Solidarity with With Wolastoq Elders and Activists
November 4, 2021
Dear Premier Higgs, Minister Fleming,
There is nothing honourable, just or safe in your recent ban of the words unsurrendered and unceded with respect to land acknowledgements in New Brunswick. Land acknowledgements excluding these words are not only inappropriate and inaccurate, they are harmful. We stand with Ron Tremblay, the Wolastoq Grand Chief Morningstar burning (see letter below) and Wolastoq Elders and friends. We are outraged and dismayed at the continued shows of colonial racism, genocide and lack of respect to our friends and First Peoples on whose land we continue to live, work and profit.
The Treaties of Peace and Friendship were signed in good faith such that there could be peaceful and friendly nation-to-nations relations. Real reconciliation and healing demand that the truth be told. This is an example of continued colonial violence under the guise of legal and bureaucratic process.
As a multi-faith coalition of faith institutions and faith leaders, we ask that land acknowledgments be restored properly and that the land claims proceed in the spirit of the original Treaties, in peaceful friendship, dignity and mutual respect. At this point in history, you are being called to provide moral leadership in truth and reconciliation in order to keep public faith in your government and governance.
Yours sincerely,
Multi-faith Coalition on Treaty Rights, specifically:
Sis’moqon and Nanci Lee, Tatamagouche Centre
Brian Gifford
Nancy Blair
Rev. Anne Hoganson, United Church Regions East Justice, Mission & Outreach Committee
Rev. Marian Lucas-Jefferies
Debra Ross
Barbara Aikeman
kathrin winkler, Nova Scotia Voices of Women for Peace
NSVOW MMIWG Report Reading Group
Richard Peisinger, Halifax Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective
Dick Cotterill, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Mohamed Yaffa, Centre for Islamic Development
Charlotte Akin
Samten Chodron
Brenda Holoboff
Sandy Greenberg
Joan Smith
kathrin winkler
Paul Schwartzentruber
Violet Rosengarten
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i respectfully acknowledge in our homeland of Wolastokuk that we Wolastoqewiyik have never surrendered one speck of Earth, one drop of Water or one breath of Air. Since first contact, the representatives of the british crown have strived to eliminate Wolastoqewiyik by violently stealing our lands and resources and by forcing our people onto reservations in the act of Genocide.
The provincial conservative party strives to continue Systemic Racism, Dictatorship and Colonialism, from which they have built their solid foundation
The provincial conservative party continues to ignore the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Report
The provincial conservative party continues the act of Genocide
Wolastoqewi Kci-Sakom spasaqsit possesom – Ron Tremblay
(Wolastoq Grand Chief morningstar burning)
Kahkakuhsuwakutom naka Malsomuwakutom
(Crow & Wolf Clan)
