At the FIPA rally, June 5 2013
Outside the Federal Court, 701 Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC
Photo: Brenda Sayers, pictured here with white blanket, of Hupacasath First Nations, Vancouver Island, has led the First Nations court action, on behalf of Canadians, against the Canada/China Investment Protection Agreement (FIPA).
Interviewer: We’re talking all about solidarity. It’s all about We Stand Together. How do you think the outcome of this case will affect the other cases that are up right now with the Frog Lake and the Misigaw around overturning the legislation that destroyed our Navigable Waters Act?
SP: I think that all of these court cases will serve as a
cumulative effect of pushing back the Harper Government’s legislative agenda. I think collectively these cases serve notice not only on the HG but certainly on industry, business interests, that they are simply not going to steamroll indigenous land rights and environmental considerations without us pushing back and taking these matters before the courts and politically challenging this agenda. Storming into shareholder meetings, holding marches and demonstrations, and if necessary, blockading roads and rail lines and occupying development sites.
Do you feel this coalition building that ‘s happened here with Lead Now, Council Of Canadians and Avaaz has built a constituency of people who are willing to lay themselves down?
SP: Absolutely. I absolutely believe that. I ‘ve been involved in the political affairs of indigenous people for almost 40 years. The unprecedented unity and solidarity we’ve witnessed in the last year or so is absolutely amazing. I’ve never witnessed the coming together of such a diverse group of people focussed on a common cause of pushing back the H agenda and everything that represents, pushing back on the industrialization and commmodfication of what amounts to the natural world.
The big emphasis we’re hearing today in court is that we are consultation process. ONe of the questions the judge asked which is yet to be answered is: How would consultations change the outcome of the FIPA. If our goal is to sit down and have a discussion what particular elements of FIPA are most objectionable?
SP: I think the whole purpose of consolation is to To provide the necessary space to more closely examine some of these projects and the impacts they’ll have on the ecosystem and the environment. Clearly the HG is in the pocket of big oil and big industry developing a legislative framework that simply rubber stamps all of our resource development project proposals, to the detriment of environment human rights and the interests of Canadians.
Had FIPA already been in place would the Enbridge decision have been different?
SP: I think that regardless, we’re at a tipping point. This is a global issue. Globally speaking, People throughout the world are becoming more and more aware it is incumbent on us as individual human beings to stand up and defend the birthright of our children. I absolutely believe that. I think that awareness is sweeping across North American and the rest of the world. I believe that Idle No More was a manifestation of that awareness, as was the Occupy Wall Street Movement and similar movements that will follow.
One place where we can all be united is in standing for future generations. This is where we are all one family. You spoke about your grandchildren. Do you have any messages for Canadian parents? Those who would be willing for a change to go against the status quo.
SP: As grandparents we need to wake up to the fact that we hold the future of our grandchildren in our hands. We are going to need to move out of our denial and take responsibility directly for what is happening with the government of Canada: the corruption and the agenda that serves to pander to the corporate world. And fight back.
If we lose this case, what happens next?
SP: We will continue the fight. We will take the fight to the streets, to the highways, the roads, the rail lines, and to the development sites themselves.
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Sent to Watershed Sentinel by correspondent Andrea Palframan
