[CPTnet] ABORIGINAL JUSTICE: "We do not accept the unacceptable" –Elsipogtog First Nation media release
Stewart Vriesinga
As many of you know, I am
spending some time with CPT's Aboriginal Justice Team
(AJT) before returning to Colombia in December. In about
one week I will be leaving to join the AJT in New
Brunswick in about a week. After that I will spend
a month or so doing presentations in Ontario.
If you are interested in arranging a presentation
please contact me!
Stewart.i...@gmail.com
To view the on-line version click here.
CPTnet
9 September 2013
ABORIGINAL JUSTICE: “We do not
accept the unacceptable” –Elsipogtog First Nation media
release
September 6, 2013 at 1:36pm
Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick
The Original People of the Wabanaki-Mi'gmag
District of Signigtog have, for the first time in known
history, used their
collective authority to stop shale gas activity in New
Brunswick. Based in Elsipogtog, together with
allies from Acadian, Anglophone and First Peoples'
communities, the Signigtog
Grand Council and Collective Community of Concerned Members of
Signigtog have
issued a directive to shale gas developer Southwestern Energy
(SWN) to stop all
shale gas activities, leave the territory, and compensate the
people for harm
caused by their operations.
Kenneth Francis of Signigtog said, “Creator made us
caretakers of Mother Earth. Our
goal as the Collective Community of Concerned Members of
Signigtog is to
protect Mother Earth because we're killing her. She's already
endured too much. We will lose our clean water if we sit back
and allow what
the shale gas companies are planning on doing in Signigtog.
What they are planning is
unacceptable. We do not accept the
unacceptable.”
Members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams have been
providing support and accompaniment to Kent County opponents
of shale gas
development since June of this year.
Their organization's web site reports that, “The issuing of
this
Directive is an unprecedented and crucially important event in
the history of
the Mi’gmag People. Christian
Peacemaker Teams is honored to be present as the Original
Peoples of the
Wabanaki-Mi’gmag District of Signigtog undertakes this
historic initiative and
to support their sovereignty over the Wabanaki-Mi’gmag
District of Signigtog.”
The Concerned Members of Signigtog is a collective
community of members supported by the Mi'gmag Grand Council
who are dedicated
to protecting Mother Earth and working to re-assert their
sovereignty over
their traditional territories.
Signigtog-Mi'gmag Grand Council Keptin Noel Joe Augustine
speaks with
pride about being a member, “It only takes a handful of people
to save the
lands and waters. Through our
prayers and ceremonies, we have made a very good spiritual
beginning. The sacred fire is now lit in the
hearts of many people who are helping us to do what is right
and protect the
water.”
Warrior Chief John Levi wants everyone to know that
not only is more encouragement, support, participation, and
help welcome, but
that the work itself is enjoyable and rewarding. “We are
strong and happy people. Our allies are with us all the way
and we get stronger, even
with all the difficult experiences we've been through. We've
been arrested, lied to and there
have been many attempts to silence us and get us to stop what
we're doing. But we know we're doing the right thing
and we're going to continue as long as there is a threat to
our way of life.”
For more information please contact: Serena Francis 506-523-9950; Noel Joe Augustine 506-523-8349; John Levi 506-523-5014; Katrina Clair 506-523-3784; Kathy Levi506-521-4570; Gary Simon 506-521-1828
Directive available
here.
MISSION: Christian Peacemaker Teams: Building partnerships to transform violence and oppression.
VISION: A world of communities that together embrace the diversity of the human family and live justly and peaceably with all creation.
VALUES: Christian Peacemaker Teams is committed to work and relationships that:
- Honor and reflect the presence of faith and spirituality
- Strengthen grassroots initiatives
- Transform structures of domination and oppression
- Embody creative non-violence and liberating love
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