Site C: impossible to ignore
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 03 August 2016 11:30
- Written by editor
Dozens of members of Treaty 8 First Nations are travelling 4,432km from Fort St. John to Montreal to make sure the voices of the Peace River Valley are heard in the Federal Court of Appeal.
Can you chip in to bring the people affected by the Site C dam directly to decision-makers?
Please donate!Dear PAOV,
First Nations’ treaty rights could be the most powerful thing standing in the way of the Site C dam - and Treaty 8 First Nations want to press their claim in Montreal and Ottawa. But they need our help.
"Our concerns are the concerns of the People, not only native people, but the the whole of Canada, and the animals who can not speak for themselves, and the ground and the water that can not speak. I strongly protest this mess, and that's what I want to talk to them in Ottawa about."
Elder and Clan Grandmother Nancy Scanie (Cold Lake First Nation)
In just a few weeks, Nancy Scanie will join dozens of members of Treaty 8 First Nations to travel 4,432km from Fort St. John (BC) to Montreal (QC) to make sure the voices of the Peace River Valley are heard in the Federal Court of Appeal.
The cross-country caravan will stop in communities along the way, sharing stories, connecting struggles, and building support for the just resolution of the Treaty 8 First Nations’ case against the Site-C dam. Can you chip in to help bring them to Montreal?
Site C is a disastrous plan to build a giant dam in the Peace River Valley of northeastern BC. It’s an $8.8 billion project that will flood 83 km of farmland, drown wildlife habitat, and trample indigenous rights — all to supply electricity for dirty tar sands extraction and fracking. [1-3]
The West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations are appealing a federal Judge’s decision to approve the construction of Site-C despite the project’s violation of their constitutionally-protected rights to hunt, fish, and trap. After months of waiting for a trial date, they’re appearing in court on September 14.[4] When the House of Commons resumes sitting a few days later, they’ll head to Ottawa to deliver your 20,000+ petition signatures and meet with key Ministers on the file.
The stakes in this court case are high. Can you donate $10, $20, or $50 to bring the people who are affected by this disaster dam directly to decision-makers?
We’ve already pulled together to do so much to stop the Site C dam. 20,439 of us signed a petition, and 527 of us made 13 hours worth of phone calls to the Fisheries Minister, calling for a moratorium on construction permits until courts rule on the legal challenge. So far it’s working! No permits have been issued from the federal offices and we want to make sure it stays that way.
We’ve raised nearly $20,000 for Treaty 8 First Nations’ legal challenges, and for tactics to support and amplify their voices. Because of you, as the bus full of elders drive into Montreal, they’ll be greeted by a billboard funded by Leadnow members - a show of solidarity from thousands of people across the country who oppose the destructive Site C disaster dam.
4,432km is a long way to go and the caravan planning committee is meeting this week. Tonight, I’d love to be able to call them to share that people like you have stepped up to help make their journey possible.
https://secure.leadnow.ca/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1694&ea.campaign.id=54034
With hope and respect,
Amara, on behalf of the Leadnow team
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Sources
[1]Human Rights at Risk: Site C, http://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/issues/indigenous-peoples/indigenous-peoples-canada/resource-development-canada/site-c-dam
[2]Premier Clark’s Proposal to ‘Electrify Oilsands’ With Site C Dam Has ‘Air of Desperation’: Panel Chair, http://www.desmog.ca/2016/04/13/premier-clark-s-proposal-electrify-oilsands-site-c-dam-has-air-desperation-panel-chair
[3] Site C Dam ‘Devastating’ for British Columbians, Says Former CEO of BC Hydro, http://www.desmog.ca/2015/08/04/exclusive-site-c-dam-devastating-british-columbians-says-former-ceo-bc-hydro
[4] Montreal court date set for First Nations' Site C legal challenge, http://www.dawsoncreekmirror.ca/regional-news/site-c/montreal-court-date-set-for-first-nations-site-c-legal-challenge-1.2286315#sthash.ujfrb7lc.dpuf
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