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Police attack Algonquin families at peaceful blockade
By: Ahni
Posted: Oct 9 08
Witnessed: 1946 veces
Regions: Canada
Issues: Freedom of opinion & expression, Indigenous peoples, Police brutality
Tags: blockade, canada, indigenous people, indigenous rights, police brutality, Protest
On Monday, October 6, Police officers in Quebec, Canada, used tear gas and "pain compliance" techniques on Algonquin families from Barriere Lake First Nation, who had erected a peaceful blockade to demand Canada's Conservative government and Quebec honour the 1991 Trilateral agreement, a landmark sustainable development and resource co-management agreement praised by the United Nations and the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
They also demanded an end to federal interference in their leadership customs. Earlier this year, the Algonquin community was unjustly placed under third party management by the Federal Government.
To end the blockade, approximately sixty officers and riot police encircled the families, launching tear gas canisters, one of which hit a child in the chest. Nine people, including an elderly women, a pregnant woman, and two minors, were roughly arrested.
While a line of police obscured the view of human rights observers from Christian Peacemaker Teams, officers used severe "pain compliance" techniques on some of the protesters who had secured themselves to concrete-filled barrels, twisting arms, dislocating jaws, leaving them with bruised faces and trouble swallowing.
Media Contacts:
Michel Thusky, Barriere Lake spokesperson: 819 - 435 - 2171;
Norman Matchewan, Barriere Lake spokesperson : 514 - 831 - 6902;
Barriere Lake Solidarity collective:
barrierelakesolidarity@gmail.com 514.398.7432
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