Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence (BTS) Network Stands in Solidarity with the People of Elsipogtog and their Allies in Wabanaki

Breaking the Silence is a network of people who have been organizing since 1988 to support the efforts of Indigenous Maya and other communities in Guatemala struggling for political, social and economic justice. BTS recognizes the structural inequalities that exist in Canada, the Maritime provinces, Guatemala and other places as one of the many effects of colonization, and is committed to working towards more equitable relations.

In this light, we acknowledge the numerous treaties signed between the Crown and Indigenous Nations to peacefully share the land, as well as the existence of large areas of unceded territory. We also acknowledge the repeated violation of these treaties, and particularly of Indigenous rights to self-determination, including the right of indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed consent regarding all decisions that affect them, their territories, and resources.

Breaking the Silence stands in solidarity with the grassroots Indigenous people of Wabanaki as they assert their legal Aboriginal rights and responsibilities to their traditional territory and resources. We join our voices with the coalition of Mi’Kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Acadian and other Maritimers raising their voices to protect Mother Earth by opposing shale gas exploration on their territory and region. We condemn federal and provincial government’s failure to respect and adhere to the Aboriginal and Treaty rights of Indigenous communities in Canada, the general criminalization of non-violent protests by communities in opposition to shale gas exploration in Kent County, New Brunswick, and the unequal application of the law to indigenous defenders.

July 6, 2013