Land defenders respond to violent police raid with blockades

07/08/20
Author: 
First Nations Leaders
Stand with Six Nations! 

For just under three weeks Haudenosaunee Land Defenders, on their traditional territories, have been occupying a site slated for illegal development.

On August 5th Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) enforced an injunction against the land defenders. Eye witnesses described the officers firing rubber bullets at the land defenders and beating people as they arrested them. 

In response to these violent arrests land defenders pushed police out of the territory, blocked roads, rshut down railroad tracks, and have reoccupied the site. 

The land in question is in the same territory that was at the heart of the 2006 blockades in Grand River, and many of the roads now blocked were also blocked this winter in solidarity with the Wet'sutwet'en. 

Donate to support the ongoing Resistance: 

E-transfer: landback6nations@gmail.com

Follow “1492 Land Back Lane” on Facebook for updates.

Additional footage from @realpeoplesmedia on Instagram and Twitter

Take action in Solidarity! 

See the statement from Wet'suwet'en Chief Woos expressing Nation to  Nation solidarity below.
 
One of several ongoing road blockades in Six Nations territory.

Photo from this CBC article

Eye witnesses dispute the claim from police that only one rubber bullet was fired.
Railroad tracks shut down by a land defenders
Video of Chief Woos speaking to the ongoing events in Haudenosaunee territory

>From Gidimt’en to the Haudenosaunee

"Yesterday morning the OPP raided a land occupation in Six Nations, on Haudenosaunee territory using rubber bullets and tazers on unarmed Haudenosaunee land defenders. They are a sovereign people and have the right and responsibility to occupy and defend their lands as they see fit.
•
During the militarized raids on Gidimt’en territory in February of this year, the Mohawk people stood in solidarity with us in Six Nations, Tyendenaga, Kahnawake and urban centres across Haudenosaunee territory.
•
Today, we stand with the people of Six Nations and denounce the actions of the police. We stand with our brothers and sisters who have stood with us across thousands of miles who fight for justice and to reclaim their lands.
•
We demand the police stand down and that the province recognize Haudenosaunee ownership and control over the land in dispute. We are not criminals. We are not protestors. We are sovereign nations and we will not stand by and watch the violent oppression of our people now and into the future.
•
To support the land defenders, etransfer: landback6nations@gmail.com
•
Follow “1492 Land Back Lane” on FB for updates.
•
Additional footage from @realpeoplesmedia
•
#1492LandBackLane #IndigenousSolidarity #WeStandWith6 #WeAreAllOne #OPPStandDown #DefundthePolice
Interview with Skyler Williams on the ongoing struggle.
 
In 2006 widespread attention was paid to the Haudenosaunee fight for their traditional territory as similar blockades and occupations were held at nearly the same site. 

For more background on this recent history watch the documentary Six Miles Deep
Eye witness description of violent raid by OPP on the morning of August 5th
 
Category: 
British Columbia
Canada
Indigenous Peoples
Protest - Revolt
Social