And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: From: Ann Pohl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Newsletter #27 from Coalition for a Public Inquiry ** Uphold Aboriginal Land and Treaty Rights ** Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash Newsletter # 27 November 19, 1999 Website: http://www.web.net/~inquiry Please Join Us! Coalition Working Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999 - 6 to 8 pm Native Canadian Centre 16 Spadina Rd (north of Bloor) How YOU can Get INVOLVED: * Pushing the Feds to Call an Inquiry * Selling Raffle Tickets - Raising Money * Keeping the Pressure on the Ontario Tories * Help with Mailings and Postering * Building Awareness A REPORT ON THE NOVEMBER 7th REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY IN OTTAWA On November 7th, the Coalition for a Public Inquiry joined forces with representatives from First Nations and Canadian Human Rights organizations from all over Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and the US. This assembly of about 200 representatives maintained a two hour presence on Parliament Hill - in some mighty frosty weather! - to bring attention to the continuing human rights issues related to the unjust life imprisonment of Aboriginal rights activist Leonard Peltier and the fact that Ottawa has done NOTHING about calling a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash. Our demands were: ~ A Federal Ipperwash Inquiry can and must say NO! to vigilantes, racists and out-of-control local authorities and police ~ ~ Ottawa must use all diplomatic means possible to push the US government for Clemency for Leonard Peltier. ~ We heard both speeches and entertainers. First up was Warren Allmand, President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development. He placed the Ipperwash events and the unjust imprisonment of Peltier in an international context, calling on the Canadian government to respond to condemnation by the international human rights community by: 1) bringing about an Inquiry into Ipperwash; and, 2) taking direct action to push for the release of Peltier. Allmand, former Liberal Solicitor General, reminded the audience and the media that Canada is complicit in Peltier's imprisonment because of this government's compliance with totally fabricated extradition orders from the US. Marilyn Buffalo, National President of the Native Women's Association of Canada, then spoke about the continuing injustices experienced by First Peoples across Canada, especially the most vulnerable among the Peoples: the poor, the landless, the non-Status, and the women who must bear many of the burdens of keeping things together. She attacked the governments at both levels for their lack of action on inquiring into the events that occurred at Ipperwash Park on September 6, 1995. She concluded her remarks by saying, "Without truth there will be no justice." The rally participants moved in procession from the Parliament buildings to the Human Rights Monument recently erected on Elgin Street, in Ottawa's downtown area. At the Monument, we were guided through a Remembrance Ceremony by Algonquin Traditional Teacher Bob Lovelace, who also works with the Four directions center at Queen's University. During these moments, we specifically honoured all those who have sacrificed their lives for Aboriginal People's land, treaty, economic, social, and cultural rights: the ones whose names we know, such as Dudley and Leonard, and the many, many, many others through history whose names are lost to us. This monument is a poignant and powerful place to have such a Ceremony because of what it stands for - and also inside its sheltering walls are dozens of plaques inscribed with the names of First Peoples (in the Aboriginal languages) who lived on this part of Turtle Island before the arrival of the Newcomers. It is place which we will visit again. We were very honoured to have with us Dan and Mary Lou Smoke. Dan is Seneca of the Kildeer Clan, and is also the Eagle Staff Carrier for the London area; he brought the Staff on the journey to Parliament Hill and the Human Rights Monument. Mary Lou is Ojibway, and is both a beautiful singer and a very active community person, including serving as President for one of the Coalition's affiliate groups, the London-based Wiich Ke Yig. Greetings were brought to us by Sean McKenny (who is with the Ottawa & District Labour Council), on behalf of the Canadian Labour Congress who have staunchly stood up for the Ipperwash Inquiry since Sept. 1995, and from the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee, Canada, by Bernadette Rudisuela who reminded the audience that this November is Leonard Peltier Freedom Month. "Grandpa Bear", a Mohawk Elder and Executive Director of the New York State-based North America Native Warriors Association, spoke in detail about the situation of political prisoners, of all races, in the USA. During the proceedings, we were entertained by "Elder Singer Emeritus" Willie Dunn, as well as the up-and-coming and very impressive talents of Shoshona Kish and Raven Polson-Lahache. Finally, and certainly not least, we had three Drums with us: Mary Lou Smoke's, a Women's Drum who sang at the Monument, and Jimmy Dick and other Toronto Drum members, who sang at the Hill, during the Procession and inside the Monument. A report on our Ottawa presence re: Ipperwash and Leonard Peltier would be incomplete if we didn't thank some key individuals who put the whole thing together at that end: Albert, Ed, Patricia and Shellene, as well as many others -especially in the Odawa Traditional Pow Wow Committee and the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, who helped with the food, serving and cleanup for the Feast. Thanks also to lawyer & human rights activist Mary Eberts. Also, thanks to MP Louise Hardy, NDP Indian Affairs Critic, for her support with the permit approvals. We MUST name SOME of the groups, not mentioned yet, who contributed towards this and other current Coalition strategies: Canadian Auto Workers, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, Ontario Federation of Labour, Citizens for Public Justice, Canadian Labour Congress, Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, Canadian Friends Service Committee, B'nai Brith League for Human Rights, Steelworkers District 6, OPSEU, Union of Ontario Indians, Student Christian Movement (York), Aboriginal Rights Movement, Ontario Coalition for Social Justice & Toronto and York Labour Council. FOLLOW UP STRATEGY: We are sending a letter to each MP, which will be accompanied by this Newsletter and a copy of the article about us that ran in the Ottawa Sun. In addition, we have secured invitations to meet with the Bloc Quebeçois and Progressive Conservative Indian Affairs critics which, together with the supportive relationship we have with the federal NDP, should help ensure that the need for a federal Ipperwash Inquiry is raised in Parliament. YOU CAN HELP US PUSH FOR A FEDERAL INQUIRY Given the rising tensions across the country as courts recognize Aboriginal rights which some individuals and many corporations do not want to acknowledge, a federal Inquiry is more urgent than ever. This inquiry would look at all the circumstances surrounding the death of Dudley George. It would produce policy recommendations to prevent similar human rights abuses arising when local authorities respond to assertions of rights by Aboriginal Peoples. Please write, fax, or email the Hon. Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs, to request that he meet with Coalition representatives concerning his responsibility to call an Inquiry. Remind him that the United Nation Human Rights Committee urged Canada to strike this Inquiry on April 7, 1999 and that, in so doing, the UN joins hundreds of other groups and promi-nent individuals - including Amnesty International and Ontario's Ombudsman. Write him at 10 Wellington St., 21st fl/Suite 2100, Hull, PQ K1A 0H4; email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; fax 819-953-4941. Please send us a copy of your letter. TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS AND ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY, PLEASE JOIN US. Donations & Information: Box 111, Station C, Toronto, On M6J 3M7 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ Tel: 416-537-3520 ~ Fax: 416-538-2559 This newsletter was written and circulated by volunteer labour.
