napo%web@cdp.uucp (09/18/89)
The following is a summary of Innu activities directed towards
stopping low-level flying over Labrador and eastern Quebec
and the building of a proposed NATO Tactical Fighter and
Weapons Training Centre. The text was taken from "NATO in Labrador
Quebec, Update #6 (FALL 89)", published by the North Atlantic Peace
Organization. All aspects are covered (eg. peace, development, native
rights, and environment). To get your name on our mailing list, send
your address to "NAPO" on WEB (napo%web@cdp.uucp).
---------------------------------------------
The Innu fight against the present military flight training and the
proposed NATO base in Nitassinan has intensified throughout 1989.
On six occasions in March, Innu men, women and children attempted
to establish another protest camp close to the runways at Goose
Bay. They were arrested repeatedly with ninety-three charges being
laid. Eighteen Innu were detained for periods of up to 18 days
prior to trial.
Following the arrests, the Minister of National Defense, Bill
McKnight met with the Sheshatshit Innu at a community meeting.
Elders, men, women and children expressed their desire for a land
settlement and challenged the minister on his right to take their
land and airspace for military training. The Minister walked out
of the meeting after two hours.
The RCMP were assisted in dealing with the peaceful Innu protests
by an estimated 60 military police. In March, 120 reserves were
brought in to step up security. More reserves were anticipated to
arrive in the summer. They will stay until the end of the flight
training season in November.
Four Innu appeared in court in early April to face the charges of
public mischief for their protest actions. They were found not
guilty in a landmark decision by Judge Igloliorte, who stated: "I
am satisfied that the four believe their ancestors predate any
Canadian claims to ancestry of the land." He disputed the Crown's
position that it "magically acquired (the land) by its own
declaration of title." The ruling has set Native land claims law
on its ear. An appeal of this decision by the provincial government
will be heard on October 3rd.
Also in April, 70 Innu again entered the fenced area of the runway
at Goose Bay. Forty-four Innu were charged and 11 were detained for
two days. There are now over 250 outstanding charges. A court date
is to be selected in October. Media who attempted to cover this
protest were harassed and threatened by military personnel.
The Innu toured Newfoundland and Quebec in the spring to bring
their story directly to churches, public meetings, schools and
local media. As well, they travelled to other centers across
Canada, including the national Project Ploughshares meeting in
Waterloo in May. Peter Penashue attended the 1989 World Conference
on A and H-Bombs in Japan. Project Ploughshares is organizing a
Maritime tour for September, and the Aboriginal Rights Coalition
is organizing a national tour for October.
The Canadian Peace Alliance, an umbrella organization of 450 peace
groups across the country, helped to coordinate a week of vigils,
protests and occupations to coincide with the trial of the four
Innu. Protests also took place in the United States, West Germany
and the Netherlands. While in solidarity with the Innu struggle,
the focus of these events was on the defense aspects of this issue.
In May, Elizabeth Penashue, Rose Gregoire and Kathleen Nuna
attended the annual meeting of the National Action Committee on the
Status of Women in Ottawa. Here, they told their story to 600 women
from across Canada. A resolution was passed by the assembly in
support of the Innu. The women participated in the annual lobby of
politicians, and challenged the Liberals and New Democrats to state
their positions on the military expansion in Nitassinan.
The Labrador Inuit Association and the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada
made statements in support of the Innu during the annual meeting
of the ITC, held May 2-5, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. They called
on government to immediately halt all current and proposed
low-level flying and bombing activities, to withdraw its bid to
have NATO establish a full-fledged base at Goose Bay, and to enter
into negotiations with the Innu and Inuit regarding any future use
of their land.
During May and June, three groups of Innu occupied the Minipi Lake
bombing range 120 km south of Goose Bay. Bombing was halted for
several days, but continued on June 5 despite the ongoing
occupation by the Innu. The Innu at the range watched bombs being
dropped 150 yards away, and were later buzzed by Tornado jets at
levels as low as 60 feet. On two occasions, the Tornados turned on
their afterburners over their heads.
International attention to the military invasion of Nitassinan
caused alarm in the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay. People
formed a citizen's coalition to lobby for the TFWTC and to mount
a media campaign to counter the Innu protests.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service launched an
investigation seeking "Soviet or East Bloc influences" within the
Innu campaign. Governments and the local Mokami Project Group tried
to portray the Innu as "unreasonable and hardline", and questioned
their political motives in protesting against the military invasion
of their homeland.
Indian Affairs Minister Pierre Cadieux visited Sheshatshit in June.
Again the community came forth with testimonies from Innu of all
ages about their love for the land and the threat of expanded
militarization. The Minister made no mention of the military and
offered the community the land claims process. The Innu told him
they would negotiate a land settlement as equal partners when the
military flight training had been halted.
The Innu joined nine other First Nations in June to form the Treaty
Alliance of North American Aboriginal Nations. The Treaty calls on
alliance members to send reinforcements to each other's aid in
conflict situations, and to jointly lobby the United Nations.
The Innu plan to file a court injunction this fall. The injunction
will ask the Federal Court to order Canada to withdraw its bid for
a NATO TFWTC and to stop present low-level flight training and
bombing by the air forces of Britain, West Germany, the Netherlands
and the U.S. on the ground that the flying violates Innu political
rights and threatens their health and very existence as a People.
---
Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726
patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | BBS: 201-795-0733
patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | (3/12/24/9600 Baud)
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