Resident Speaks To Council About Pipelines And Genocide

The issue of “man camps”, reconciliation and pipelines going through unceded indigenous lands made its way from news about blockades into Moose Jaw Council as a resident brought the issue to the forefront.

Speaking as part of the public forum portion of the agenda, where residents are given five minutes to deliver information and not ask for anything and discussion is not allowed, Tannis Brideau addressed Council on what she said was the proven genocide of sovereign First Nations by Canada.

Brideau was also seeking permission to hang a poster at City Hall as well as the Police Station promoting an event she is hosting on the issue, this after she claimed city manager Jim Puffalt denied a similar request last week. 

Accompanied with a red dress on a hanger with a slogan pinned on it reading “Pipeline man camps = MMIWG (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls)” Brideau spoke well past her five minute time limit on the issue. 

A red dress is used as a symbol to honour the memories of MMIWG to show them they are not forgotten. In some Indigenous cultures red is the only colour the spirits can see.

She said for the past year she has tirelessly attempted to contact all levels of government to address the issue of genocide of Indigenous peoples but for the most part been unsuccessful.

Brideau said she wanted to “awaken people to the genocide crisis before us. Yes Canada was found guilty of genocide of the worst crime against humanity, genocide in just June of 2019.”

The major problem of the numerous MMIWG victims was due to resource extraction.

“It is linked with the illegal extraction of resources from unceded title lands,” Brideau said, adding later the large man camps where up to 1,000 transient men stay while working on resource extraction “have been known to increase the sexual violence towards Indigenous women and girls.”

Brideau decried recent actions towards securing the routes for the Trans Mountain Pipeline (to carry bitumen) and the Coastal GasLink (to carry natural gas) as illegal and destroying trust between the First Nations and Canada.

“In an era of reconciliation Canada is taking land at gunpoint…with this I say reconciliation is dead.”

Brideau said by allowing the two First Nations people  affected by the pipelines crossing their lands to live a traditional life and not build the pipelines is for the good of mankind and the planet.

“They were put here by the Creator as the true caretakers of this land…saving our caretakers sustains our planet.”

She called for support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People's (UNDRIP) as a necessity to protect and preserve First Nations peoples and their cultures.

When it came to proposed Coastal GasLink Pipeline she said the five hereditary chiefs had the authority over 22,000 square kilometers of unceded territory while the chiefs of “Canadian concentration camp reserves” only had authority on the reserve municipality. 

“They have been Canadianized,” she said adding it was accomplished through “the now illegal and abolished Indian Act due to sexual discrimination and racism.”

Speaking about the proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion she predicted a “higher economic price” much greater than the present blockades surrounding the proposed Coastal GasLink Pipeline. 

The blockades of rail lines and roadways has lead to undelivered goods with CN Rail laying off hundreds and VIA Rail 1,000 employees effectively shutting down what many see as a more environmentally favorable means of travel.

She made mention of 10 smaller solar homes being “strategically placed on the route of the pipeline.” Funding for the first solar powered home is financed by the internationally well known actor and activist Jane Fonda, she told Council.

“It is on their own land where they may make their home fire anywhere.”

“There should be no more business as usual until a business that threatens a culture's existence are addressed…the illegal rule of law.”

“Let us stand and abolish genocide for once and all.”

Brideau concluded by inviting Council, residents and area residents to attend the showing of the short film “Invasion” to be held in the Moose Jaw Public Library's south room on Wednesday March 8th from 6 – 8 pm.

The event will include the screening of the film and a discussion period afterwards. Free hot dogs and juice will be provided.