In a rapidly dwindling community forest the people of Pandumaan & Sipituhuta have put up a strong fight to stop the growth of monoculture eucalyptus plantations. But the aggressive actions of the company & its close alignment with local politicians & the police have led this struggle down a dark path - protests, intimidation, arrests & confrontations. https://ifnotusthenwho.me/story/from-our-ancestors/

A 2015 US Social Forum and Climate Justice Alliance Southern Assembly

Friday, June 26th – Sunday, June 28th, 2015

Climate change is not a looming future threat, it is a clear and present danger, and it is already threatening the livelihoods, living conditions, and life chances of historically oppressed peoples and the working class throughout the South.

From the inhabitants of the coastal lowlands of the Gulf who are witnessing the sea reclaim the land and watching their livelihoods, lifestyles, and ancestral homelands disappear along with it; to the midland farmers and harvesters of the region who are dealing with the rapid flora and fauna change and steady, but growing disruptions to the harvesting and growing seasons, the South is already feeling the destructive impact of climate change. There are also thousands who are beginning to suffer from infectious diseases, old and new, that are beginning to thrive in the region as a direct result of climate change and the havoc it creating to the ecology, like the Nile virus and deadly Amoebas.

Nihígaal bee Iiná were asked by the Apache Stronghold to do food support this past weekend for their Oak Flat occupation festivities and cooked for at least 400 people (team work makes the dream work!) Thank you to our Apache relatives for the appreciation dinner. We look forward to standing in solidarity with you all at tomorrow's demonstration which will be held at Mc Cain's office in Tucson, AZ!

On March 28 David James Taylor, Missisauga Ojibway from Curve Lake First Nation, along with a group of people from various nations will begin a walk to Ottawa to bring awareness to the over 1200 murdered and missing Indigenous women in Canada. Their goal is to take their concerns to Parliament Hill and insist the Federal Government call for an inquiry into this issue.

The walk is designed to take approximately 4-5 months, weaving its way through communities across the country bringing awareness and creating a space for Aboriginal, and non-Aboriginal communities to build connections through sharing of stories, teachings, and culture.

Wanda Nanibush - March for Climate, Justice & Jobs Launch

I want to first acknowledge that we are on the territory that is governed by the one dish with one spoon treaty, which is a treaty that defines this land as a space that we need to share and take care of for all. This is also the territory of the Mississaugas and the Haudenosaunee, previously there’s also the Ouendat and the Seneca, so I want to acknowledge all those people. I also want to acknowledge the 90,000 Indigenous Peoples that currently call Toronto their home. Lastly, I want to acknowledge all of the land in Canada as Indigenous land, and I want to acknowledge it as shared territory with all of the nations who’ve come here.

Welcome to #INMroots Number Eight!   The goal of the #INMroots newsletter is to share news stories that promote Indigenous rights and sovereignty and the protection of land and water. The newsletter will share our stories and actions, and honour resistance, while celebrating the world that we are protecting.

It was very powerful to watch a group of Teens aged 14-18 from the Seneca Nation who go to Salamanca High School make a recommendation to the Chairwoman of the United Nations Forum.

We in the audience were so powerfully moved that the much of the room rose to stand around the group of teens in support as they talked about their communities being forever changed by kids their age 14-18 committing suicide or making attempts on their lives. In some Indigenous communities the suicide rate can be up to 30 times the national average.

Today, the native peoples of the Amazon and the Amazon itself are in great danger.
On Tuesday 19 May 2015 a bid will be made to legislatively usurp the legal rights of the indigenous peoples of Brazil to their land. The only indigenous land that is still protected by the constitution is today being directly threatened by this law; which will also put in danger the procedure for marking out other native territories.

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) are ecstatic with the results of the last nights election ushering in a new NDP majority government in Alberta.  It is clear that Albertans also want change and we are encouraged this government will take the time to do the proper assessments that evoke that change.

As First Nations we are optimistic to finally have a government that recognizes and respects Indigenous rights and territories and look forward to sitting at the table with this new government to find effective ways to implement and respect Aboriginal rights across multiple sectors.