When I participated in the
May 2008
Guatemala
Field
School, I had little
knowledge of the extent and severity of impacts that Canadian-based mining corporations
have on Indigenous Guatemalans’ lives and lands. In support of mining affected
communities in
Guatemala,
we marched in a street rally with representatives from 100’s of neighbouring
communities – all with the same message: “No to mining!”
Here at home, I witnessed
similar concerns as a participant at the Wet’suwet’en First Nation rally
against the proposed Enbridge pipeline on May 5th in Terrace, BC,
and at the Wet’suwet’en First Nation hosted All Nations Energy Summit held in
Morristown, BC, on June 6th. Both occasions were attended by
community representatives stretching from
Fort
Chipewyan,
Alberta
through Haida Gwaii, BC, all with the same message – “No to the Pipeline!”
Whether it is Indigenous campesinos
from rural
Guatemala or
First Nations from
Alberta
and BC, these people have the courage, strength, and numbers to stand up and
defend the lands that sustain us all.
I have heard their voices.
5 August 2009
