Burns Lake police raid: ‘I thought they were going to shoot me’

By Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, April 8, 2013
Elder Ryan Tibbetts says the moment he pointed out the gun to his 12 year-old son, the RCMP officer raised the weapon toward them.

It was in the midst of a police raid Sunday at the Burns Lake band office, after Tibbetts and his son were allowed to re-enter the premises to retrieve some of their personal belongings, including his son’s Xbox game console, when he said he saw RCMP officers with their guns drawn.

Burns Lake Band members evicted from their blockade by RCMP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 7, 2013

RCMP at Burns Lake Indian Band offices, April 7 2013.

On day 14 of a non-violent protest held at the Burns Lake Band office, approximately 50 or more riot police, many with shotguns drawn evicted three adults and one 12 year old child. 92 percent of the eligible voters on-reserve had signed a petition in support of the protest despite claims to the contrary by the INAC chief councillor, Albert Gerow.

Burns Lake Band office blockade turns testy

by Frank Peebles, Prince George Citizen, March 26, 2013

Burns Lake band elders Peter John and Ruth Tibbetts take part in blockade of band office.

A political dispute among factions of the Burns Lake Indian Band turned violent Monday. According to witnesses at a blockade of the band’s administration offices, a fight broke out between elected councillor Dan George trying to enter the offices and elders committee representative (and second place finisher in the last election for chief) Ryan Tibbetts attempting to prevent anyone’s entry.

Dissident group occupies Little Shuswap band office

Handful of protesters won’t budge until demands are met

Rocky Tomma, with his brother Ron Tomma, stands outside the Little Shuswap Indian Band administration office Monday.

By MIKE YOUDS, Kamloops Daily News March 18, 2013

A group of dissident band members is staging an occupation of the Little Shuswap band office, intending to keep it locked up until their demands are satisfied.

“Until we hear from them, the office is closed,” said Rocky Tomma, one of a half dozen members who took over the office on Monday morning. “We’ll be here 24/7 until we know what’s going to happen.”

Lubicon Cree Standing Strong Against Fraudulent Election

Release Date: February 20, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LUBICON LAKE NATION STANDING STRONG AGAINST FRAUDULENT ELECTION: DEMANDS ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS CEASE ASSIMILATION TACTICS IN NATION

Little Buffalo, AB – The Government of the Lubicon Lake Nation is a sovereign Nation within what is now Alberta, which has never signed treaty with Canada or the British crown ceding its rights over and title to its lands. The current Government of the Lubicon Lake Nation was formed as part of a custom resolution to previous disputes created by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AAND-C) interference and the current governance has the written acknowledge support of the vast majority of Lubicon citizens. The Government of the Lubicon Lake Nation has not called, nor held an election and no changes have been made to the governance of our Nation.

Ktunaxa Nation and BC sign deal on revenue sharing from coal mines

By Gordon Hamilton, Vancouver Sun, January 29, 2013

Ktunaxa Nation chairperson Kathryn Teneese and BC Aboriginal Affairs minister Ida Chong at press conference announcing revenue sharing deal, Jan 29, 2013.

The B.C. government and the Ktunaxa First Nation signed a revenue-sharing agreement Tuesday that could see the two governments split millions in mining revenues from new developments in B.C.’s largest coal field, the Elk Valley.

The agreement has the potential to make the Ktunaxa a significant partner in tax revenues generated from the coal fields, giving them, initially, more than a third of the region’s mineral taxes collected on new developments.

Chief Spence ends fast as AFN national chief Atleo returns

Chief Spence (in red toque) and the media circus in Ottawa.

By Laura Payton, CBC News, Jan 24, 2013

First Nations leaders vowed Thursday to keep up the pressure on the federal government, as Shawn Atleo returned to work following medical leave and Theresa Spence left hospital following her six-week hunger strike.

Oily Chiefs, Idle No More, and the AFN

by Zig Zag, Warrior Publications, January 17, 2013

To fully understand the phenomenon of Idle No More, you must imagine two parallel universes. In one, INM is comprised of good-hearted grassroots Native people responding to a call to oppose Bill C-45 and to protect the land and water of their traditional territories. In the other, however, are chiefs using the mobilization to achieve their political & economic agenda, an agenda that includes partnering with corporations seeking to exploit oil and gas resources on reserve lands.

Native protesters stall railways, highways, on national day of action

5-hour blockade of railways between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal

Train blockade in Portage la Prairie, Manitboa, on Jan 16, 2013.

CBC News, Jan 16, 2013

First Nations demonstrators stopped passenger railway traffic lines between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal today, while others stalled major highways and rail lines in parts of Manitoba, Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario as part of the Idle No More Movement’s national day of action.

Cross-Canada Indigenous Blockades Highlight Idle No More Tactics’ Tensions

David P. Ball, Indian Country Today, January 16, 2013

Grassroots warriors at Idle No More rally in Ottawa, Dec 21, 2012.

Today’s plans for cross-country blockades to disrupt Canada’s economy and infrastructure are revealing tensions within both the Idle No More movement and aboriginal leadership in the country, sparking debate over what tactics are appropriate in the quest for Native self-determination and who gets to police that line.