Statement from Concerned Haudenosaunee Women Regarding Injunctions at 1492 Land Back Lane
This statement is issued on behalf of a group of
Haudenosaunee women who are opposed to the use of
injunctions against our people, who are exercising
our sovereignty over our land.
Haudenosaunee have maintained our distinct
worldview and ceremonial practices despite
generations of colonial violence and violations of
our rights. Our traditions and cultural knowledge
are a sacred inheritance that we have an absolute
right to practice. We have the responsibility to
protect this inheritance for our future
generations. In accordance with our worldview, all
matters regarding land are the responsibility of
the women. As caretakers and stewards of the land,
women play a vital role in governance and
decision-making.
Courts violate and criminalize the rights and
responsibility of our women by preventing us from
fulfilling our responsibilities to the land and
our future generations in accordance with
Haudenosaunee Law.
We must also speak to the emotional and spiritual
harm that these injunctions bring to our people.
Our people should never have to suffer emotional
distress for engaging in traditional laws and
customs and the land should never have to suffer
from the absence of our caretaking. We denounce
this system for sowing violence and disrupting the
peace within our community.
We are rightful title holders, and injunctions
deny us our inherent right to our land.
Injunctions also authorize police violence against
our people. Our sovereignty is inherent while
Canada's perceived authority is a product of
violent colonialism and genocide. Injunctions seek
to make this reality invisible, a tool of the
court to sanction more violence and dispossession.
We oppose the broad use of injunctions that are
meant to stifle our people from seeking justice.
Court decisions which prevent Haudenosaunee people
from engaging in our cultural practices impact all
future generations of Haudenosaunee children.
It is our responsibility to protect the
inheritance of our children and we will fulfill
this commitment.
These matters are complex and we do not believe
this court is the appropriate forum to deliberate
our concerns or resolve our issues. We will
continue to resist the criminalization of our
people and illegitimate development in our
territory. We call on the Crown, our allies, to
stop the use of injunctions against our people.
Background
On July 19, 2020, Haudenosaunee Land Defenders
stopped a housing development within the Haldimand
Tract. The so-called McKenzie Meadows became 1492
Land Back Lane.
 On July 31, 2020,
an interim injunction order was placed on the
camp, instructing all Land Defenders to leave and
allow construction to resume.
On August 5, 2020, the Ontario Provincial Police
(OPP) enforced the injunction and brought violence
to our community, tasing and shooting rubber
bullets, arresting several people, and forcibly
removing us from our territory.
In response to this violence, community members
blocked roads to ensure ongoing and safe access to
1492 Land Back Lane. Following the OPP
enforcement, our presence was re-established at
the camp later that day.
On August 7, Haldimand County was granted an
injunction meant to clear roads and railways
through our territory and the July 31 interim
injunction granted to the developer was made
permanent. Injunctions regarding the roads and
rail lines are going to be heard in court again on
August 25, 2020 and potentially be made permanent
as well.
Land Defenders at 1492 Land Back Lane demand
respect for our community decisions making and
justice for the illegitimate land development in
our territory.
We call on our allies to continue amplifying
these demands peacefully and safely.
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 46 - November 28,
2020
Article Link:
Statement from Concerned Haudenosaunee Women Regarding Injunctions at 1492 Land Back Lane
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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