FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. The Red Nation—Santa Fe to hold solidarity fundraiser for Unist’ot’en Camp
WHO: The Red Nation—Santa Fe (TRN-SF)
WHAT: Relatives Against Resource Extraction—Unist’ot’en Fundraiser; $10 suggested donation/$2 for students
WHEN: Sunday, April 14, 2019 from 2pm-7pm
WHERE: Dance Studio, Multipurpose Performing Arts & Fitness Center, Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), 83 Avan Nu Po Road, Santa Fe, NM, 87508
WHY: Wet’suwet’en people have successfully and bravely protected their ancestral territories from extractive industry through non-violent direct action for almost a decade. On April 1, 2009, they established the first structure of Unist’ot’en Camp—a checkpoint—at the Wedzin Kwe entrance to Unist’ot’en territory. One year later, they constructed a cabin at the exact location of the proposed 670-kilometer-long, $1 billion pipeline that would carry natural gas from the fracking fields of northern British Columbia and Alberta to export markets along the Pacific Ocean. As their website notes, “No pipeline work has been done within Unist’ot’en territory since we started. Several times, contractors from pipeline companies have been confronted by indigenous land defenders and peacefully turned away.”
Over the past ten years, the camp has grown into a community in resistance, working together under the guidance of hereditary Indigenous leadership. The camp, along with other frontline struggles, have inspired a new generation of Indigenous resistance in North America, offering us a powerful and effective vision for how to build a world free from the violence of extractive capitalism.
With full support from the settler government of Canada (and in total violation of Wet’suwet’en laws regarding free, prior, and informed consent), Coastal GasLink Pipeline LTD seeks to destroy our collective future by crushing the spirit of Indigenous resistance at Unist’ot’en Camp. In November 2018, Coastal GasLink Pipeline LTD filed an injunction against Wet’suwet’en leaders. By claiming financial damages for “occupying, obstructing, blocking, physically impeding or delaying access,” the injunction criminalizes non-violent Wet’suwet’en resistance.
On January 8, 2019, an outpouring of support erupted after Canadian police, acting as foot soldiers for extractive capitalism, brutalized and arrested twelve land defenders at Unist’ot’en Camp the previous day. Solidarity actions took place in 70 cities around the world to condemn state violence against peaceful and unarmed land defenders. We of The Red Nation—Santa Fe want to continue this outpouring of support by extending kinship and material solidarity to our Wet’suwet’en relatives. As an Indigenous-led, anti-colonial and anti-capitalist organization, TRN is committed to supporting all struggles for liberation from the violence of colonialism and capitalism. We understand that resource extraction is one of the greatest threats to our nations—and to all life on earth. Our struggle to end resource extraction is a defining struggle of our generation; our courage today will determine the future of all.
We call upon Santa Fe to join us in a day of music, art, and solidarity to celebrate ten years of Indigenous resistance at Unist’ot’en Camp. The solidarity fundraiser will feature a performance by Grammy-nominated Diné singer Radmilla Cody and a special live message from Karla Tait, an Unist’ot’en Clan member who runs the Healing Center at Unist’ot’en Camp. We will also be hosting a silent auction featuring works by prominent Native artists and writers like Kul Wicasa historian Nick Estes, who is auctioning a signed copy of his new book Our History is The Future.
All proceeds from this solidarity fundraiser will go directly to the Unist’ot’en Camp Legal Fund. If you cannot make it to the event, we ask you to donate directly to the legal fund here: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/unistoten-camp-legal-fund.
Contact:
505-469-7881
Event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/587096515103105/
Social Media Accounts:
We Support the Unist’ot’en and the Wet’suwet’en Grassroots Movement
Donate to Unist’ot’en Legal Fund
Donate to Gidimt’en Access Point
Instagram:
@therednationmovement
Twitter:
@The_Red_Nation
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