VANOC, AFN Press Conference DISRUPTED, Toronto, March 8th 2009

The Assembly of First Nations is at the Intercontinental Hotel to promote the Olympics and make deals with its corporate sponsors. But, grassroots movements in indigenous communities are saying no to the Olympics. They see their land being irreparably damaged by expanding Olympic developments.

The Olympics have brought a frenzy of development to BC - the Olympics are the new gold rush bringing displacement and destruction to indigenous communities and culture. The Province of BC was carved out of land that was never surrendered by the indigenous peoples, and was never part of any treaty. Today, most of the province remains as unceded land. Despite this, the government continues to sell, lease and allow development on Native land for mining, logging, oil & gas, ski resorts, and other industries.

The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) has gone to great lengths to hide the negative impacts that the Olympics will have on indigenous peoples, by obscuring the facts on their participation in these games. VANOC would suggest that participation means appropriating and marketing indigenous imagery and culture, and also making a series of multi-million dollar business deals that funnel money through Band Councils.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• olympics
• resistance
• anti-2010
• protest
• anti-olympic resistance
• native
• indigenous
• 2010 games
• eminem
• native warriors
• toronto
• tar sands
• RBC
• Harriett Nahanee
• International womens day

[merryprankster60]

One thing though, this land in and around Toronto is NOT the traditional land of the MIssissauga. They only arrived in the mid 1700's, under the wing of the LIttle Brothers, the Cayuga, after they left their Fire up north - [from the 3 Fires of the Odawa, the Ojibwe and the Potawatomi]; however, this IS the traditional land of the Iroquois / Haudenosaunee - we have burial sites that are well over 2000 years old here, and many village sites that predate the Mississauga by many, many years.

[NativeSolidarity]

Thanks for bringing that information to our attention! Now we know!! The comment about "mississauga" was because the RBC rep had made a point at the onset of his speech to announce that the land the Hotel occupied was (wrongly) the Mississuaga people's.

Then when the security guard mentioned private property, your not allowed to speak... He felt inclined to remind people of the fact that "They" (Vanoc/AFN) acknowledge that it was native land....

[warforequality]

I love it. Young Ogkimaak and Ogkimaakwe standing up to the corrupt Indian elite. Fuck the Indian Chiefs. Power to the Anishinabe and other First Nations.

[carisiabonita]

FCUK!!! kEEP IT ROCKIN' NO Olympics on stolen land. Canada & U.S has always given money to 'AID' Genocide. I am almost certain that the Earth will quiver in 2010. I wish you love and light.

'One cannot represent the oppressed, if they have not lived it'

N. T

[6Nations4life]

i love it plan short and simple just like she said our confederacy does not answer to AFN. all indian people need to stand up for WHAT we believe in. even if we have to die for it.

id rather die knowing i die in honor of helping my people instead of sitting at home doing FUCK ALL. we all the original people to this land the original owners of the land. this is our mother lets stop slacking off and protect her.

the 7th generation is near a time of change is in the air lets make a change.

[jmbstat]

go back to nunavut!

[EXPOSEDSOUL85]

I think it's time for us north americans to stand up againt corporations, we must learn from countries like Iran and china were people stand up bravely and die for their beleifs. The problem with North america is that people are so comfortable with their lifestyle that they are blinded of what is happening around them. Lets Wake them up. Enough is enough. so let's start now. Do what you can, even if it's just by not drinking pepsi or not buying made in China products. The future is ours!!!!

[pitbullkustoms]

Stolen native lands?

Give it back and cut off the welfare checks, see how long it would take to get it back. Couple bottles and checks later, it would be sold right back.

[hauseye590]

I bet if they were getting money and casino land they would be happy as clams. Fucking indians man...

[jumbo119guy]

LOL I saw that guy in the green shirt doin' drugs, being all grimey, and all sketch-bag-like in downtown kitchener. I was on my way to work. he was panning for money. Dont disrespect phil fontaine cause he's worked hard to get where he is in life. Dont protest your own people - it alienates your peers and mobilizes them against you. shame on you

[Motigflames]

No this is what we do not want to see.

This would be embarrassing and would justify unneeded police action.

Protest if you must but do it in a respectable fashion.

[24857300990]

what idiots .......

[potowatomi]

this is more of what i want to see in whistler and in van what about you

[wovokanarchy]

I betcha all them bleeding heart wanker protesters are now lining up to claim the 10 and 3 payments and lying that their little ones were molested by so and so just like so many other 10000s of fraudulent claimants, Every priest in the schools must have been ejaculating every hour for every person to lay a claim to abuse. I hope this fraud comes out in the 'Truth and Reconciliation'.