United Nations Building (Photo: Stefano Corso)
The Anishinabek Nation and the Iroquois Caucus are hosting a special event entitled “Canada’s First Nations & Radioactive Waste” at the 17th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City on April 23 2018. First Nations and Citizens groups from Ontario will speak about the need for the Canadian Government to pay attention to its radioactive waste problems and keep nuclear waste safely stored away from Canadian rivers, lakes and wetlands. This has particular significance for the Ottawa Valley because of the recent Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s licensing hearings about the Chalk River nuclear site. The UN special event at 1:15 p.m. will be webcast on United Nations web tv.
In attendance will be Grand Chief Patrick Madahbee of the Anishinabek Nation, Chiefs Clinton Phillips and William Diabo of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, and Chiefs Troy Wilson and April Adams-Phillips of the Mohawk Council of Akwasasne. Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and Dr. Ole Hendrickson of the Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area will also be in attendance as resource persons and technical advisors. Hendrickson says,
I’m honoured to be supporting the Canadian indigenous leaders who are speaking at the United Nations to protect our sacred waters from these misguided nuclear waste disposal projects.
In unison with the presentation in New York City, groups are rallying on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for a press conference, musical performances, ceremony and to gather in solidarity for proper management of Canada’s nuclear liabilities and industry. While the 11:00 a.m. press conference is not open to the public, it will be live-streamed on Facebook on the Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County page. There will be a rally at the Centennial flame on Parliament Hill after the press conference, with a march down to the Ottawa River where there will be a tobacco ceremony. Algonquin Elder Albert Dumont South Wind will lead a circle of gratitude and blessing for the Kitchisippi. The Ottawa River is known as Kitchisippi by the Algonquin people.
To see these events online on Monday April 23 2018 follow these links:
Click HERE to see the live-stream of the Ottawa press conference at 11:00 am.
Click HERE for the webcast of the UN special event from New York at 1:15 p.m.
