October 2023

PBI-Canada offers overview of Canada-Colombia economic relationship at public forum with Berenice Celeita

On October 30, Association for Research and Social Action (Nomadesc) president Berenice Celeita spoke at the Amnesty International Canada office in Ottawa/Algonquin territory. The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project has accompanied Nomadesc since 2011 and Berenice Celeita since 1999. Brent Patterson of Peace Brigades International-Canada offered these comments at the public Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

The Network in Defence of Indigenous Territories of Sierra Tarahumara (REDETI) and PBI-Mexico visit Ottawa

Photo: Manuel Jabonero (PBI-Mexico), Mariana Villarreal (REDETI) and Brent Patterson (PBI-Canada) remember Julián Carrillo on Parliament Hill, October 24. This past week, Mariana Azucena Villarreal Frías, the Chihuahua-based coordinator of the Network in Defence of Indigenous Territories of Sierra Tarahumara (REDETI), was in Ottawa. She was accompanied by Manuel Jabonero Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Canada seeks meeting with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada on MOU with Mexico

Photo: “Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Minister Melanie Joly signed an MOU for the protection of the native peoples of Mexico and Canada” on January 12, 2023. At the same time, the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs of Canada (CIRNAC) and the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

What has been the environmental impact of the TC Energy Encino-Topolobampo pipeline in Chihuahua, Mexico?

Photo: Mariana Villarreal of REDETI and Manuel Jabonero of PBI-Mexico are in Washington, DC this week before travelling to Ottawa. Mariana Azucena Villarreal Frías of the Network in Defense of Indigenous Territories of Sierra Tarahumara (REDETI) will be in Ottawa next week. She will be accompanied by Manuel Jabonero from Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Secwépemc launch Unceded Law Response Group (ULRG), determine C-IRG is committing war crimes on Indigenous territories

Photo: Unceded Law Response Group Chief Commissioner April Thomas, Associate Commissioner Shawna Knight, Commissioner Mike McKenzie. IndigiNews reports: “Following years of violent arrests at industry injunction sites throughout the province [of British Columbia], Secwépemc leaders have launched a response group that is dedicated to preventing harm against the land and Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Ojibwe water protector Tara Houska arrested resisting the Mountain Valley Pipeline that is financed by Canadian banks

Photo by Appalachians Against Pipelines. Native News Online reports: “On Monday [October 16], Ojibwe attorney Tara Houska was arrested for criminal trespassing, a misdemeanor in Virginia, after she locked herself to construction equipment at a Mountain Valley Pipeline construction site in Elliston, Virginia [400 kilometres south-west of Washington, DC].” “Houska Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Mexico City police injure ten displaced Otomi demanding their right to housing be upheld

Photo by Zone Docs. Courthouse News reports: “A clash between police and Indigenous activists occupying government offices in Mexico City late Sunday [October 15] left 10 people wounded, including teenage girls as young as 13, according to organizers of the occupying group.” Video: Police attack Otomi occupation. “The activists — Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Mexico accompanies REDETI convened gathering of Indigenous Rarámuri and Ódami communities in the Sierra Tarahumara

Raichali (which means “word” in the Rarámuri language) reports: “More than sixty members of the Rarámuri and Ódami Indigenous communities of the Sierra Tarahumara met with members of the Tsotsil and Ch’ol communities of Chiapas to exchange experiences on their own processes of autonomy, use of natural resources, organization for Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Wet’suwet’en and Otomi land defenders unite against the TC Energy Coastal GasLink and Tuxpan-Tula pipelines

Over the past four days in Ottawa and Toronto, PBI-Canada, along with allies including Above Ground and the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, have accompanied and sought to amplify the resistance of Wet’suwet’en and Otomi land defenders to the Coastal GasLink and Tuxpan-Tula fracked gas pipelines being built on their territories Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago