by the 2014 breach.

“The Time is Now, We Cannot Wait Anymore”

The creeks, rivers, lakes and ocean are all connected. The poisons being discharged into Hazeltine Creek flow through the connected waterways. The salmon which return to the rivers form the oceans must pass through the toxins never cleaned up by Imperial Metals. This is not just an Indigenous issue, we all live downstream. The destruction of the land by mining is violence and enough is enough.

Two full years after the catastrophic breach of Mount Polley’s Tailings Pond, Imperial Metals continues to operate illegally destroying the land and endangering the lives of all the surrounding people.

Over the last week the Secwepemc Women’s Warrior Society and Ancestral Pride have been taking direct action with the support of allies to show Imperial Metals that we will escalate resistance until they cease and desist all mining operations on our Indigenous territories.

On August 4th we marked the 2-year anniversary of the devastating Tailings Pond breach with a gathering of Indigenous land defenders, allies and supporters to shut down the mine and to assert sovereignty over our unceded territories. There were workshops, feasting, training, ceremony and information sharing.

After skilling up together we completely blocked all workers from returning to work and stopped mining activity.

On August 9th the Secwepemc Women’s Warrior Society and Ancestral Pride successfully occupied the Imperial Metal’s Vancouver Office. Imperial Metals ordered thirty police offers to violently assault Indigenous women and supporters, with four arrests and many bruised bodies. Spirits remain high and we know the world is watching, we have support from around the world.

“Colonial violence is real! The mining companies in central and south amerikkka are already killing indigenous people for protecting their land and their ways of life. We are quick approaching that time here in kkkanada and we need to know where everyone stands? Will you put your bodies on the line to fight for the future?” -Sacheen

It is time to gather the resources to SHUT IMPERIAL METALS DOWN!

What the funds will be used for:

All funds raised will be used to develop and maintain the campaign to Stop Imperial Metals. Up to this point Sacheen, Kanahus and their supporters have been operating on their own funds and small contributions from their networks.

Here is where the funds will be used:

• For the materials and equipment necessary to hold events, direct actions and provide documentation for media releases.

• To repair our vehicle and cover the travel costs for members of the Secwepemc Women’s Warrior Society, Ancestral Pride and their supporters to be where they need to in order to continue pressure on Imperial Metals and their shareholders.

This also means we will be able to connect with the grassroots community, indigenous and non-indigenous most affected by Imperial Metals mines.

• To ensure we have the necessary funds for any legal fees that arise when the RCMP come down on our supporters and us.

• For awareness spreading materials and activities.

• To provide capacity building featuring Guerilla Media training, grant writing opportunities for other indigenous land defenders and our supporters.

• To build homes at Tska7 (Ruddock Creek) and Chitaapi (Catface Mountain) to assert our rights and title over our territories by living on them. This is most important as occupation is key to stopping resource extraction!

• We plan to host a large gathering that can bring together members of effected communities and our supporters to strategize and build a stronger movement to resist Imperial Metals on all affected territories.

For more information:

Imperial Metals is engaging in mining practices and operations that are in direct oppostion to the protocols and inherent rights and title of the Secwepemc, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Wet’suwet’en, and Tahltan First Nations.

www.imperialnomore.com

www.ancestralpride.org

www.facebook.com/yuctnesenxiymetkwecamp/

https://www.youtube.com/embed/WvahN7pdXek

https://vimeo.com/107615821

https://vimeo.com/113344620

(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)

https://www.voicesfrontlines.com/these-are-our-friends-who-we-have-been-throwing/