OKA – Green Party of Canada Deputy Leader Rainbow Eyes attended a solidarity event in Oka on September 8, 2024, in support of the Kanesatake Mohawks and Land Defenders. The event, organized by a collective of citizens and civil society groups, aimed to address ongoing environmental degradation and public safety issues stemming from the exploitation of Kanesatake by construction companies who illegally dump their waste and potentially contaminated soil along the shores of the Lake of Two Mountains.
The event included a gathering and direct action training, bringing together allies from different regions to work in collaboration with the Kanesatake community and protect their rights.
“First Nations have been victims of violence on their traditional territories for generations. It must stop. I am with the Green Party of Canada because this organization has always stood for justice, environmental protection, and Indigenous rights,” said Deputy Leader Rainbow Eyes. “The community and the allies are dedicated to helping the Kanesatake residents against violence and criminal activity that harms the land and the water. We call for strong governmental action to ensure that the community can live free from the oppression of environmental abuse, and neglect.”
“The suffering of the Kanesatake Mohawks is unacceptable,” added leader Elizabeth May. The government’s inaction in the face of this crisis reflects a deeper problem of ignoring Indigenous rights and environmental justice. We stand with those who have courageously spoken out and call for immediate government intervention to address the exploitation of their lands and ensure the safety of their people.”
In June, parliament passed Elizabeth May's private member's bill C-226, committing the government to develop a national strategy to assess, prevent and address environmental racism, such as that experienced by the Kanesatake Mohawks. Pressuring the government to ensure rapid implementation of this new law will be a major priority for the Greens in the upcoming parliamentary session.
The GPC is committed to supporting Indigenous communities in their fight for justice, environmental protection, and human rights. The Greens continue to call for stronger government action to address the root causes of the issues faced by Kanesatake, including organized crime, pollution, and systemic neglect.
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For more information or to arrange an interview :
Fabrice Lachance Nové
Press secretary
514-463-0021