Dec 8, 2013 - LRI Call to Action: The Front Lines are Everywhere by Matt Remle
Mitakuyepi, iyuha cante wasteya nape ciyuzapelo. My relatives, I shake your hands with good feelings in my heart.
As battles wage across Maka Ina, Mother Earth, between the children of earth and the children of profit many ask what they can do to help. While many express the desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with those literally placing their bodies on the front line the reality is that most people will not have the opportunity to travel to these front line locations. Below are a few ways you can support battles against fracking, corporate greed and protect mni, water.
Close your Bank Account
Last Real Indians would like to issue a call for people around the world to close your bank account with banking institutions like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan and others who are bankrolling corporations like Enbridge. Enbridge is Canada’s largest oil-pipeline operator and responsible for numerous spills across Turtle Island and is currently seeking massive expansion of its pipeline networks https://lastrealindians.com/nobodys-oil-enbridge-is-worth-our-poisoned-water-matt-remle/
This is perhaps the single easiest act of resistance most of us can engage in. To help assist individuals find alternative banking institutions, we would like to call on activists in the Occupy Movement and Anonymous to help provide alternative banking institution options. This also gives an opportunity for various movements to support each others on-going organizing efforts.
For directory of Credit Unions by State go to: http://www.credituniondirectory.net/
We would especially like to call on tribal Nations to end their relationships with these banking institutions. There are numerous wealthy gaming tribes currently banking with some of these institutions. Further, let’s push for tribally owned finical institutions. As sovereign Nations we should have our own banks.
Banks investing in Enbridge.
Ban Hydraulic fracturing
Take the battle against hydraulic fracturing to the local level. Tribes, counties, cities, States can ban, though ordinances and resolutions, the practice of hydraulic fracturing on their lands. To help assist in these efforts, Last Real Indians is in the process of drafting a generic ready-made resolution to ban hydraulic fracturing for you to bring to your Tribal, county, city, or State officials.
Even if your tribe, aquifer, or local jurisdiction is not under threat from hydraulic fracturing, we encourage ALL communities to pass bans as an act of solidarity with those tribes and communities threatened by fracking activities.
Push for Alternative Energy Solutions
The T’Sou-ke First Nation on Vancouver Island has laid the blue print for other Tribal Nations and communities towards clean energy solutions. Their solar power project will power the band office, fisheries building, canoe shed and several homes on the reserve (several tribal members have been certified solar panel installers).
T’Sou-ke First Nation solar panel. Photo by CBC
Similar efforts could, and should, be pushed throughout Indian country and other jurisdictions across Turtle Island.
The current state of global environmental affairs calls for the children of earth to rise to the task of protecting for the health and well being of current and future generations. Regardless of where we live, we all have a roll and responsibility towards seeing to the protection of our first Mother and all her children. The front lines are in fact everywhere.
Mitakuye oyasin
Wakinyan Waanatan (Matt Remle)