Racism in Mi'kma'ki

Itttttt’sssssss Saturday morning and another day of blatant and violent racism in Mi’kma’ki. A couple weeks ago I was able to gather a bunch of supplies and drive the three and a half hours it took for me and my creaky ol’ van to get to Saulnierville Wharf. I wasn’t there five minutes before I was offered a hug and food. I camped out in the van for the following days in solidarity, keeping to myself a lot (I’m shy and solitary by nature and) because I didn’t want the Warriors protecting the Frontlines to have to expel any more energy by going out of their way to accommodate me or my feelings. I just wanted to be there in my body to support and back up the Mi’kmaq. That said, I met some incredible people and was there for the Treaty Day events where I was blessed to participate in the Circle Dance. You could feel a glimmer of what it could have been if our settler ancestors had learned from the Indigenous Peoples rather than try to take over. But that wasn’t the colonialist way, was it? And now, instead of having hundreds of years of shared traditions and cultures, and peace, and love, and friendship, we have violent and racist hate crimes. The Canadian Government is doing nothing about it. The cops are doing nothing about it. The Treaty has been violated.

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The Indigenous Peoples of this Land know ALL ABOUT being sustainable. They know all about conservation. So let’s not pretend that what’s happening in the Sipekne’katik area of Mi’kma’ki is about anything other than a bunch of racist commercial fishermen that are angry that others are doing something that they have been told not to. Hatred and greed. They’re grown and throwing tantrums in the form of violent hate crimes. Assault, arson, theft, destruction of property, public drunkenness. The list goes on. All the while Government Officials are “tweeting” out empty sentences talking about how appalled they are and how unacceptable this behaviour is. But they’re doing nothing about it! Not at all surprised that the cops did nothing to help the Mi’kmaq, that’s nothing new. But if you hold a position in this Government of “Canada” and don’t have the “power” to hold these people accountable for their actions then it is your duty to step down and resign. Better yet, hand the reins of “Canada” over to the real caretakers and Chiefs of Turtle Island. If we’re lucky, maybe they’ll let some of us stay in solidarity. *

These officials are saying “I’m appalled” and “I fully support the Mi’kmaq” or “We are all treaty people” and whatever else is “trending” at the time but they’re not backing it up in a real or tangible way. Offering up empty words, contradictory letters and offers of phone calls (of course nothing in writing that we could hold you to -- looking at you, Kody Blois). Cops were useless, but what did we expect when dealing with violence towards Indigenous folx? We all know that if the roles were reversed and it was the Indigenous folx acting this way there would be arrests, injury, and deaths. And the media reporting as little as possible, offering up a paragraph describing actions as “mischief” and not hate crimes. “Tensions continue to run high” -- are you kidding me? And! While we’re at it, “thoughts and prayers” aren’t enough to call yourself a supporter or self-appointed ally. If you aren’t taking action already, then do it now! Silence is declaring yourself totally fine with the status quo. Honour our Treaty! Demand these attackers be arrested and held accountable! Donate to the Frontlines! #AllEyesOnMikmaki #IndigenousLivesAreSacred