The MNO (Metis Nation of Ontario) signed an agreement to enter into talks with Trans Canada for the Energy East Pipeline. And Grand Council Treaty 3 also signed a similar agreement with Trans Canada. I dont know what other Metis orgs or Chiefs & Council support the pipeline. I want to state that as a Metis woman, a mother, and an Indigenous rights holder, at NO TIME have I ever relinquished my rights to the MNO or anyone to sign any such agreements on my behalf. The holder of Indigenous rights are THE PEOPLE. Not non-profit corporations or chiefs/councils. They need to act with the consent of the people. Not act first and ask the people after if it is okay. If we, the Indigenous Peoples do not stand up for the water, for the land, and for all that is sacred, there will be no one left to do it. Who will speak for the animals & creatures who also have rights to clean land, water & life? Who will speak and stand up for the next generations to come after who deserve to inherit a clean world? As a Metis woman this is my responsibility to do this and I wont be silent about it. The main argument I continue to hear from our own leaders is: Energy East is going ahead anyway, so we may as well be part of the negotiations or they will do it without us This is false. If we dont sign the agreements, and do not consent, it cannot go ahead. They are obligated by law to get our consent. By signing agreements, even to negotiate we are giving them that consent. We must push our leaders, governments, & corporations to accept that the only option for the future is clean, renewable energy & technological innovations to provide clean energy. There are alternatives to oil. Tax breaks & investments to the oil sands needs to shift to these other energy solutions & innovation. I hope a new wave of young leaders comes up soon who has the foresight to know that by signing agreements they are selling out our rights. I cant wait for a new wave of young leaders who will not compromise their integrity or ours to sign deals that facilitate dirty oil. Its not just our territories we need to think about. What about our Chipewyan, Cree, & Metis brothers & sisters suffering because of the oil sands in their territories? What about all the cancers coming up and within the fish & animals too near the tar sands. Do we not owe them the respect. What if the tar sands were in our territory? Would we not want solidarity from other Indigenous peoples to help us fight it? We gotta stand together. We gotta be aware of the bigger picture and long term picture. This planet is alive & part of us all. We have no right to kill it the way we are doing. So to all the young people not willing to sell out our lands or rights hurry up and run for leadership so I can vote for you! metisnation.org/news--media/news/mno-signs-general-relationship-agreement-with-municipality-of-greenstone kenoradailyminerandnews/2014/06/04/treaty-3-grand-council-votes-to-move-forward-with-negotiations-with-transcanada
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 14:53:18 +0000
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