Join us for snacks and a talk by Michel Thusky, a community spokesperson from the Algonquin community of Barriere Lake
Come hear about the long-standing resistance of Mitchikanibikok Inik, the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, to forced assimilation and cultural extinction. Michel Thusky, a spokesperson from the Algonquin community, will talk about community identity in the context of his people’s struggle to defend their land, their way of life, and their traditional governance system against attacks by the colonial governments of Quebec and Canada.
This is a chance for residents of Kitchener-Waterloo and folks from the region to learn about the struggle of a remote community’s struggle for justice, presented by members of the community who we rarely have a chance to hear from first-hand.
The event is a fundraiser to help cover the community’s legal costs incurred in a costly court battle they’ve been forced into by the Canadian government. All proceeds (after costs are covered) will go to the Barriere Lake Legal Defense Fund.
Snacks and refreshments will be available at the event.
For more information about the Mitchikanibikok Inik community and their current legal action, please see:
http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.org/
http://ipsmo.wordpress.com/mitchikanibikok-inik/
For a good background video on Section 74 and the Barriere Lake struggle, see this short 4-minute film on Vimeo:
This event is being organized by Barriere Lake Solidarity Toronto (an action group of OPIRG-Toronto) and is part of Barriere Lake Speaking Tour in Ontario and Quebec in March 2012: Ottawa (March 1), Waterloo (March 3), Hamilton (March 5), Toronto (March 6).
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