From Turtle Island to Palestine…Solidarity with Indigenous struggles for land and liberation

As we mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Labour for Palestine is clear that Indigenous struggles against settler colonialism are intrinsically linked around the world. The model for apartheid policies in South Africa, carried out today in Palestine, found its blueprint in Canadian colonial policies of reservations, land theft, and genocidal acts against Indigenous and Inuit nations. 

Right wing governments and pundits have made very clear over the last week and half, since the Grassy Narrows solidarity demonstration in Toronto, that they will do anything to deny genocide and obfuscate responsibility. 

For decades Grassy Narrows First Nation, Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabe, have faced mercury contamination affecting 90% of people of the nation. Instead of addressing the demands of Grassy Narrows leaders for remediation and respect of traditional land, the Ford government shamefully chose instead to launch an investigation into teachers for daring to teach children the true history *and present* of this country. 

The unmarked graves of Indigenous children, uncovered on the grounds of former residential schools across Turtle Island, the stealing and destruction of traditional land to build pipelines, the criminalization of land defenders like those of Wet’suwet’en, show us that the attempted erasure of Indigenous people, land and culture, is embedded not just in Canada’s past but it’s present. 

As an organization dedicated to the Indigenous struggle of the Palestinians for liberation against settler colonialism, apartheid and Israeli occupation, we are clear about the deep connections to Indigenous struggles on Turtle Island and offer our support and solidarity in this shared struggle for decolonization, land and sovereignty, today and everyday.