A-Infos (en) Canada, Collectif Emma Goldman - Blockades and Solidarity (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Confrontation during a blockade of a logging road in the Wemotaci region 
of Quebec (Wikipedia). On the left, Dave Petiquay of the MAMO First 
Nation collective faces Dany Grenier (right), a logging contractor from 
Dolbeau-Mistassini (image by Lisanne Pittikwi on Facebook). ---- Text 
first published on Liberté Ouvrière on August 29, 2025 ---- "...the 
state, the bourgeoisie, and even the working class were formed in part 
through the destruction of the First Nations, the dispossession of their 
territories, the extortion of their resources, and settler colonialism." 
- Francis Dupuis-Déri and Benjamin Pillet, 2019. Anarcho-Indigenism. Lux 
Éditeur, Montreal. p.35

In recent weeks, forestry road blockades have been carried out in 
Haute-Mauricie and northern Lac-Saint-Jean by the Mamo Alliance (First 
Nation). These actions, carried out to protest Bill 97 on forestry 
reform, have interrupted or disrupted forestry operations.

Uniting First Nations for Sovereignty and Territorial Protection

On April 11, 2025, an assembly was held in La Tuque to found the Mamo 
Alliance. This alliance, whose name means "Together" in the Atikamekw 
(Nehiromowin) and Innu (Innu-aimun) languages, aims to bring First 
Nations together to exercise their sovereignty. It was initiated by the 
guardians of the Nehirowisiw (Atikamekw), Nitassinan (Innuat), and 
Ndakina (Abenaki) territories.

Opposition to Bill 97 and Claims of Sovereignty

Land guardians are expressing their opposition to Bill 97, which amends 
Quebec's forestry regime. They believe this law endangers woodland 
caribou and forest sustainability, thereby compromising the traditional 
Indigenous way of life during a climate crisis.

Numerous blockades and demonstrations of sovereignty (1) have generated 
tensions between Indigenous protesters and non-Indigenous forestry 
workers, also fueling hateful comments on social media. In response to 
this situation, the Quebec government has promised to negotiate with 
First Nations to reach a consensus and consider amendments to the bill.

Traditionalist Indigenous groups (such as the Mamo Alliance), which rely 
on ancestral rights and traditions, maintain that true authority over 
forest lands rests with families and land guardians. They believe that 
the current band councils, established by the Canadian government's 
Indian Act system, do not reflect traditional sovereignty and are 
perceived as complicit in the colonial system. These groups believe that 
band councils cannot negotiate on behalf of all members of the nations.

The Petapan Treaty and Forest Management

This tension between band councils and traditionalists is not new; it 
also appears in other negotiations, such as the Petapan Treaty. Under 
negotiation for over forty years, this proposed treaty involves the 
Petapan Group, which brings together the Essipit, Mashteuiatsh, and 
Nutashkuan First Nations, as well as Canada and Quebec, and aims to 
recognize, affirm, and protect Innu rights. However, traditionalists 
oppose this treaty, arguing that the traditional governance of 
hereditary chiefs and guardians of the land is being set aside in favor 
of the band councils.

In Conclusion

There will be no reconciliation without reparations. The Canadian and 
Quebec states were founded on the appropriation of Indigenous peoples' 
territories and resources. To achieve true reconciliation, it is 
essential to support and engage in decolonial and environmental 
struggles. It is crucial to become true allies in this battle to protect 
life. This means avoiding, in our relations between non-Indigenous and 
Indigenous peoples within decolonization movements: "the invisibility of 
Indigenous people or the reclamation of their voice, the use of 
Indigenous servants, the imposition of tactical and strategic choices, 
or a general attitude of guilt-freedom to ease one's conscience" 
(Anarcho-Indigenism, p. 10).

(1) Unlike other regions of Canada where historic treaties were signed, 
vast tracts of territory, particularly in British Columbia and Quebec, 
have never been subject to land cession treaties.

Also read: Be a good ally or stay home!

English version: Blockades and Solidarity

By Collectif Emma Goldman

http://ucl-saguenay.blogspot.com/2025/08/blockades-and-solidarity.html
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
Subscribe/Unsubscribe https://ainfos.ca/mailman/listinfo/a-infos-en
Archive: http://ainfos.ca/en