Thread by @WordsandGuitar

Right now, as you read this, my people are peacefully occupying a land development that Canada has never owned, and in fact was supposed to negotiate back in 2006. The OPP raided the camp 2 days ago. Yesterday, we took it back. This is how local media reported on it:

The article starts with an interview of a scared white Caledonia resident, which frames this photo of young Indigenous men standing up for their community against state violence as "menacing."

I don't see menace. I see power. I see possibility. I see revolution.

In case you were wondering if this clearly biased reporting was an anomaly, another local reporter posted this on our group's Facebook page. Note the lol reactions.

In case you don't see why this is a problem, here are some reactions, including mine. Steph has yet to respond 🤔

THIS is why I am so passionate about media and literary representations of Haudenosaunee people, and Six Nations in particular. THIS is why when @chaptersindigo pushes "The Orenda" as one of the essential books Canadians need to read, I get fucking livid.

This is my community.

My people are not an aesthetic you can use to hide your cowardice.

My culture is not here for your entertainment.

We will NOT be silent. We have NEVER been silent. And we NEVER WILL BE.

Our rights exist. They are inherent. Regardless of careless media or lying politicians.

These are photos my dad took of us putting down burning tires to block the cops from arresting more of our people.

That is all it took to terrify white folks back into seeing us as Iroquois savages.

If these photo scare or concern you, ask yourself why.

I'll tell you why they concern me: because of how *you*, dear viewer, will interpret them.

Will you focus on the smoke and turn this into an excuse to criticize us for burning tires? In a country that bought a $4 billion pipeline without public consultation?

Or will you focus on the fact that it has been more than a decade since Canada claimed theyn would settle this claim, and they only pay attention to that inconvenience when we block a road?

Here are some of my community members' thoughts and observations. Why aren't they framing this conversation? You know why.

If you've made it to the end of this thread, thank you. I'm grateful.

But being informed isn't enough. We need support - financial and political.

If you have money to go towards bail funds, legal fees, food, gas, wood - plz send e-transfers here: [e-mail]

If you have time and energy to give, please consider emailing your political leaders - municipal, provincial and federal and asking them what they will be doing to address this issue.

Politicians like to play pass-the-jurisdictional buck, so don't let them. Demand answers.

We know this isn't right. But Canadian politicians value profit over people. And yes, that includes you.

We don't need to accept that. And we are all stronger together. ✊