Date: 28 Oct 96 21:11:00
From: JOHN.WALTER@igloo.magicnet.com (JOHN WALTER)
Subject: Blockade in Quebec

- More Clearcut of Indian lands
- Cold blockade

There is a peaceful walking-blockade/demonstration going on north of
Montreal, on lands that are presently subject of land claim negotiation
between the Attikamekw Nation and the immigrant-governments of
Quebec/Canada. While the seemingly-eternal 'negotiations' are ongoing, the
cash-starved IG of Quebec is handing out clearcut rights to dozens of timber
harvesters in the areas around the last remaining Attikamekw communities of
Manowan, Weymontachi and Obedjiwan. New logging roads have been put into the
unceded First Nation lands in off the Mont-Laurier - Parent highways and
another cut through towards Manouane.

The Attikamekw were, until recently, known as the 'Tete de Boule Cree"
('Heads Like Balls") a name betowed on them by the french missionaries. They
say that they are not Cree but the eastern 'wing' of the great Ojibway
(Nishnawbe) Nation. Their language and extended-family systems are still
very strong and alive, but it is a struggle. There are close to 1000
Attikamekw in Weymontachi, about 2000 in Manowan & another 2000 in
Obedjiwan. The majority of their population still relies on traditional food
sources of hunting, fishing and gathering to maintain life. They had two
other communities, both now under the waters of Hydro-Quebec dam reservoirs.
There are a significant number of Attikameq already suffering from symptoms
of mercury poisoning, but too few employment opportunities that would allow
folks to cut down on the intake of mercury-laden fish.

Red mercury is a natural pollutant discharged into the water by submerged
trees. It is a cumulative poison. That is to say, when ingested by a living
beings (aquatic life -> fish & animals -> men, women, children) it
accumulates in the body. There is no way for any living thing to discharge
it. In humans it attack the central nervous system, spinal cord, brain
and..., the building-block of human life, the gene, resulting in horrible
fetal deformities.

Having had french beaten into them as second language instead of english has
isolated the Attikamekw Nation (as well as the Montagnais/Innu in Quebec)
even more than the rugged geography that is their home.  They are virtually
"out of the information loop" when it comes to knowing of developments in
First Nation rights in the past 20-30 years.

The immigrant-governments (IG's) that have recently been formed around them
have been forced by their own courts to grudgingly admit that the Attikamekw
(and all other First Nations in what is now Quebec, except signatories of
the James Bay Agreement 1975) have NEVER ceded legal title to their
territories to anyone. The new arrivals, however, just moved right in and
started selling it all off for hydro-electric dams, mining and logging
leases, highways, etc. Just like that. It's what they call "Christian
Morality." (Apparently somebody told them stealing was OK about 2000 years
ago as long as them gun used is blessed and duly authorized).

Now the Attikamekw men, women and children are peacefully flagging down
traffic on the Mont-Laurier - Parent highway. Entire families, including
elders and infants are huddling around fires by the roadside and cramming
into the cab of beat-up half-tons when the engines are turned on for 15
minutes every hour. The temperature is below freezing. Some motorists,
especially logging trucks, actually step on the gas when the Attikamekw step
out onto the highway to flag them down. Most motorists do stop, and after
hearing an apology for the stop they are given an information sheet on the
issue and allowed to continue.

Meanwhile, the clear-cutting on Attikamekw-claimed lands continues to
increase every week, building for the 24hr/day winter wipe-out of timber
stands that shelter and nurture the animals and fish that the lives of the
Attikamekw Nation depend upon.

The Canadian Member of Parliament for the Mauricie Constituency where much
of the clear-cutting is taking place is called Jean Chretien. He is also
Prime Minister of Canada, the same person that praised Canada's "progressive
lead in sustainable development..." at the recent Montreal Global Convention
on Conservation.

Why not send your expression of support (appreciated in any language) to the
Attikamekw Nation. The coordinates of the Attikamekw Nation communities are:

-      Attikamekw de Monowan
               Monowan, Quebec J0K 1M0
               Ph: (819) 971-8813 Fax: (819) 971-8848
-      Attikamekw de Weymontachi
               Weymontachi, Quebec, Canada, G0X 3R0
               Ph: (819) 666-2237      Fax: (819) 666-2209
-      Attikamekw d' Obedjiwan
               Obedjiwan (via Roberval), Quebec, Canada, G0W 3B0
               Ph: (819) 974-8837      Fax: (819) 974-8828

In Br...