“I’m prepared to go to jail for my belief in my land.”
Those words were spoken by Chief Donny Morris in a Thunder Bay Ontario courtroom on
January 25th. With those words it became crystal clear that Chief Morris and his small
fly-in community can not, and will not back down in their stand to protect their
traditional territory from unwanted exploitation.
For two years the community has stood strong in the face of government and industry pressure, hardball negotiatons, and a 10 Billion dollar lawsuit. Now the community is preparing for the very real threat of jail time for community leaders who continue to deny access to the mining company Platinex that is trying to drill samples aimed at developing a mine near the Native Community. Community leaders say are confident that if they go to jail other leaders will stand up in their place and hundreds of others will be ready to step up to defend their rights, their sustenance, their spirituality, and the future of their children.
KI is one of at least 9 communities in Northern Ontario who have declared moratoriums on industry in their territories. Those communities are part of a federation whose combined territories in Ontario’s Boreal forest encompass an intact forest area larger than all US roadless areas combined.
This is a landscape of hope where there is a still a chance to do things right for the land and its peoples. Communities like KI are showing us the way by standing up for their rights, their land, and securing a hopeful future for all peoples by creating a powerful movement of self-determining, proud communities protecting the sources of life and livelihood that we all depend on.
I believe that our best shot at renewing our society through respect for humanity and ecology is by supporting communities like KI and organizing our own communities to stand up for earth and justice in our own backyards.
Twitter Updates
“What the Government of Ontario and general public need to realize is that our people have a sacred responsibility to the land. It’s not that we operate outside of Canadian law, however the laws of our lands come first,”
Grand Chief Stan Beardy, Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Ontario’s colonial, resource-grabbing approaches to First Nations peoples and their traditional lands have to end, and a new, equal relationship must begin. One way to start this is for Ontario to respect all First Nations communities’ moratoriums on mining, including that of KI.
Haven’t we white people done enough damage ??? It has to stop now !!! First Nations land is theirs stay off it.
The KI First Nation is incredibly inspiring. They clearly understand how high the stakes are for the future of their community and are completely unwilling to compromise their livelihood. Its really important for supporters of First Nation land rights to pay attention to what’s happening in KI right now – thanks David for this update!
Now that we’re hearing about Robert Lovelace being sentenced to 6 months in jail (plus a large fine) for his role in a peaceful protest peaceful protest, we can see that Chief Donny Morris’ stated willingness to go to jail is no rhetorical flourish — he and others in KI are putting their liberty on the line in the Canadian justice system.
Aren’t things starting to look very broken in the system when we’re putting people in jail for trying to exercise their right to be consulted about the uses to which their ancestral land is put? These jailings are beginning to sound like political prisoners … not the way we like to think about Canada.
The issue should not be contempt of Canadian courts and the rule of law but rather, Canadian contempt for Treaty law and the legal property rights and cultures of First Nations. Chief Morris and other KI community members facing contempt charges have my full support as law-abiding citizens.
I agree with Jacob’s comment … some scary goings-on in the Canadian justice system with regards to the criminalization of dissent in recent years.
I’m going to be thinking about KI this monday – where their second sentencing hearing will take place. They are a community that I hope my community can some day emulate.
It’s going to be a major set back and tragic day if KI community members get jail time or large fines.
Of course, as always the native American always gets screwed. What a shame all white people were not run off when they came here invading this continent. Keep OFF Indian land what they have left that they were cheated out of and now is up for grabs again!
It’s a real shame that big business has the power to overrule constitutional rights, and coerces the government to take prisoners.I fully support KI, and its a travesty that they are subject to fines and put in jail for trying to stop something so harmful, when it is their right.
I’m glad RAN is supporting work like this.
It is so unfortunate that we live in a society where First Nations people are forced to physically put their bodies in the way of the ongoing colonialism and destruction of their land and traditions. But KI is a great inspiration, in their persistent work, and in the courage of the community to stand up to the Canadian government.
Thanks for highlighting this, more people need to start talking about the miscarriages of justice and the power of action to change that.
I agree this is an issue of the justice system in contempt of human rights & environmental rights. I fully support the KI in their protection of land.
I wish this was covered more in the U.S. media!
I am saddened by the disrespect and disregard that is happening to the First Nations peoples, their rights and their lands. Even though I am not a First Nations person it hurts me deeply and I feel the pain of their trials with the government. This is really not a cultural matter although for now it appears as though the First Nations are baring the responsibility and hardship of protecting our earth. It is and will become more and more if this robbery continues unchecked a tragic concern to all the peoples of the earth.
There is a question I would like to ask. When these matters come to trial has anyone asked to be represented as a Natural Person? I am very new to this concept and only in the matters of taxation. As a Natural Person I am to understand that the laws must treat you very differnently than the “normal” judiciary system where law is not for the protection of human rights but only for the protection of law. Frankly I don’t beleive anything Treaties have or had to say because they were written with the Law. Is it possible to force the proceedings into a venue of Natural Persons justice since it seems to do no good to use the term First Nations, Algonquin or otherwise?
I am and continue to be a strong support of the principle of Oneness and I am at one with your efforts and commitment to keeping our lands free of harm and abuse for profit of those who will render all of us without an earth to call home.
Well. If you have been following this case. The KI CHief and Council have been sentenced to 6 months in the Thunder Bay District Jail as of this morning. The community of KI have not given up yet, this is just the Calm Before The Storm. KI is my birthplace, and I will not allow it to be dragged through the mud.
Keep up the good fight. I watched the discussion between Phil Fontaine and Don Newman on Politics today and Phil said basically that everybody involved or watching, INCLUDING POLITICIANS OF ALL STRIPES, declare these arrests a miscarriage of justice. Incredible! Political violence of the systemic racism in Canada is sanctioned by nobody BUT THE COURTS! Wow. Well, since they are the last bastion of racism by having jurisprudence over the Indian Act it stands to reason they have a job to do, and in this, case, a job to do on First Nation leaders
I stand with the KI Leadership and what they are in for protecting their way of life. Living of their land, their sustance.