More essential underreported struggles from Ahni at Intercontinental Cry. The first story is of real concern to me and I hope this move can be defeated by the First Nations.
The Canadian government is getting ready to introduce legislation
that would allow individuals to own private property on reserves,
effectively abrogating collective ownership of reserve land for any
First Nations that adopts the law. The government claims this will
encourage economic development; but the reality is far less economical.
As Pam Palmater observes,
the new law will open the floodgates for the gradual takeover of
indigenous lands by non-First Nations peoples, including land-holding
companies, banks, corporations; heck, even bored Canadians looking for
an adventure!
An International Fact-Finding Mission (IFFM) recently confirmed that the Philippines-based A. Brown Company, Inc.
never had the right to open a palm oil plantation in Opol, Misamis
Oriental in Southern Philippines, where it displaced hundreds of
families from the Higaonon Peoples. The IFFM has since issued a call for
A Brown to immediately pull-out of Opol and respect the farmers' and
indigenous peoples' right to their ancestral lands.
The Ktunaxa Nation is attempting to challenge the British Colombia government's recent approval of a controversial year-round ski resort that will sit in Qat'muk
(GOT-MOOK), a profoundly sacred area to the Ktunaxa Peoples in
southeastern British Columbia.The Ktunaxa are now in the process of
applying for Judicial Review of the approval.
A Barabaig community in Tanzania has teamed up with
the Indigenous Knowledge Project (IKP) to develop a sustainable economy
that works for the people. The initiative is a rarity, founded on the
ideals of sharing, autonomy, participation and sustainability. In the
words of IKP co-founder Heather Cruise, it has to be “heart-to-heart,
grass roots, participatory.” In this special series, Intercontinental Cry takes a look at the project, its purpose and the people involved in it.
The Dongria Kondh, who've all but faded away from the
international community's gaze, renewed their opposition to Vedanta
Resources' plan to mine a sacred mountain for bauxite. Ahead of
Vedanta's AGM in London, the Dongria Kondh sent a strong message
to the company's chairman Anil Agarwal, "Even if Anil Agarwal himself
comes here, we won’t leave our land. We will use all our strength to
make them leave this place. Let us live our lives in peace".
Visit Intercontinetal Cry to read about these issues and many others.
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