Photo by Blaire Russell, taken on Blood Tribe, Standoff, Alberta

Most of these declarations start with “why” a certain movement should support or stand in solidarity – but I would like to leave less room than that. Animal liberationists should support #IdleNoMore, and all Onkwehonwe struggles and struggles of the oppressed, and should demand as much from each other. It is not, and should never be, an ask.

My own personal experiences, growing up on the Haldimand Tract in a poor working class family that bucked the norm and supported Haudenosaunee struggles, have made this issue close to me – however, there is no reason why animal liberationists throughout this continent and beyond cannot grasp the weight of the situation and align themselves politically in a way that supports Onkwehonwe folks, the environment, and other animal species “all my relations.” Throughout the world indigenous folks have been at the front lines confronting capitalism and struggling for an alternative. In Canada right now this is being played out to a pitch as Okwehonwe communities are fighting some of the most destructive practices known – the Tar Sands, intensive resource extraction, the destruction of waterways, sludge facilities, uranium processing and storing, and wanton development. Each struggle, detailed by Okwehonwe folks, presents the destruction of other animal habitat and life – Haudenosaunee Men’s Fire advocates opposing Sludge facilities in Dundalk, On and supporting a blockade as the sludge in the fields will have a disastrous effect on the local wildlife, Owkwehonwe folks opposing the Tar Sands detailing how above ground piping effectively blocks wildlife (they won’t jump over the pipes, or get caught and die trying/break legs), Owkwehonwe folks across Canada detailing and publicly exposing the effects of pollution on wildlife, as well as Haudenosaunee folks who have supported local campaigns like Marineland Animal Defense.

Although other animals and the environment are always present in these struggles – the same cannot be said for animal liberationists when it comes to showing solidarity. Our movement carries a rich history of Owkwehonwe animal liberationists – most notably Rod Coronado, the Yaqui Warrior active within the Earth and Animal Liberation movement for decades – however, as a movement we have largely been incapable of putting forward a politic that understands how these issues intersect and how solidarity should be shown. Too frequent our movement is only interested in other struggles when it means strengthening our own – convenient analogies plague us – and too frequently space is made for people and groups that are openly anti-human and oppressive (sexist, racist, homophobic, fat phobic, etc). As part of my own solidarity organizing I have been mocked by other advocates and also been pushed out of organizations who do not see what this “has to do with animals.” This is disgusting and wholly unacceptable – the lands in which we organize on are not our own. The treaties, that still live, demand that we respect them and that we hold others within our “row” to do the same. There should be no animal liberation campaign, organization, or group that organizes within this country without an explicit understanding of the Guswenta “Two Row Wampum” and without a declaration of support and solidarity with Onkwehonwe folks and their struggles.

Although Onkwehonwe communities have been fighting factory farms, pollution, sport hunting, habitat destruction and more for centuries – animal liberationists have largely failed to recognize shared struggle and join in solidarity. Too frequently the focus is put upon whether or not people are vegan, or whether or not people hunt other animal species. This has seen animal liberationists focus on domesticated farmed animals – while turning their back on large environmental struggles and wildlife. This needs to end. Even if Onkwehwe folks – many of whom practiced a form of biocentricism for centuries prior to contact – were intent on animal use, their claim to this land is just and the treaties which our ancestors signed are living, breathing documents. A response to oppression should be based upon nothing other than a recognition of justice. Their struggle, and their criminalization – demands a response of solidarity. Let #IdleNoMore be that call – and let the response be one of collective recognition that our organizing is intersectional, or it is bullshit. Power to the people.

I am heartened that many of the people in the animal liberation community – especially people who organize have been engaging with #IdleNoMore, sharing information, supporting the struggle and defending the tactics being used. I hope that grows and also that that translates into on the ground support.

Okwehonwe is a Mohawk word meaning “original people.” Haudenosaunee is the name of the “peoples of the longhouse.”