In Canada native/indigenous people are referred to as “First Nation”.  In the United States we refer to them as Native Americans. 

In 1873, Treaty 3 was signed between the indigenous people of the Whiskey Jack Forest Area and England.  This reduced the First Nation land from 2000 square miles to 10,244 acres.  Interestingly, the original document seems to have disappeared, and there are presently existing, about 7 different treaty interpretations.  The treaty was written in English because the Anishnaabe had no written language at the time.

According to the Anishnaabe people, Treaty 3 states that the Natives, and the Newcomers would share all land and resources.  Each would take only what they needed and the Anishnaabe would limit their settlements to particular areas, leaving the rest of the land for use by all. 

The Canadian government and England claim the agreement says that all land except for the reserves, is “Crown Land” and the Indigenous people have no rights to that land other than to hunt, fish and pick berries, just as any Canadian has that right. 

England and Canada’s claim---- is that, they have the right to decide what resources can be taken from the land and how that should occur, without any input from “First Nation” people.

The people of Grassy Narrows have undergone untold trauma in the past 50 years.

This talk will explain some of the torment and issues surrounding these First Nation agreements, current lifestyles, and issues the First Nation is currently facing with the Newcomers.

Here is a piece written by a CPT reservist in Grassy Narrows.

ASUBPEESCHOSEEWAGONG (Grassy Narrows Ontario) -

On Spending Thanksgiving in Grassy Narrows
by Tricia Brown
November 26, 2003
[Tricia Brown in a CPT reservist from Newberg, Oregon, United States.]

”The light of two candles played on the walls of the Roundhouse as people
wandered in and huddled around the woodstove for heat.  The green scent of
sawdust rose from the ground, lacing the frigid air with the promise of
spring life.  Over the course of an hour, the room filled with about thirty
bodies, Anishnaabe residents of Grassy Narrows, and their CPT
supporters.  We snacked on dense, soft bannock (fry bread) and tea as the
"Blockade Meeting" began.

All those at the meeting shared the floor, expressing their convictions
about protecting their traditional lands and treaty rights.  A spirit of
strength and resistance was palpable as residents of Grassy Narrows spoke
of blocking further actions by corporations or the Ministry of Natural
Resources to usurp their land.  About half the conversation was in Ojibwa,
and though the unfamiliar words swirled around me mysteriously, the
commitment in people's voices evoked excitement.  I felt privileged to be
invited to the momentous meeting, warmed by the hospitality of our
Anishnaabe friends, and inspired by the "undoing" that was taking place
before me the slow undoing of decades of white hegemony and
oppression.  One man infused the gathering with intensity and determination
reminding them: "It is your land, your treaty, your rights."  "You are a
sovereign nation," he pointed out, "not a business interest."

This year I am spending U.S. Thanksgiving in Grassy Narrows.  I cannot
think of any place I would rather be.  I remember the Indian-and-Pilgrim
Thanksgiving myth I heard repeated every year as a school-kid in
America.  The myth painted a picture of harmony and intercultural exchange,
and of mutual sharing between neighbors.  We were taught that Thanksgiving
was a time to thank God for the gifts of our rich land and, as implied by
the myth, for the hospitable welcome given us white people upon arrival to
our "new" country many years ago.  Little did I know, as a child, the rest
of the story of massacres, forced relocations followed by famine and
disease, twofaced treaties, cultural genocide, resource theft, residential
schools.  Now that I know these things, the myth is a heap of straw.

But this year my Thanksgiving will be spent in Grassy Narrows.  I will
celebrate the holiday by attending a square dance on the reserve, by sharing
a meal with Anishnaabe friends, and by giving thanks.  I will give thanks
for the swell of nonviolent resistance and hope in this place, for the
patient undoing of systemic violence, and for glimpses of the justice and
truth-telling of God's coming reign which are evident here.  I will give
thanks for the love shown to me, a white North American, by First Nations
friends in Grassy Narrows despite all.”

On October 31, 2003, I arrived in Grassy Narrows, Asubpeeschoseewagong; Ontario for a 10-day delegation.  There is a permanent presence in the Grassy Narrows area because in December of 2002, the local indigenous First Nation people, began a blockade against clear-cut logging operations that were taking place on their traditional land.

I wish I could tell you I went to Grassy Narrows because of some burning desire I had to assist these people, but that simply is not the case.  I went because I was in the process of joining Christian Peacemaking Teams and needed to go on a delegation before I could advance any further in the process.  I chose Grassy Narrows because it was within driving distance and was the least expensive of all the delegations.

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