Confrontation during a blockade of a logging road in the Wemotaci region
of Quebec (Wikipedia). On the left, Dave Petiquay of the MAMO FirstNation 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
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