FALL FEAST: An anti-colonial evening of food, film and resistance

with Toghestiy (Wet’suwet’en Likhts’amisyu Clan),

Demian DinéYazhi’ (Radical Indigenous Survivance & Empowerment Collective),

& Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel (Turtle Clan, from Kanehsatà:ke and the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation)

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Native Friendship Center of Montreal

2001 boulevard St-Laurent (métro St-Laurent)

doors & meal at 6pm; evening events to continue until 9pm

[facebook : www.facebook.com/events/1660719880810822/]

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Free – Welcome to all! — Wheelchair accessible

Childcare on-site — Whisper translation (EN-FR)

Please get in touch about any accessibility needs.

This event takes place on the traditional territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka. The Kanien’kehá:ka are the keepers of the Eastern Door of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The island called “Montreal” is known as Tiotia:ke in the language of the Kanien’kehá:ka, and it has historically been a meeting place for other Indigenous nations, including the Algonquin peoples.

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Confirmed presentations & speakers:

- TOGHESTIY

Toghestiy is a traditionalist and grassroots land defender. He is a Hereditary Chief of the Wet’suwet’en Likhts’amisyu Clan and has lived on the frontlines for 5-1/2 years. He is starting a new Wet’suwet’en Frontline Camp called the Likhts’amisyu Stronghold on his people’s traditional territory stopping all Pipelines from starting construction. He is starting to assemble an Indigenous solidarity network called the Indigenous People’s Frontline Alliance. This Alliance represents traditional/heredirary people battling development on their homelands using truly grassroots methods.

- DEMIAN DINÉYAZHI’

Demian is an artist residing & working in Portland, Oregon. Born & raised in the “Indian Capital of the World”, Gallup, NM, Diné Yazhi’ is a transdisciplinary warrior whose work is an archivalization & exploration of memory formation, landscape representation, HIV/AIDS-related art & activism, gender / sexuality, & indigenous survivance. Demian has exhibited work nationally & internationally, in addition to having his artwork & writing published over the last few years. In 2010 he founded the Indigenous artist/activist/warrior collective, R.I.S.E.: Radical Indigenous Survivance & Empowerment. For more info, visit: http://burymyart.tumblr.com/

- KATSI’TSAKWAS ELLEN GABRIEL

Ellen was chosen by the People of the Longhouse and her community of Kanehsatà:ke to be their spokesperson during the 1990 Siege of Kanehsatà:ke (1990 “Oka” Crisis); to protect the Pines from the expansion of a 9 hole golf course and luxury condominium development in Kanehsatà:ke For the past 25 years she has worked diligently as a human rights and environmental advocate for the collective and individual rights of Indigenous peoples and has worked diligently to sensitize the public on the history, culture and identity of Indigenous peoples. Ellen is the former president of the Quebec Native Women’s Association. She currently is a cultural consultant for the Kanehsatà:ke Onkwawén:na – Niión:kwarihoten (Language and Cultural Center). Ellen remains a vigilant advocate for gender equity, justice for murdered and missing Indigenous women; the revitalization of Indigenous languages, culture, traditions and Indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination.

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- SHORT FILMS BY SUBMEDIA.TV

* Kahsatstenhsera: Indigenous Resistance to Tar Sands Pipelines: Short film collaboration with Reclaim Turtle Island that lays out the main tar sands pipelines projects in the east and why indigenous people should oppose them.

* The Action Camp: The Unist’ot’en clan built a camp in the way of several fracked gas and tar sands pipelines. Every summer they invite supporters to help build their community of resistance.

* Kahnawake Mohawks block Train Tracks: Kahnawake Mohawks made good on their promise to escalate actions, by blocking train traffic for over an hour, since Montreal’s mayor hasn’t canceled the scheduled 8 billion litre raw sewage water dump.

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Continuing an annual tradition, several Montreal-area social justice organizations committed to anti-colonial organizing and action, are presenting this evening of food, film and resistance. We have decided to cease using the term “Thanksgiving”. We are making this change as a way of distancing ourselves from colonial settler myths, and rather position our gathering in a tradition of anti-colonial education and resistance.

This event is organized and supported by: Frigo Vert, QPIRG Concordia, People’s Potato, Midnight Kitchen, submedia.tv, Concordia Student Union (CSU), Kanata McGill, Center for Gender Advocacy Concordia, CURE Concordia, QPIRG McGill, Sustainable Concordia, Concordia Sustainability Action Fund, Climate Justice Montreal & Solidarity Across Borders.

INFO:

tel: 514-848-7585

e-mail: yesfrigo@gmail.com

www.qpirgconcordia.org

www.facebook.com/events/1660719880810822/