The film YINTAH is now streaming on Netflix.
It is surreal to watch the depiction of events in the film that I, and other Quakers were part of.
YINTAH
“This film contains scenes discussing residential schools, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, suicide, and police violence. Viewer discretion is advised. Yintah follows Wet’suwet’en leaders for over a decade as they fight to protect their lands from fossil-fuel companies.”
You can view the trailer here: https://gem.cbc.ca/yintah
Bear Creek Friends Meeting
Bear Creek Friends (Quaker) meetinghouse is in the Iowa countryside. Many members have been involved in agriculture and care about protecting Mother Earth. A number of Friends have various relationships with Indigenous peoples. Some Friends have worked to protect water and to stop the construction of fossil fuel pipelines in the United States, such as the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines
We are concerned about the tensions involving the Wet’suwet’en Peoples, who are working to protect their water and lands in British Columbia. Most recently they are working to prevent the construction of several pipelines through their territory. Such construction would do severe damage to the land, water, and living beings. Bear Creek Friends Meeting, of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) approved sending the following letter to British Columbia Premier, John Horgan.
(see more in the PDF below).
My Wet’suwet’en stories
I was led to do what I could to support the Wet’suwet’en. Because of my work related to fossil fuel pipeline resistance, I searched daily for news related to that.
I first became aware of the Wet’suwet’en struggles to stop the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through their pristine land when I saw the video of the pipeline construction crew being evicted from the Wet’suwet’en lands. This was in January 2020.
What followed were years of struggle. I compiled the stories I had written about this work in the following documents.
Online version of LANDBACK Case Study: Wet’suwet’en and Quakers here: https://designrr.page/?id=60932&token=2932457842&h=2730
Or the PDF version here:
Canadian Friends Service Committee
January 10, 2020
Solidarity with Wet’suwet’en People
Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) expresses deep concern for the current volatile situation escalating in Wet’suwet’en territory. This is the second year of increased threats on Wet’suwet’en territories, escalating from December 2018 when substantial threats of force were made against Indigenous peoples there. Intimidation, arrests leading to detention, and threats of armed violence have been used against the non-violent gathering of Indigenous land defenders. CFSC advocates for respectful, good faith dialogue to be the approach to address concerns and de-escalate tensions.
The colonial history of prejudicial actions against hereditary Indigenous governments in Canada continues to be a major concern. Such actions perpetuate the impoverishment of hereditary governments and the peoples concerned. It is crucial that human rights are respected.
Photos
These photos depict some of the work by various groups in Iowa to support the Wet’suwet’en people.
Bold Iowa supports Indigenous people, and was involved in organizing, along with the Great Plains Action Society (then known as Indigenous Iowa), the First Nation-Farmer Climate Unity March. https://firstnationfarmer.com/
The next photo is of a vigil to bring awareness of the Wet’suwet’en struggles in Des Moines. This was where I met Ronnie James (black coat) that led to my involvement in Des Moines Mutual Aid.
The third photo is of Des Moines Mutual Aid support for the Wet’suwet’en.
The last three photos are from an action at Chase Bank in Des Moines, which funds the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Black Lives Matter (BLM) was present.
unflinching 