Longstanding Opposition to Militarization of Indigenous Territories

Mural in Montreal depicting the fight of the Innu to defend their homeland

One of the striking features about Canada's Arctic Foreign Policy is the claim that war preparations and militarization of  northern Canada and Quebec have the approval of the Indigenous Peoples. This is literally whitewashing history and a cover-up of the longstanding opposition of Indigenous Peoples to the militarization of their lands, including in the far north. Below is an excerpt from an article by Brent Patterson written for Peace Brigades International on April 23, 2021, that gives some examples. The militarization of the north is sure to bring new hardships to the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, adding insult to the injuries already suffered under the colonial relations with the Canadian state.

Innu Resistance to Fighter Jets

Years ago, [Innu Elder Tshuakuesh Elizabeth] Penashue stated: "Canada sees our land as uninhabited land. It is inhabited by the Innu, and it is inhabited by wildlife."

Just last September, when announcing "air defence exercises" near Goose Bay, Labrador, the Department of National Defence confirmed Penashue's comment when it stated: "[The] exercise flights will be conducted over sparsely populated Arctic areas and at high altitudes where the public is not likely to hear or see them."

That "5 Wing Goose Bay" Air Base was established after World War II.

Penashue has stated: "In the years that the military has been in Goose Bay, the Innu's culture has collapsed. The use of our lands by others, without our being consulted, has caused stress in our family relationships and links to our family violence. The Innu did not welcome foreign domination. It happened against their will."

There was similarly no consultation about the NATO low-level flight testing for the cruise missile over Nitassinan that begin in the late 1980s.

During the resistance against that, Penashue noted: "I went to the bombing range with others. We put tents on the base to protest. We were jailed many times, in Goose Bay and Stephenville. We walked from Toronto to Ottawa, and they put us in jail there, too."

That low-level testing finally came to an end in 2005.

There have been other significant resistance struggles to Canadian military bases on Indigenous territories in this country.

Inuit occupy military runway in 1989 in opposition to militarization of their lands (top) and protest arrests  of those who occupied the runway (bottom)

Undated news clipping from mid 1980s on Innu protests against NATO bombers. (click to enlarge)

Dene Lands in Alberta

Dene Su'lene' land defenders have stated: "In 1952, we were forcibly evicted from our homelands [so that 4 Wing Cold Lake could be constructed]."

"In Suckerville [on the shores of Primrose Lake], our people had a 7-day sit-in, refusing to leave. Reluctantly, after heavy coercion from the government, a deal was made."

They add: "Our people left peacefully under the understanding that this was to be a short-term lease purely for military use, and that the 4,490 square miles of land was to be returned or re-negotiated after 20 years."

Then in June 2001, Dene Su'lene' Warriors established a Peace Camp blockade 300 metres from the gate to the military base that also includes the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR) where live fire training exercises are conducted.

Land defender Brian Grandbois was one of the opponents of the military base at that time. In an interview, he told The Dominion: "My great-great-great-grandfather is buried there on a point on that lake where they bomb."

The Dene Warriors who set up the blockade stated: "They play with their air weapons and their fighter jets and all of their killing machines right on the homeland of the Dene who have confronted the giant military range by an unarmed peace camp."

In August 2020, the Minister of National Defence announced that a $9.2 million contract had been awarded for "the design of a new fighter jet facility at 4 Wing Cold Lake, one of two main operating bases for Canada's future fighter aircraft."

Cold Lake Weapons Range is built on Traditional Dene lands, shown in green (click to enlarge).

"Forward Operating Location" for Fighter Jets in Nunavut

Nunatsiaq News recently reported that a "forward operating location" in Iqaluit, Nunavut is being contemplated that "includes three hangars capable of housing F-18 fighter jets." This would be part of the "modernization" of NORAD.

This past January, the Royal Canadian Air Force conducted "High Arctic air training" exercises with two CF-18 fighter jets out of Iqaluit.

CF-18 on training flight out of Iqaluit, January 2021

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This article was published in

Volume 54 Number 12 - December 2024

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/M540123.HTM

Website:  www.cpcml.ca   Email:  editor@cpcml.ca