Peaceful Queen Street occupation enters final day

Priceless Norval Morrisseau paintings that usually adorn the walls of Sault MP Terry Sheehan's Queen Street office were not there last night.

The loaned Anishinaabe works have been placed in storage during a three-day, two-night occupation of the MP's constituency office.

"It's like having one of our ancestors in there. But we don't get to stay with them," chuckled one of the occupiers, Jessica Bolduc, a community member of Batchewana First Nation. "Little do they know, we are probably the best people to be in there with those paintings."

While recognizing the irony of the situation, Bolduc wasn't complaining. Sheehan and his office staff cooperated fully with the unexpected visitors, going out of their way to make sure everyone was safe and comfortable.

The 24/7 peaceful occupation of Sheehan's office and parking spot will end today with a small parade down Bay Street to the Indian Friendship Centre.

The occupiers will be accompanied by puppeteers.

At the Indian Friendship Centre on East Street, they will feast and debrief.

The occupation of Sheehan's office, curiously ignored by most local news outlets, is intended to peacefully protest the conditions in indigenous communities struggling with unacceptable suicide rates.

"We are coming together over four days because we recognize that there are four parts of self: mind, body, emotion and spirit, and that all must be nourished and in harmony in order to live a good life," the group said in a news release.

"Suicide is a symptom of intergenerational trauma from government policies such as Indian residential schools," the release said.

"Restoration of language and culture, and reconnection to land, have been cited by many indigenous leaders as the most effective approach to healing and reducing suicide among Indigenous youth."

"We encourage Canadian citizens, and citizens of Sault Ste. Marie to take action, show solidarity by writing to their MPs to demand the government is held accountable and follows through with a community-focused, long-term plan for addressing the suicide crises in Attawapiskat and across Canada," the group said.

Yesterday, Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee expressed support for the occupiers.

“Suicides among our First Nations youth are a true tragedy, especially when Canada is a country with so much wealth. We need to ensure that First Nations have a fair share of that wealth,” said Madahbee. “By bringing in much-needed youth programs and services along with much-needed community infrastructure, it would go a long way to providing hope for the future.”

The grassroots Sault occupation has been a model of civility and cross-cultural co-operation.

The young organizers worked with City Police Constable Troy Miller and Sheehan's staff, who welcomed them into 369 Queen.

When SooToday visited last night, Miller and another police officer were with the protesters, while a police cruiser stood by in the parking lot off Bay Street, protecting singers and drummer in a teepee set up around a sacred fire in Sheehan's parking space.

"For us, it's creating a culture of respect in what we're doing," said Bolduc.

"The police are here to make sure this building is safe, and that people outside are kept safe too."

Protocols were agreed on to ensure that personal information in government files was protected.

Arrangements are being made with Sheehan to send a joint message to the federal government, Bolduc said.

"I think that everyone approached it with a lot of integrity and that really allowed for this space not to be occupied but to be taken care of. And that's really a precedent because usually indigenous peoples are not allowed to take up space in places like an MP's office. The strong leadership of the young people that are around this boardroom table has been able to show others the way we would like to lead as Anishinaabe people."

The small group of occupiers has included elders and children.

Yesterday, Adam Hayward took the children to the nearby Roberta Bondar tent pavilion and taught them the rudiments of lacrosse.

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