Native groups protest Olympics held on disputed land
Stefan Christoff
|
Olympics logo: May have even greater ironic symbolism
|
Members of the Native Youth Movement (NYM), arguably the most well-organized political indigenous youth network in the country, are calling for a boycott of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver due to a lack of progress on land negotiations between First Nations and the federal government (a majority of the territory in B.C. remains in dispute). Networks of opposition are forming across Canada with the goal of organizing a series of major protests and actions in Vancouver to coincide with the international event. In Montreal, members of NYM will make a presentation at the Native Friendship Centre (2001 St-Laurent) on Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m. as part of an Eastern Canada speaking tour.
"The Olympics will not come and go without the world becoming aware of the impact of the games on our communities. For the Native Youth Movement it's essential to [reach out to] other movements struggling for justice, to unite to fight for freedom," explains Kanahus Pellkey from Skwelkwek'welt territory in B.C.
"For us the Olympics represents the power of the capitalist system, the colonial system, that led to the theft of our land, and now Canada is utilizing the Olympics as a land-grab throughout British Columbia."
Perhaps in light of the grassroots mobilization appealing for
a boycott and anti-Olympic demonstrations, it was revealed in a CSIS annual report that the Canadian spy agency is taking seriously the possibility of protests during the 2010 Winter Olympics. For more info, visit http://no2010.com.
