Walk 4 the Salish Sea!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/955947501203696/
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May 25 at 9 AM to May 28 at 6 PM
Start: "Mile 0"
1 Douglas street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1J6
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"This is a global movement and not just a fight against another dirty pipeline… This is not simply an indigenous issue; climate change and the catastrophic impacts that we have witnessed to date and the potential impacts that will manifest in the future, are a matter of grave concern of all people around the world.”
-Stewart Phillip, Grand Chief of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs
We are all Coast Protectors and the Salish Sea and all the waters flowing down through the Fraser river basin and surrounding communties are at risk from the Kinder Morgan pipeline/tanker expansion. Now is the time to walk the talk on climate justice/clean energy, indigenous rights, marine protection and local democracy – before it’s too late.
That’s why we’re calling on defenders of this coast, its ecosystems, people, communities and economies to join us on the Walk for the Salish Sea: a four day march against Tar Sands, Kinder Morgan and all fossil fuel expansion in the absence of indigenous consent, sound science and ecological balance.
From May 25th-28th, we will march from Songhees territory in Victoria to the Kinder Morgan terminal on Tsleil-Waututh territory in Burnaby to show our support for and solidarity with the 22 municipalities, 59 First Nations and hundreds of thousands of British Columbians who oppose the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion.
The mobilization will include honouring of traditoinal welcoming protocols, large marine wildlife puppets, roaming bank actions, evening programs, infoworkshops, communal camping and dinners, ceremony, a rally aboard BC Ferries and nightly entertainment.
Route details and maps will be posted shortly. Allies are encouraged to make the entire journey or to join for any portion of the walk they can. Participants are welcome to walk, run, bike, roller-blade, skateboard, paddle or use wheelchairs – any human-powered, ecologically sound mode of transportation is welcome.
Partner organizations and community groups not along our route are also encouraged to mobilize independently from any point of origin, to join in the Walk and/or meet us at ground zero – the Kinder Morgan Terminal - on May 28th, for the mass convergence.
Partner Organizations include: Social Environmental Alliance ( SEA) Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC)- Coast Protectors, Pull Together ( Raven Trust, Sierra Club BC, Force of Nature Alliance) Burnaby Residents Opposed to Kinder Morgan Expansion (BROKE) Greenpeace (Victoria volunteer group), Leap-Victoria, Victoria Council of Canadians, Turning the Tide, KAIROS, BC/Yukon chapter, North Shore No Pipeline Expansion (NSNOPE)
FUNDRAISING
A major objective of the walk is to generate public awareness and direct financial support for Indigenous-led initiates to stop construction of the Kinder Morgan TMX. Proceeds from fundraising will go to Raven Trust / Pull Together campaign fundraising for Coldwater and Tsleil-waututth First Nations' legal defense;
and frontline Indigenous land defense camps, halting pipeline construction, as such camps arise.
PULLING TOGETHER for Indigenous Rights!
Participants are encouraged to directly contribute to the Pull Together campaign to support the Coldwater and Tsleil-waututh legal challenges to the Kinder Morgan pipeline/tanker expansion, and to seek online sponsorship for your walk (run, ride etc.) from friends, colleagues, comrades, and family. All you need to do is get on the Pull Together site:
https://
1. Click Become a Fundraiser
2. Click AS an individual
3. Build your individual profile
4. Click Join a Team
5. Join the Walk 4 the Salish Sea Team
6. Make your donation and recruit family and friends to make donations in support of your efforts.
Donations are tax-deductible, 100% secure and will be matched dollar-for dollar by an anonymous donor.
Together, employing every tool at our disposal, we can defeat this pipeline, protect the Salish Sea, turn the tide on fossil fuels and support a big victory for indigenous rights and climate justice!
ROUTE and PROGRAM INFORMATION ( in progress)
People of all ages and abilities, are welcomed to join The Walk 4 the Salish Sea! for whatever duration and distance best matches your fitness level and plans for the weekend of Thursday May 25-28th.
This mass mobilization against tar sands and Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion for decarbonzation and decolonization and an urgently needed transition from dangerous fossil fuel dependency begins at Mile “0” at the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway in Victoria to the Kinder Morgan terminal in Burnaby.
Here is the outline of our route with a more detailed itinerary tba.
Day 1- Mile “0”, Lekwungen territory-Island View Beach, W’sanec territory
Walking distance: 25 km, 7 hours walk.
8am Welcome blessing from Lekwungn elder Joan Morris.
Pancake breakfast, ceremony, short speeches, songs by performig artist Luke Wallace.
10 am the Walk departs
1 pm Walk arrives for lunch at Elk Lake.
6 pm Walk arrives at Island View Beach/Tsawout, dinner BBQ fundraiser for Coast Protectors
7 pm Evening program, Tsawout First Nations gymnasium (details tba)
Day 2- Island View Beach- Ladner, Tsawassen First Nations Territory
Walking Distance: 25 km, 7 hours walk.
8 am- Morning circle and breakfast
9 am- Noon Walk to Sydney for lunch-in/ bank action at CIBC
1 pm BC ferries
Meet Puget Sound walkers (at Anacortes Ferry) and Gulf islanders at 1 pm ferry
Oil-Free Salish Sea event aboard BC Ferries including Choir, speakers highlighting the risks of an oil spill from expanded supertanker traffic carrying dilbit on the Salish sea, environmental interpretation of the marine ecology.
2:30- 6 pm Walk to Ladner
-Dinner, talking circle and sleep (lights out by 10:30 pm)
Day 3 Ladner- East Van
25 kilometres, 7 hours walk
8 am- Morning Circle and Breakfast
9 am- Walk to Ladner Exchange- take bus through Massey Tunnel
Noon -Lunch in Richmond (park)
Cross Knight St. Bridge, up Victoria
6 pm - Arrive in East Van
Day 4- Grandview Park to Westridge Kinder Morgan Terminal for FOSSIL FUEL FREEDOM FEST: Celebrate Resistance!!!
10 km, 3.5 hours walk
10 am Meet Grandview Park, ceremony, drumming, short speeches, welcoming of Walkers.
2- 6 pm Teach-in, music/dancing, mass non-violent direct action training, Kinder Morgan Westridge Terminal.
CORE MESSAGES
1) Respect for Indigenous laws and rights:
Without free, prior, and informed consent, government approval for pipeline/tanker expansion is a violation of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, section 35 of the Canadian constitution on Aboriginal Rights and Title, Douglas Treaty rights and principles of Indigenous laws that require indigenous leaders to be ecological stewards of their lands. Consent means the ability to say “no”. We stand against any development which does not have the consent of the sovereign indigenous nations on whose territory it occurs.
2) Climate leaders don't expand fossil fuel infrastructure:
It makes no sense to fight climate change while increasing infrastructure for some of the planet's dirtiest oil! We call on the federal and provincial governments to abandon fossil fuel expansion and immediately invest in clean energy infrastructure and job creation that curbs greenhouse gas emissions, not increases them.
3) Water is life:
The risks to rivers, salmon habitat, drinking watersheds, the coast, surrounding communities and local economies from inevitable spills are not acceptable A massive bitumen spill in the Salish sea or anywhere en route, traversing thousands of salmon and orca supporting habitats from Alberta to the coast of BC, cannot be cleaned up, ever!
4) Leave it in the Ground
Indigenous communities downstream from Alberta's tar sands have been suffering from the impacts of contaminated water, loss of traditional livelihood, hunting and fishing territory and higher than average cancer rates and lower life expectancy, than elsewhere in Canada. The movement for climate justice and opposition to pipelines must include the call to stop all new tar sands and fossil fuel infrastructure at the source.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This event will be taking place on the territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum/Esquimalt), W̱SÁNEĆ, səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Coast and Straits Salish Nations.
We respectfully recognize that Indigenous resistance to the Kinder Morgan pipeline/tanker expansion is one manifestation of Indigenous resistance to colonization that has been happening since first contact and continues today.
For more information call : 778-265-3564
."This is a global movement and not just a fight against another dirty pipeline… This is not simply an indigenous issue; climate change and the catastrophic impacts that we have witnessed to date and the potential impacts that will manifest in the future, are a matter of grave concern of all people around the world.”
-Stewart Phillip, Grand Chief of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs
We are all Coast Protectors and the Salish Sea and all the waters flowing down through the Fraser river basin and surrounding communties are at risk from the Kinder Morgan pipeline/tanker expansion. Now is the time to walk the talk on climate justice/clean energy, indigenous rights, marine protection and local democracy – before it’s too late.
That’s why we’re calling on defenders of this coast, its ecosystems, people, communities and economies to join us on the Walk for the Salish Sea: a four day march against Tar Sands, Kinder Morgan and all fossil fuel expansion in the absence of indigenous consent, sound science and ecological balance.
From May 25th-28th, we will march from Songhees territory in Victoria to the Kinder Morgan terminal on Tsleil-Waututh territory in Burnaby to show our support for and solidarity with the 22 municipalities, 59 First Nations and hundreds of thousands of British Columbians who oppose the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion.
The mobilization will include honouring of traditoinal welcoming protocols, large marine wildlife puppets, roaming bank actions, evening programs, infoworkshops, communal camping and dinners, ceremony, a rally aboard BC Ferries and nightly entertainment.
Route details and maps will be posted shortly. Allies are encouraged to make the entire journey or to join for any portion of the walk they can. Participants are welcome to walk, run, bike, roller-blade, skateboard, paddle or use wheelchairs – any human-powered, ecologically sound mode of transportation is welcome.
Partner organizations and community groups not along our route are also encouraged to mobilize independently from any point of origin, to join in the Walk and/or meet us at ground zero – the Kinder Morgan Terminal - on May 28th, for the mass convergence.
Partner Organizations include: Social Environmental Alliance ( SEA) Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC)- Coast Protectors, Pull Together ( Raven Trust, Sierra Club BC, Force of Nature Alliance) Burnaby Residents Opposed to Kinder Morgan Expansion (BROKE) Greenpeace (Victoria volunteer group), Leap-Victoria, Victoria Council of Canadians, Turning the Tide, KAIROS, BC/Yukon chapter, North Shore No Pipeline Expansion (NSNOPE)
FUNDRAISING
A major objective of the walk is to generate public awareness and direct financial support for Indigenous-led initiates to stop construction of the Kinder Morgan TMX. Proceeds from fundraising will go to Raven Trust / Pull Together campaign fundraising for Coldwater and Tsleil-waututth First Nations' legal defense;
and frontline Indigenous land defense camps, halting pipeline construction, as such camps arise.
PULLING TOGETHER for Indigenous Rights!
Participants are encouraged to directly contribute to the Pull Together campaign to support the Coldwater and Tsleil-waututh legal challenges to the Kinder Morgan pipeline/tanker expansion, and to seek online sponsorship for your walk (run, ride etc.) from friends, colleagues, comrades, and family. All you need to do is get on the Pull Together site:
https://
1. Click Become a Fundraiser
2. Click AS an individual
3. Build your individual profile
4. Click Join a Team
5. Join the Walk 4 the Salish Sea Team
6. Make your donation and recruit family and friends to make donations in support of your efforts.
Donations are tax-deductible, 100% secure and will be matched dollar-for dollar by an anonymous donor.
Together, employing every tool at our disposal, we can defeat this pipeline, protect the Salish Sea, turn the tide on fossil fuels and support a big victory for indigenous rights and climate justice!
ROUTE and PROGRAM INFORMATION ( in progress)
People of all ages and abilities, are welcomed to join The Walk 4 the Salish Sea! for whatever duration and distance best matches your fitness level and plans for the weekend of Thursday May 25-28th.
This mass mobilization against tar sands and Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion for decarbonzation and decolonization and an urgently needed transition from dangerous fossil fuel dependency begins at Mile “0” at the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway in Victoria to the Kinder Morgan terminal in Burnaby.
Here is the outline of our route with a more detailed itinerary tba.
Day 1- Mile “0”, Lekwungen territory-Island View Beach, W’sanec territory
Walking distance: 25 km, 7 hours walk.
8am Welcome blessing from Lekwungn elder Joan Morris.
Pancake breakfast, ceremony, short speeches, songs by performig artist Luke Wallace.
10 am the Walk departs
1 pm Walk arrives for lunch at Elk Lake.
6 pm Walk arrives at Island View Beach/Tsawout, dinner BBQ fundraiser for Coast Protectors
7 pm Evening program, Tsawout First Nations gymnasium (details tba)
Day 2- Island View Beach- Ladner, Tsawassen First Nations Territory
Walking Distance: 25 km, 7 hours walk.
8 am- Morning circle and breakfast
9 am- Noon Walk to Sydney for lunch-in/ bank action at CIBC
1 pm BC ferries
Meet Puget Sound walkers (at Anacortes Ferry) and Gulf islanders at 1 pm ferry
Oil-Free Salish Sea event aboard BC Ferries including Choir, speakers highlighting the risks of an oil spill from expanded supertanker traffic carrying dilbit on the Salish sea, environmental interpretation of the marine ecology.
2:30- 6 pm Walk to Ladner
-Dinner, talking circle and sleep (lights out by 10:30 pm)
Day 3 Ladner- East Van
25 kilometres, 7 hours walk
8 am- Morning Circle and Breakfast
9 am- Walk to Ladner Exchange- take bus through Massey Tunnel
Noon -Lunch in Richmond (park)
Cross Knight St. Bridge, up Victoria
6 pm - Arrive in East Van
Day 4- Grandview Park to Westridge Kinder Morgan Terminal for FOSSIL FUEL FREEDOM FEST: Celebrate Resistance!!!
10 km, 3.5 hours walk
10 am Meet Grandview Park, ceremony, drumming, short speeches, welcoming of Walkers.
2- 6 pm Teach-in, music/dancing, mass non-violent direct action training, Kinder Morgan Westridge Terminal.
CORE MESSAGES
1) Respect for Indigenous laws and rights:
Without free, prior, and informed consent, government approval for pipeline/tanker expansion is a violation of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, section 35 of the Canadian constitution on Aboriginal Rights and Title, Douglas Treaty rights and principles of Indigenous laws that require indigenous leaders to be ecological stewards of their lands. Consent means the ability to say “no”. We stand against any development which does not have the consent of the sovereign indigenous nations on whose territory it occurs.
2) Climate leaders don't expand fossil fuel infrastructure:
It makes no sense to fight climate change while increasing infrastructure for some of the planet's dirtiest oil! We call on the federal and provincial governments to abandon fossil fuel expansion and immediately invest in clean energy infrastructure and job creation that curbs greenhouse gas emissions, not increases them.
3) Water is life:
The risks to rivers, salmon habitat, drinking watersheds, the coast, surrounding communities and local economies from inevitable spills are not acceptable A massive bitumen spill in the Salish sea or anywhere en route, traversing thousands of salmon and orca supporting habitats from Alberta to the coast of BC, cannot be cleaned up, ever!
4) Leave it in the Ground
Indigenous communities downstream from Alberta's tar sands have been suffering from the impacts of contaminated water, loss of traditional livelihood, hunting and fishing territory and higher than average cancer rates and lower life expectancy, than elsewhere in Canada. The movement for climate justice and opposition to pipelines must include the call to stop all new tar sands and fossil fuel infrastructure at the source.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This event will be taking place on the territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum/Esquimalt), W̱SÁNEĆ, səlil̓wətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Coast and Straits Salish Nations.
We respectfully recognize that Indigenous resistance to the Kinder Morgan pipeline/tanker expansion is one manifestation of Indigenous resistance to colonization that has been happening since first contact and continues today.
For more information call : 778-265-3564
