SocialistWorker www.socialist.ca $2 no. 567 October 2014 Indigenous sovereignty Page 2 Audrey Huntley exposes Harper’s “action plan” on NO WAR indigenous women, and Valerie Lannon looks at the new “partnership” Climate justice Page 3 NO WARMING Peter Hogarth reports from the People’s Climate March Socialists in action Page 3 Parry Singh Mudar reports on a recent talk by Seattle socialist and councillor Kshama Sawant Civil liberties Page 5 Craig Frayne recalls the October Crisis of 1970 and how Pierre Trudeau suppressed civil liberties Iraq War Page 6-7 What’s behind ISIS, why STOP does Harper want war, and what are alternatives? Social Democracy Page 8 Chris Rogers looks at THE the failure of the NDP’s right-wing populism in New Brunswick, and Alex Hunsberger discusses the looming repeat in Toronto WAR Disability Pride Page 11 Melissa Graham discusses the Toronto Disability Pride March ON Labour against austerity Page 11 Octavian Cadabeschi explains how Toronto restaurant workers won, and Carolyn Egan tells the IRAQ lessons of Alma *stop bombing Iraq *stop arming Saudi Arabia Steelworkers *shut down the tar sands *end military spending *support veterans and war resisters *help refugees *divert military spending to jobs/services *stop Harper Reproductive Facts & figures justice day of 19 action number of people beheaded in Western-backed Saudi by MAUREEN ASLIN Arabia in August alone Reproductive Justice: Equal Access Now! 69 In advance of the New percentage of people in Brunswick provincial elec- Canada who agree with tions, activists across Canada decision not to join 2003 joined a Pan Canadian Iraq War Day of Action demanding reproductive justice and 70 equal access to abortion, par- percentage active-duty ticularly in the Maritimes, soldiers who oppose sending where people are demanding combat troops to Iraq ac- the repeal of NB’s regulation cording to a recent Military 84-20, which limits basic Times Poll reproductive healthcare in contravention to the Canada 1600 Health Act. Number of US troops Rallies in Halifax, already in Iraq before the Charlottetown, Vancouver, bombing began Montreal, Guelph, and Sackville, Fredericton $2000 and other cities called for amount conservative solidarity with women in NB mayoral candidate John and PEI and those in rural Tory gave to Rob Ford’s and northern communities campaign last year that do not have access to Interview: Harper’s ‘action plan’ abortions. 40,000 While continuing to dis- not valued by their foster include providing safe to eliminate Indigenous number of people who miss widespread calls families, so really it’s a very transportation in remote peoples as they stand Toronto rally/march marched last year at what for a national inquiry for deep systemic problem.” communities. A bus on the between them and land and In Toronto at Ryerson was then the largest climate missing and murdered Socialist Worker fol- highway of tears was one resources. University’s Lake Devo, march in US history Indigenous women lowed-up with an interview of the recommendations of speakers gathered beside and girls, the Harper with Audrey Huntley: the Missing Women Inquiry 4) Can you discuss that a giant coat hanger, sym- 400,000 government announced in BC that still hasn’t various ways Indigenous bolic of the unsafe abortions number of people who a $25 million “action 1) What is the $25 mil- been implemented. In the women are organizing, women need to resort to marched last month in New plan”—proposing to lion plan? long term it will take real like No More Silence? when legal, safe healthcare York at the People’s Climate develop community From my understanding decolonization in order for No More Silence continues is not available. March safety plans, projects these are not new monies the killing to stop. to organize ceremony on Jordana Greenblatt of to “break intergenera- but rather existing funds that As for an inquiry there February 14th as an act of OCAC stated “This is a 1 million tional cycles of violence are being shuffled around needs to be clarity as to public mourning and to sup- major disparity in terms of number of Iraqis killed by and abuse,” and work and most of it is going what an inquiry would port family and community access. It’s a violation of the the 2003 invastion with Indigenous men into existing programs and actually entail. Many family members. Over the past year Canada Health Act, which to denounce violence policing. members simply want or so we have partnered with the federal government 1.5 million against women. closed or idle cases to be Native Youth Sexual Health refuses to enforce. And it is number of Iraqis killed by As Audrey Huntley, co- 2) What real action is reopened or want a review Network and Families of truly shameful.” sanctions in the 1990s founder of No More Silence, needed to bring justice? of the police investigation as Sister in Spirit to create a Marie Clarke Walker, explained to CBC: “It feels I think many of our opposed to research into the community data base—more Exec VP, Canadian Labour $10 billion to me like it’s really laying community members are root causes of the violence information about that can Congress asked “Who the amount of weapons sold by the blame on the aboriginal demanding a national which has already been done be found here. hell is Stephen Harper and Canada to Saudi Arabia this community and completely inquiry because they want to and that we know lie in his government and the right year ignoring stranger violence. see some recognition of the ongoing settler colonialism. 5) How can non-Indigen- wing to tell me, my daugh- Yes, there is violence going severity of the issue by those ous communities be ter, my granddaughter and $36 billion on in our communities and in positions of authority and 3) Why is the Harper gov- allies? you what the hell they can amount of health care funds on reserves, but also many power to make changes. ernment so resistant? Responsible allies need to do with their own bodies? Harper is cutting by ending of the women who are killed Family members feel not It is not in the interest of call the government out on It’s outright classism and transfer payments or who go missing, go mis- only the terrible pain of the the Harper government for their genocidal policies as racism - we’ve said to the sing in big cities. We need loss of a loved one but in the depth and extent of this well as educate themselves marginalized women in this $490 billion to engage Canadian society addition they suffer from the issue to be revealed. The on the history of this coun- country that you can’t have amount Harper is pledging in why aboriginal women societal indifference around Harper government’s main try. Allies can also help in what is rightfully yours.” to the Canadian military aren’t valued. That’s really the issue and the crass agenda revolves around concrete ways by volunteer- Speaker after speaker over the next 20 years, what it comes down to. dismissal of their concerns resource extraction and ing their time or donating noted their incredulity to be as part of “Canada First They’re not valued when it by the federal government. Indigenous people are in funds to community-led at yet another rally, in the Defence Strategy” comes to the police inves- Some positive action that the way. The Harper and initiatives that do not look year 2014, demanding what tigating their cases, they’re would make Indigenous other settler governments to the state for funding or was legislated over 25 years not valued by that child women less vulnerable will continue to implement solutions. ago as a basic healthcare to welfare system and they’re in the immediate would genocidal policies that aim All my relations. which all women in Canada In their own are entitled. words Afterwards there was a spirited march to Yonge & How ‘new’ will the Partnership be? Dundas. Marchers carrying “The price is worth by VALERIE LANNON placards and the giant coat it” hanger crisscrossed the US Secretary of State The launch of opportunities for First Indigenous peoples is to be undermined such fairness. intersection in a “scramble Madeleine Albright, in 1996 “Canadians for a New Peoples, which must be the applauded. The upcoming Lectures and discussions for access.” in response to the question Partnership” (CNP) tangible results of that new release of the report of the groups might be a start- “We have heard that half a took place September partnership.”(see www. Truth and Reconciliation ing point for people just The struggle million children have died 4, 2014 amidst much cfnp.ca) Commission, which will beginning to learn about continues [in Iraq from US sanctions]. media fanfare. Stephen Kakfwi, former document the personal the history of both injustice In post-election NB, Brian I mean, that’s more children The press conference premier of the Northwest stories and impacts of against and resistance by Gallant the Premier-elect, than died in Hiroshima. featured a number of well Territories and President of residential schools, will Indigenous peoples. But if is assembling a committee And, you know, is the price known, former political the NWT Dene Nation, is provide a great opportunity there is no change to prac- to look at how to make it worth it?” leaders including former credited with initiating this to build on the desire by a tice, i.e. in active solidarity easier for women to have Assembly of First Nations partnership. Indigenous growing number of people with self-determination abortions, in an attempt to “We don’t do body Grand Chief Ovide supporters include Elders, in Canada and Quebec struggles, then the CNP appease social conservatives counts” Mercredi and former Prime community leaders and ac- to ensure justice for will be just a talk shop.