This report comes from Alex–on the blockade in Grassy Narrows.

Several of the youth from Grassy as well as some leaders from the community and visitors from out of town are staying at the blockade tonight, as they did last night. While I write, just outside my tent one of the youth organizers is setting up her tent. Their commitment has been incredible – there have been kids, teens, and young adults out at the blockade sight organizing nearly every day since we arrived. Their dedication has set an excellent example for us to follow in many ways.

Early in the afternoon, the former Grand Chief of Treaty Three, Francis Kavanaugh stopped by the blockade sight. I sat with him for about an hour talking about how he had been invited by Judy to speak to the Elders Gathering which is happening concurrently, about how the struggle at Grassy fits in with the larger picture of Treaty Three issues, and about how what’s happening here is reflective of what is happening on First Nations land all across the province; that being a complete disregard for treaties, traditional land use and rights, and culture.

After he had indulged me in an interview, he addressed the youth at the gathering as our group watched on. He spoke to them about the history of Treaty Three. He told them about how it was signed in good faith with the intention to share the land, but how in reality the peoples have been forced to fight over “crumbs.” Although the youth were not all familiar with the details of the history, the idea of “fighting over crumbs” seemed to be familiar to all of them, and many hung on his words as he spoke. While the notion of “crumbs” refers to a broader picture of massive resource wealth being stolen and culture being destroyed, for the youth here, the struggle to save their land is the very same as the one to save their culture.

As a Canadian, inherently complicit in the historical oppression of the Anishinabe and other First Nations, I am committed to doing my part to save this land and hopefully return stewardship of it to its traditional and rightful benefactors.

Visit FreeGrassy.org for more reports and pictures from the Youth Gathering at Grassy Narrows.