The Glorious New Brunswick Shale Gas Rebellion of 2013
KAIROS has recently undertaken a research project on the Indigenous right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) regarding proposed resource extraction projects on Indigenous lands. Willi Nolan is a member of the reference group for this project and she has contributed this piece about resistance to hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) in New Brunswick. Willi is a semi-retired, veteran activist who has been based in New Brunswick for fifteen years. Focusing on citizen education and drawing on her grassroots experience and Aboriginal teachings, she is playing a key role in defending the peoples, lands and waters in Wabanaki-Mi’kmaq District of Sikniktuk against threats from oil and gas companies. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of KAIROS.
The Glorious New Brunswick Shale Gas Rebellion of 2013
Peace, Friendship & Decolonization Meets the Colonial Industrial Complex
by Willi Nolan
The harsh, violent and public denial of the right of Mi’kmaq peoples in New Brunswick to free prior and informed consent (FPIC) to shale gas developments on their lands made it to the news and table discussions everywhere. And it is still providing global citizens with an insight into a shocking, inspiring and historic movement of allied peoples in Canada who are under extreme threat and who are demanding to know who ordered the increasingly brutal assaults against peaceful land, water and human rights protectors in Canada in 2013, and why. [1] [3] [8] [36]
The answers to questions about who is involved and why reveal the sinister continuance of a set of despicable, centuries-old, but only quietly spoken of, genocidal laws, policies and practices intended to completely eliminate Aboriginal rights in Canada. An examination of the answers reveals that New Brunswick is attempting to justify repression and brutality and that Canada is ignoring constitutional and international law including laws that protect human, civil and Aboriginal rights. Canada proceeds as if it has the right to subjugate, control and assimilate Aboriginal peoples as well as eliminate Aboriginal rights! Ironically, the same legislative trends also suppress some of the fundamental rights of settler peoples. The Glorious New Brunswick Shale Gas Rebellion has exposed tyranny and genocide and in so doing has become a model for communities seeking to eliminate unjust laws. [1] [36] [38]
Canada’s Mandatory Indian “Enfranchisement” Laws Have Never Been Repealed
It is shocking that laws for the mandatory “enfranchisement” (assimilation) of “Indians” have yet to be condemned or repealed. In Canada’s 1857 Gradual Civilization Act, Indians were granted the “privilege” of mandatory enfranchisement – forgoing their Indian status to become “civilized,” and to “no longer be deemed an Indian” with the “legal rights and habilities of Indians.” Some privilege! Another Act purporting “protection” of the “property of Indians” takes away Aboriginal peoples’ power to define their own territories, community members and leadership. It ignores community councils and well developed laws as well as economic and governance systems that had ensured peoples’ health and survival since time immemorial. Canada’s Indian Act is the first and only legislation in Canada specifically designed for a particular race of people. [30] [31] [32]
Despite the fact that FPIC is the human rights framework for negotiations between Indigenous peoples and States, the Canadian government claims that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is only “aspirational” and not legally binding. This view of FPIC is not shared by the people of New Brunswick. The Glorious New Brunswick Shale Gas Rebellion of 2013 has caused some legally problematic situations for provincial, federal and ‘enfranchised’ First Nations’ governments; their house of cards perches precariously. [41]
All the lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, including Mi’kmaq territories, are unceded. Rights and title to the lands and waters are held communally by Aboriginal peoples themselves — and NOT by chiefs elected under the Indian Act. A failure to recognize this fact has led traditional authorities and members of the Wabanaki Confederacy to challenge decisions made in contempt of their inherent rights. [3] [5] [27] [37]
As citizen education about shale gas took place across all cultural sectors, settler-citizens of Wabanaki-New Brunswick began asserting their collective rights and demanding that laws meant to ensure governments act in the best interest of their citizens are upheld! New, profound and powerful legal questions are being asked. The alliances between settlers and Aboriginal people are asserting pressure on industry representatives and law makers who overstep their jurisdiction and act too blatantly in the interests of corporations. People are not only upholding the Treaties, they are demanding that they be governed by the Rule of Law. [38]
The Glorious New Brunswick Shale Gas Rebellion is a living expression of peace and friendship between people who have survived centuries of colonial rule and oppression. A statement from the New Brunswick Shale Gas Alliance superbly sums up this solidarity relationship. “We stand in solidarity with these representatives of the Original Peoples, and that we will continue our common struggle together to have the technology known as “hydraulic fracturing” outlawed across all the Maritimes and in any and all other traditional lands of the Original People.” It is noteworthy that the Alliance has also called for an independent public inquiry into the police raid on a peaceful protest camp in Rexton on October 17th, 2013. [4] [38]
Allied Movement Downplayed by Media Spin
Despite media reports focused on the support of Highway 11 Land Defenders for Elsipogtog and warriors, the “movement” did not begin or end near Rexton, New Brunswick on October 17, 2013. Decades old settler movements to live in peace and friendship and uphold the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples have become part of the fabric of Wabanaki Territory-Atlantic Canada. By October 17, violent police treatment of peaceful protesters had been ongoing for almost 5 months and the anti-shale gas movement had been building support for five years. Global media attention arrived in time to deliver impressive coverage of the prayerful women, visiting environmental activists, camouflaged warriors and sniper squads who happened to be on the scene on or after October 17 – the day everyone was traumatized. At this time, facts were manipulated, divisions were created and misinformation and partial truths began to shape journalistic, judicial and public opinion. [36]
Many people saw the anti-shale gas movement gain strength when Elsipogtog’s elected Chief and Council gave it public support. Well publicized meetings with Chief Aaren Sock, the Premier and their attachés were held and media reported a series of closed-door meetings. An APTN report revealed handwritten notes from one of these closed meetings attended by Sock and Premier David Alward. The notes contained a timeline to end blockades of SWN machinery and allow the company to finish some of its exploration work. Independent media reported a rift between Mi’kmaq Warriors and elected Elsipogtog leadership. Involvement of the Idle No More movement allowed people to connect to broader movements to free people from cycles of corrupt and oppressive regimes. Indigenous leaders across Turtle Island sought their place in the learning, knowing and actions taking place in New Brunswick; people across the world are watching. [6] [7] [34] [35]
It must surely sting veteran activists a little to hear claims such as “In the last 30 years of Canadian environmentalism, there has not been a major environmental victory won without First Nations at the helm.” Such misleading information feeds right into the Government of Canada’s plans for control of resources, the assimilation of Aboriginal peoples and the eventual takeover of Aboriginal territories. In fact, historic alliances between First peoples and settlers have strengthened environmental protection and respect for Treaty and Aboriginal rights (notwithstanding the present government’s policies on these matters). By people joining together to uphold Indigenous and human rights, global movements to protect the lands, waters and fundamental rights of all peoples are strengthened. The last hope for the environment is unity among the people of the earth. [2] [10] [11]
Colonial Industrial Complex Strategy: Make “Good Deals” with “First Nations”
The resource extraction industry’s approach to engaging with “First Nations” peoples on proposed projects includes an understanding “that First Nations now hold the balance of power in deciding the fate of Canada’s resource projects”, and this approach is designed to undermine Indigenous rights by manipulating language to make it sound otherwise. Industry advocates rattle on about “good deals” made with willing Natives, including the deals that led to the establishment of the tar sands projects. Former federal officials become Treaty negotiators and praise those who negotiated the terms of the oil sands projects for “doing it right” by supporting Aboriginal enterprises and employing thousands. Note the key words and phrases being used to attract under-educated First Peoples to “resource development”:“revenue sharing”, “building trust”, “treating First Nations as full partners” and “co-applicants before regulatory boards.” [7] [13] [14]
Enter “check mark consultation”, “culture pimping” (sometimes described as “consultation and accommodation” with “First Nations”) and the Colonial Industrial Complex. Indian Act band leaders advance their demands using terminology like “Treaty Right to Resources” and “Revenue Benefit Sharing”. They talk about their approach as a strategy to “foster good relations between industry, the Crown, and First Nations” in order to “improve the investment climate, and thereby enhance the economic potential.” [16] [17] [33]
Most attempts to achieve genuine “consultation” and “accommodation” processes are stymied by ever-rotating Chief and Council members, making it impossible to create long term analysis and plans – while the “consultants” stay the same. Industry and governments only want to talk to the people who Indian Affairs relies on to make decisions. No one is taking the time to hear what Aboriginal people and communities really want, and prospects for obtaining free, prior and informed consent based on collective rights are strangled. [33]
Pre-existing, collectively-held rights are never, or very rarely, mentioned within the colonial-industrial complex. Likewise, countries that are signatories to the UNDRIP rarely mention that they are required to recognize that the rights of Indigenous peoples to redress, restitution, settlement and dispute resolution. This applies to lands and resources, development activities, environmental protection, cultural rights, repatriation and judicial and legislative processes that may affect Indigenous peoples. Member states are required by law to provide fair, independent, impartial, open and transparent access to justice processes that give due recognition to the laws, traditions, customs, lands, territories and resources of Indigenous peoples. [37]
But instead of affirming pre-existing and lawfully affirmed rights, there is a careful avoidance of the words “free”, “prior” and “informed” “consent” and “traditional authority” in agreements made with “First Nations” leadership. Well-meaning Canadian settlers are similarly misled to believe that they don’t have any real property rights and that only “First Nations” peoples on “reservations” do. But then, the misinformation and enfranchisement agenda included them from the beginning. Divide and conquer.
There are some high stakes games being played. It comes down to the core issues of the right of Indigenous peoples to give or withhold consent to use their lands and resources, the extinguishment of Indigenous peoples’ rights and genocide. You can’t experience the right to free, prior and informed consent at the frightened end of a tyrant’s fist. The colonial-industrial complex raised its fists against protectors of the lands and waters in Wabanaki in 2013. Let Peace and Friendship prevail.
For more information:
– A chronology of events by Willi Nolan
– A KAIROS resource to facilitate discussion on hydraulic fracturing for shale gas and oil – Ethical Reflections on Fracking.
References and Recommended Reading
[1] Premier Concerned Shale Gas Violence Gave Province A Black Eye. Country 94 CHSJ News, Saint John New Brunswick. January 2, 2014
http://country94news.blogspot.ca/2014_01_02_archive.html
[2] An Inconvenient Truth behind Blazing Police Vehicles by Dana Hart. Moncton Free Press, November 4, 2013 http://sacredfirenb.com/category/analysis-and-history/
[3] The often-ignored facts about Elsipogtog: The majority of Canadians have been woefully under-informed about what is really going in Elsipogtog. Chelsea Vowel. The Toronto Star, November 14, 2013 http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/11/14/the_oftenignored_facts_about_elsipogtog.html
[4] Statement of Support, Peace and Friendship. New Brunswick Anti Shale Gas Alliance, released September 2013
[5] Indigenous Rights are the Best Defense Against Canada’s Resource Rush: First Nations people – and the decision of Canadians to stand alongside them – will determine the fate of the planet. By Martin Luckacs, Common Dreams. https://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/04/28-5
[6] Canada’s First Nations protest heralds a new alliance: The grassroots IdleNoMore movement of aboriginal people offers a more sustainable future for all Canadians http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/20/canada-first-nations-new-alliance?guni=Article:in%20body%20link
[7] First Nations leaders want in on natural resources boom: Over the next decade, a huge boom in Canadian natural resource projects — possibly worth $600 billion — is foreseen on or near First Nations lands. Les Whittington, Toronto Star. Jan. 11, 2013.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/01/11/first_nations_leaders_want_in_on_natural_resources_boom.html
[8] First Nations Fight Against the Frackers. The Mi’kmaq People of New Brunswick against Texas Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN) | Global Research http://www.globalresearch.ca/first-nations-fight-against-the-frackers-the-mikmaq-people-of-new-brunswick-against-texas-southwestern-energy-co-swn/5363944
[9] “Jane Doe” SLAPPs Back! Defending Lawsuit to Silence & Intimidate Anti-Fracking Protests by Willi Nolan. Willi Nolan Speaks December 2013 http://www.willinolanspeaks.com/shares/jane-doe-slapps-back-defending-lawsuit-to-silence-intimidate-anti-fracking-protests/
[10] First Nations’ Legal Framework Stand to Protect Us All. by Andrea Palframan. Watershed Sentinel, British Columbia Environmental News Magazine, Jan-Feb-2014-Vol24-No1
http://www.watershedsentinel.ca/content/first-nations-legal-framework-stand-protect-us-all
[11] 40 Years of Greenpeace Victories http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/victories/
[12] “Indigenous is sexy” quoted in conversation with Stephen Puddicombe, CBC Atlantic region, 2013
[13] 170 legal victories empower First Nations in fight over resource development. By Claudia Cattaneo. Financial Post. December 14, 2012. http://business.financialpost.com/2012/12/14/170-legal-victories-empower-first-nations-in-fight-over-resource-development/
[14] Bill Gallagher Strategist, Lawyer, Author. The Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/bill-gallagher/
[15] Fracking Protests in NB: Why Resource Projects Are in Peril by Bill Gallagher.
The Huffington Post. October 18, 2013 http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/bill-gallagher/new-brunswick-fracking-protest_b_4123114.html
[16] In oil sands, a native millionaire sees ‘economic force’ for first nations. By Nathan Vanderklippe. Globe & Mail. Aug. 13 2012 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/in-oil-sands-a-native-millionaire-sees-economic-force-for-first-nations/article4479795/
[17] Treaty Right to Resources, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Retrieved Jan. 20. 2014. http://www.fsin.com/index.php/treaty-right-to-resources.html
[18] Green home brings electricity, clean water and jobs to Navajo Nation residents. By , Navajo Hopi Observer. December 10, 2013 http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubsectionID=1&ArticleID=15895
[19] German solar producing as much as 20 fully operational nuclear power stations
http://tinyurl.com/co29zab
[20] Wind Generation From Tribal Lands. African American Environmentalist Association. Retireved January 26, 2014 http://aaenvironment.blogspot.ca/2008/04/wind-generation-from-tribal-lands.html
[21] Lakota Solar Enterprises. Web site for 100-percent American Indian owned and operated renewable energy manufacturing and training facility located on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. http://www.lakotasolarenterprises.com/
[22] Native Sun News: Red Cloud promotes clean energy for tribes by Talli Nauman, Native Sun News January 9, 2012 http://www.indianz.com/News/2012/004152.asp
[23] Women’s Major Group contribution for the Eighth Session of the Open Working Group on the Sustainable Development Goals (OWG8) Forests and Biodiversity. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Open Working Group. January 14, 2014. http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1680
[24] UN Declaration: “All Prayers Are Heard By the Same God” Say Yes to Indigenous Rights Campaign launches in Fredericton. Media Release, Wulustukieg Traditional Council of Tobic June 2, 2010 http://www.thewtct.org/UN_Declaration.html
[25] First Nations Must be Partners, Not an Afterthought: Atleo AFN. Wulustuk Times, Tobique First Nation, NB. September 2012 http://www.schaarschmidt.it/cms/images/stories/Tobique/Wulustuk_Times_Sep2012.pdf
[26] First Nations Collectively Oppose Fracking, by Nugeekadoonkut WTCT Wulustuk Times, Wulustukieg Traditional Council of Tobic. August 2013 http://www.thewtct.org/uploads/Aug_2013.pdf
[27] The Wulustukyieg Traditional Council of Tobic Position on Shale Gas Exploitation Within Our Homeland by Dan Ennis, Saugum, WTCT Wulustuk Times, Wulustukieg Traditional Council of Tobic. August 2013 http://www.thewtct.org/uploads/Aug_2013.pdf
[28] Race is a Construct: We are All Human Beings. THE EAGLE WATCH Newsletter: Indigenous perspective on issues. Jan 30, 2014 http://npogroups.org/lists/arc/eaglewatch/2014-01/msg00008.html
[29] The Insane Realities of Indigenous Politics – A Prayer for Social Transformation by Colby Tootoosis. Poundmaker Cree Nation, Rants, Rez politics, and Indigenous Liberation. 9 Feb. 2014 http://indigenousevolution.wordpress.com/2014/02/09/the-insane-realities-of-indigenous-politics-a-prayer-for-social-transformation/
[30] The Gradual Civilization Act: An Act to Encourage the Gradual Civilization of Indian Tribes in this Province, and to Amend the Laws Relating to Indians 3rd Session, 5th Parliament, 1857.
http://www.ahki.ca/the-gradual-civilization-act.php
[31] The Indian Act: An Historical Overview. Maple Leaf Web, University of Lethbridge, Alberta.
http://mapleleafweb.com/features/the-indian-act-historical-overview
[32] History Of The Indian Act (Part One – Three) by Rodney Soonias, Saskatchewan Indian 1978 Vol. 8. Saskatchewan Indian Collection of selected full text articles, 1970 – 2003
http://www.sicc.sk.ca/archive/saskindian/a78mar04.htm
[33] Check Marks and Culture Pimps. By Dawn Marie. Storify Feb. 2014.
http://storify.com/Cree8Dawn/check-marks-and-culture-pimps
[34] NB premier, Mi’kmaq chief discussed ending blockade, allowing shale gas exploration to continue, handwritten notes reveal By Jorge Barrera, APTN National News 9 Oct 2013.
http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/10/09/nb-nb-premier-mikmaq-chief-discussed-ending-blockade-allowing-shale-gas-exploration-to-continue-handwritten-notes-reveal/
[35] Paper Tigers at Midnight: Elsipogtog Band notice to Texas-frackers goes unheeded. by Miles Howe, Halifax Media Coop. October 2, 2013 http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/paper-tigers-midnight/19100
[36] Anti-Fracking Actions Erupt in support of Elsipogtog by Lauren McCauley. Two Row Times December 2013 http://tworowtimes.com/news/national/anti-fracking-actions-erupt-support-elsipogtog/
[37] Submission to the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Study on access to justice in the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. International Indian Treaty Council, Non-Governmental Organization with General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. February 11th, 2013
http://cdn6.iitc.org/wp-content/uploads/IITC-Submission-EMRIP-Access-to-Justice-Study.pdf
[38] New Brunswick’s shale gas protests. by Dallas McQuarrie. Dennis Gruending, Canadian writer Blog. October 22, 2013
http://www.dennisgruending.ca/2013/10/new-brunswicks-shale-gas-protests/
[39] Court grants RCMP access to media tapes to ID Rexton suspects: Documents give new insight into clash between police and anti-shale gas protesters in October. CBC News Feb 19, 2014
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/court-grants-rcmp-access-to-media-tapes-to-id-rexton-suspects-1.2543089
[40] RCMP bombed oil site in ‘dirty tricks’ campaign CBC News Jan 30, 1999
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rcmp-bombed-oil-site-in-dirty-tricks-campaign-1.188599
[41] Full text: Speech from the Throne, National Post March 3, 2010
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/fp/Speech+from+Throne+Full+text/2637533/story.html
