The Algonquins of Barriere lake have announced plans to set up an indefinite roadblock on their land—beginning today, September 1, 2009.
In a press statement (below), the northern Quebec First Nation says the roadblock, aimed at preventing logging on their traditional lands, will continue “until Quebec implements agreements covering forestry on Barriere Lake’s lands, and the Quebec and Canadian government’s recognize the First Nation’s legitimate leadership.”
For more information, contact Chief Jean Maurice Matchewan at 819-435- 2136 – or, if the line is busy, 514-398-7432
Algonquins peacefully block logging until agreements and leadership respected?
For Immediate Release
September 1, 2009
Algonquins place bodies in front of logging machines: prevent logging until Quebec and Canada respect agreements and leadership
Kitiganik/Rapid Lake, Algonquin Territory /- This afternoon members of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake will peacefully block the machines of Abitibi-Bowater forestry workers, preventing logging in their territory until Quebec implements agreements covering forestry on Barriere Lake’s lands, and the Quebec and Canadian government’s recognize the First Nation’s legitimate leadership.
“Our community has decided there will be no forestry activities or any new developments in our Trilateral Agreement Territory until the status of our leadership and the agreements we signed are resolved to our community’s satisfaction,” says Jean Maurice Matchewan, Customary Chief of Barriere Lake. “The Quebec government has acted in bad faith, giving companies the go-ahead to log while they ignore their legal obligations, leaving us with no choice but to stop forestry operations until Quebec complies with the agreement. We have waited more than 3 years for Quebec to implement it.”
Matchewan received no response to a letter he sent to Manager Paul Grondin of Abitibi-Bowater’s Maniwaki mill on August 25, requesting that the company suspend logging operations until the governments follow through on their obligations.
“Our plan is to peacefully put our bodies in front of their machines until we get some results. We expect they may use the police, because we are used to such tactics. This is our territory and they can’t push us off our lands,” says Matchewan.
Canada and Quebec have refused to acknowledge the results of a June 24, 2009 leadership selection process that reselected Jean Maurice Matchewan as the legitimate Customary Chief of Barriere Lake. National Chief Shawn Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations, however, met with Chief Matchewan on August 19, to discuss the Trilateral agreement and other community concerns. The
Algonquin Nation Secretariat, a Tribal Council representing three Algonquin communities including Barriere Lake, also recently reiterated their support for Chief Matchewan.
“Instead of acting honourably and cooperating with our Customary Council to implement these signed agreements, the federal and provincial governments have been working in unison to try and install a minority faction whom they can use to sign off on the cutting of our forest,” says Matchewan.
Barriere Lake wants Canada and Quebec to uphold signed agreements dating back to the 1991 Trilateral Agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Canada has been in breach of the agreement since 2001. Quebec signed a complementary Bilateral Agreement in
1998, but has stalled despite the 2006 recommendations of two former Quebec Cabinet Ministers, Quebec special representative John Ciaccia and Barriere Lake special representative Clifford Lincoln, that the agreement be implemented. The agreement is intended to allow logging to continue while protecting the Algonquin’s’ traditional way of life and giving them a $1.5 million share of the $100 million in resource revenue that comes out of their territory every year.
PHOTO: Barriere lake solidarity
John Ahniwanika Schertow is an indigenous rights activist of Mohawk (Kanienkehaka) and mixed-European descent. For the past 8 years, he has served as the e... 
The Algonquin people call themselves either Omàmiwinini (plural: Omàmiwininiwak) or the more generalized name of Anicinàpe. Many Algonquins still speak the Algonquin language, called generally as Anicinàpemowin or specifically as Omàmiwininìmowin. The language is... 
I stand firmly with you my people,for you are protecting mother earth in this endeavor,and as such powerful earthly forces stand with you.I must remind you the importance of recording all happenings and events put whatever happens on youtube,facebook APTN or here.We will ensure the world see’s all that happens out there this time.Powerful forces have intervened before for violent arrests and if they attack the protectors of mother earth it will happen again.I pray it stays peaceful i hope and pray the Quebec police treat you with respect and understanding,we know their rep towards colored people native and black lets see if they wish to look like violent racists or PEACE officers this will show us exactly how this conservative government is towards tribal people out there also.
Much power and many blessing to you and your cause!!
On Sept.3.2009 Original Peoples from Buffalo Point First Nation,Mb., are marching to Wpg. to protest Indian Affairs refusal to recognize the Originals at BPFN.Our enemy is the racist Indian Act where racism is institutionalized by laws still very foreign to us. Indian Act is legislated open season attack on traditional & customary leadership!It is openly embraced by First Nation leadership where pacification is applied through financial sgreements which first of all violates all signatory treaties signed with the Crown . It also encourages poverty where it become our culture..,I stand very firm & deeply rooted with your cause to protect our Mother Earth.,those are the traditional & customary roles taken away from us collectively as Original Caretakers of OUR MOTHER EARTH! Call me..http://www.lancerunners.webs.com & http://www.lancerunners.com I hope to hear from you..I will help you out even physically!!!
Any updates Ahni?had trouble getting on my computer yesterday.
Just came across a small update from Chief Matchewan. He says,
“Arrived on site after midnight and loggers were still working, We were able to get to 2 operators and gave them documents suspending cutting until further notice, loggers immediately stopped and parked their machines and headed back to their camp. Met with the Police the next day and the foreman to check for no criminal activity. Told them we were only there to make sure of No cutting and that the machines would not be damaged. Through out the day we had time to do some hunting and pick blueberries. Now waiting for response from Quebec and Minister of natural Resource.”
Also came across some counterspin, for the sake of being thorough. See http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2009/01/c9384.html
I agree with you Percy but it might be time for all warriors and true medicine people to be more active in these protests protecting our people and our sacred lands.What i mean about that is if the police attack our peaceful people the warriors and medicine people all over the country should head to those areas to deter anymore racist violence their is strength in numbers bring cameras and record everything these oppressive attacks on our kin whether it be white mans court ordered or not must be dealt with,with all our people not by just the singulars bands that are partaking in these just protests but all tribes all clans.It will also bring us all together again as ONE tribe not many different ones.If the Quebec police attack our people again on their own land this is what i pray this is what i wish to see,that we all come together to protect each other and each others interests.Mother earth stands with us the great spirits stand with us the elementals and our ancestors stand with us if and when this time comes for a gathering of all nations to defend our homeland and peoples.From racist police and government with great power to back us.
Where are the lawful petitioners?
Tribesmen must Declare Indigenous Status with the UNITED NATIONS.
An International Claim has been filed AGAINST the so called American Indian.
We are set for ANNIHILATION declared by the World Court.
simranblue2@yahoo.com
Jae DEV
Nothing ever really comes from approaching them though. Dozens of Nations have already been down the road, filing with the UN, and various other international bodies. It never yielded any meaningful results. Even back when the UN was the League of Nations, the Six Confederacy approached them for formal recognition, but nothing came of it.
There are many viable ways to change this (and, this: http://fwe.cwis.org/2009/02/06/nations-are-governing-authorities-not-ngos/) but in all cases, I believe, it comes down to Indigenous Nations changing the ground-level relationship with the state, through actions.