By Chris Bolster and Laura Walz VIDEO – Demonstrators from Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation joined countless others across the country protesting in the Idle No More movement on a day when members of the federal government and aboriginal leaders met behind closed doors.
Protestors with signs and hand drums stood at the end of the Wharf at Westview and spoke in support of Chief Theresa Spence early afternoon on Friday, January 11.
“We support Theresa Spence in what she’s doing,” said Doreen Point. “We stand behind her.” She added that the federal government should also be held accountable for the lack of accounting for funds spent on the Attawapiskat First Nation reserve in northern Ontario.
Protestors pledged support to environmental protection, which they said has been compromised with Bill C45.
“The Idle No More movement is all about saving the environment,” said Laura Bernardo. “It’s about standing together and protecting our culture. The air we breathe and the water we drink all sustains life. We are all connected. We have to respect each other.
“There was a time when seafood was plentiful. You could go down to any beach and get any kind of seafood imaginable, but today it’s impossible. In the time of three generations the practices of our generations have been lost due to pollution and development.
“According to the Royal Proclamation of 1763 we have rights. We can hold our ground or we can give consent whether a development will go through like the Keystone XL or Enbridge pipeline. We are standing on unceded ground. All of BC is unceded. We have a right to stand up against anything that goes against our culture. That’s what Idle No More is about. It’s about standing up and speaking out.
“We have never been asleep and now more than ever we are awake and standing up. We’re not waiting for governments to change things. We are not waiting for authorities to change things anymore because we know now if we keep waiting change will never come. We stand united today to put an end to the pipe dreams and for our rights that are being denied.”
Demonstrators voiced their anger and frustration at not only their lands being taken away without their consent, but also what they said was the unfair process of the Tla’amin treaty.
“As Sliammon first nation’s people, we feel our rights have not been listened to and our lands were unceded and yet the treaty was allowed to go through,” said Point. “The Indian Act has been wrongfully put together by allowing chief and council to become the voice for all the Sliammon people. That’s not the way it should be. As Elders, we should be listened to. We are the ones who stand with knowledge from our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. It goes way back.”
Some participants march-ed down to MLA Nicholas Simons’ office on Marine Avenue and back to the wharf.
At 4 pm, about 60 people gathered at the south end of Willingdon Beach for another demonstration that included singing, drumming and speeches. This rally was organized by young Tla’amin band members, including Shelby George, who thanked people for coming. “This is something that I believe is going to change the world,” she said.
Denise Smith, a Tla’amin band councillor and former chief, told participants that demonstrations like this one were taking place all over the world on this day. She also addressed racist comments that have been made on the Internet since the Idle No More movement has grown. “To those people out there who are the critics, we’re not going away,” she said. “This is our land, this is our territory, this is our home.”
Simons also addressed the participants, telling them not to be discouraged by negative comments and words based on ignorance. “Our world is made up of a lot of people and a lot of views,” he said. “But when you hold in your hearts what is true, those contrary messages don’t go anywhere. You have the support of the great, vast majority of the population.”
Participants marched from the old arena site down to the Westview ferry terminal and back at the end of the demonstration.
