canadadoesnotexist:

To my indigenous followers and those who are allies to indigenous people:

Please, I am begging you to make this known, to get the word out there. I am only asking for a reblog. Please help support the people of Skownan (formerly known as Waterhen).

Come Monday morning many indigenous people (elders, adults, youth, and children) will be displaced. AGAIN.

Let me tell you what lead up to the situation they’re in now.

In 1996 families protested against the corrupt chief of Waterhen (now Skownan). Supporters of the chief burned down the band office, destroying information that would implicate the chief and Canada of corrupt business. 

Barricades went up. Police were called in. A month later the protesters and their leader were taken into custody.

Roughly 300 members left the reserve due to harassment and violence. Many of them had their houses burned down, had their possessions seized, lost their jobs, and most of all lost their right to live in the community. 

These people were chased off their own lands by their own fucking people.

Many had to settle in places far from their original homes.

Eventually the Canadian government stepped up and told those who were displaced that they could live in Manitoba housing rent-free until more permanent accommodations could be made. This was meant to be temporary while a relocation process was put in the works to establish a new reserve.

After awhile, the residents had to pay rent which they were okay with since it wouldn’t be long.

WRONG!

As usual, the Canadian government always fucks over its indigenous people time and time again. Canada did not keep its end of the deal, instead breaching the agreements set out.

In protest, the displaced residents decided to not pay rent in order to get the government to listen and keep their end of the deal and address the injustices.

For twenty years these families have had to go through unfair treatment through the legal and justice systems. They’ve been ignored for so long.

Yet again these families (and descendants) will be kicked out of their homes, all because the Canadian government didn’t want to deal with them anymore.

Please, I am asking you to help in any way you can. If you are in Winnipeg, you can join the protests outside of the Manitoba Legislature building.

I am not very knowledgeable but if you know what to do in these kinds of situations, please let me know.

If you want to read more about it, here you go:

article 1, article 2, article 3, article 4