Kim Wright <kim-lgih@ripnet.

com> wrote:
From: "Kim Wright" <kim-lgih@ripnet.com>
To: "Thelma Peterson" <thelmapeterson59@yahoo.ca>,
"Kimberley Wright" <kchameleon@ripnet.com>
Subject: Fw: [PAR-L] Part 2 URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT -
ALGONQUINS OF BARRIERE LAKE
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:41:55 -0400

----- Original Message -----

From: "B. L. Wagner"
To:
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 8:37 PM
Subject: [PAR-L] Part 2 URGENT CALL FOR SUPPORT - ALGONQUINS
OF BARRIERE
LAKE

> Part 2 of 2
>
> *WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP!*
>
>**
>
> *We Need Monitors/Witnesses:*
>
> We need outside supporters with video cameras to monitor and
witness how
> the Surete du Quebec (SQ) are conducting themselves in our
community.The
> SQ have arrested ten of our people so far for defending our
community
> from the dissident group who is collaborating with the governments
to
> take over our community.
>
> The SQ have pepper sprayed children, pregnant mothers, and other
> vulnerable members without regard to their health or safety.
>
> The SQ have refused to take our complaints against their behavior
and
> tactics.
>
> If you can bring a video camera and be a monitor to witness please
> contact, Marylynn Poucachiche at (819) 435-2113. We will have to
arrange
> accommodations for monitors/witnesses.
>
> *We Need Donations and Supplies:*
>
> The federal Department of Indian Affairs has placed our community
into
> what is called “Third Party Management” (TPM). This means our
Customary
> Chief and Council have no say in how our First Nations’
administrative
> affairs are managed. The Department of Indian Affairs (DIA)
decides how
> our band funds are spent.
>
> We are trying to keep our Elementary School open on a volunteer
basis,
> the Third Party Manager removed the certified teachers from our
> community on February 20, 2008, while we were trying to get
negotiations
> started with DIA to get Algonquin language and culture into the
> curriculum and to have a role for our Education Committee in
running the
> school.
>
> We need food for breakfast and lunch program we offer to the
children
> who attend the school.
>
> For SUPPLIES we need the following:
>
> • Potatoes • White Flour • Rice • Oatmeal • Baking Powder • Lard •
Cooking
> Oil • Dry Cereals • Margarine • Crackers • Macaroni • Spaghetti
> • Tomato Sauce • Tomato Paste • Canned Tomatoes • White Peas •
White
> Beans • White/Brown Suger • Salt • Pepper • Soup Base • Mustard
•
> Ketchup • Coffee • Tea Bags • Canned Milk 2% • Canned Goods •
Powdered
> Juice • Bread • Cookies/Snacks • Coffee Whitener
>
> Other items: Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Batteries ‘AA’ Copying Paper,
> Pencils, Erasers, Note Books, Colored Construction Paper, HP Printer
> Cartridge # 21 and HP Printer Cartridge #56. If you can provide a
cash
> donation towards milk, eggs, meat, etc. please contact Marylynn
> Poucachiche at (819) 423-2113.
>
> *Communicate Your Support:*
>
> You can write to the following federal Ministers calling on them to
stop
> trying to illegally replace our leadership and honour the signed
> agreements they entered into with our First Nation:
>
> • *Prime Minister Stephan Harper*
> • *Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian & Northern Affairs Canada*
> • *Lawrence Cannon, Local Member of Parliament responsible for
our
> Reserve and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities*
>
>**
>
> You can write to the following Quebec Ministers calling on them to
stop
> the federal government’s attempt to try to illegally replace our
> leadership and honour the signed agreements they entered into
with our
> First Nation:
>
> • *Premier Jean Charest, Government of Quebec*
> • *Benoit Pelletier, Quebec Minister Responsible for Native Affairs*
> • *Claude Bechard, Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and
Wildlife*
> • *Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister for Sustainable Development,
> Environment & Parks*
>
>**
>
> *To contact us please use the following:*
>
> Marylynn Poucachiche, Spokesperson Home: (819) 435-2113,
> marylynnpoucachiche@hotmail.com
>
>**
>
> *A/Chief Benjamin Nottaway*
> *Algonquins of Barriere Lake*
> *Rapid Lake, Quebec J0W 2C0*
> *Contact: Marylynn Poucachiche*
> *Phone: (819) 435-2113*
> *E-mail:*
> *marylynnpoucachiche@hotmail.com*
>
>**
> *We are known as the Algonquins of Barriere Lake (also known by
our
> Algonquin name,“Mitchikanibikok Inik”) we are a First Nation
community
> of approximately 450 people, situated in the province of Quebec, 3
hours
> drive north of Ottawa, Canada. The socioeconomic conditions of our
> community are extremely poor:*
>
>**
>
> • *We have been marginalized onto a tiny 59-acre reserve at Rapid
Lake,
> which is overcrowded, dusty and badly eroding.*
> • *Our unemployment rates are in the range of 80-90%.*
> • *There is a housing crisis in our community – on the average,
there
> are 7 persons per home, but the actual numbers go as high as 18
per
> house.*
> • *Our formal education levels are low and the incidence of
diabetes is
> high.*
>**
>
> *On the positive side, our community has managed to maintain our
> language, customs and traditional way of life.*
>
>**
>
> *PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION!*
>
> Algonquins of Barriere Lake Customary Chief and Council
>