Gatineau (Qc): Cops evict and arrest Native defenders of archeological site, for a development

From Citizens

GATINEAU — The “sacred fire” at a 3,000-year-old aboriginal archeological site in Gatineau was stamped out and six people arrested Thursday when Gatineau police moved in to evict protesters who had been camping out in teepees for the past month.

The city obtained an injunction Thursday afternoon to remove the protesters and gave them a 6:45 deadline to clear out.

But they refused.

Roger Fleury, one of the organizers, had gone to court to ask for more time to prepare a defence. When he returned to the site, which the aboriginal protesters say is sacred, with the news that he had failed, he didn’t apologize. Tossing the injunction into the “sacred fire” at the centre of the campsite, he said:

“We’ll go to jail.”

Minutes after the deadline, about 15 police vehicles arrived. Officers « asked » the protesters to leave peacefully, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

“This is our land, we gave it to you,” cried Audrey Redman, one of the protesters. “Instead you take us to your prison!”

Of Ants and Men…

To the capitalists…

No, the State doesn’t have the last word.

Let the waters flow, let nature go its ways.

Yet you still dare standing in her way…

Have you forgot what is this you’re sitting on?

What is this air you’re breathing?

It’s that planet that isn’t yours.

It’s that land that isn’t for sale.

That land.. can take everything back.

Everything that is yours.

You think you’re the masters?

You think your science will save you?

You are still weak little ants, running towards a fire…

But even the ants themselves aren’t that stupid.

When it gets too hot, they move away.