#Akwesasne is part of the #Mohawk Nation, one of the six nations of the #Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Its residents’ #AncestralTerritory, which includes Barnhart Island, extends across the #Canada - #USA border, and includes parts of #Ontario, #Quebec and #NewYork state. For decades, factories surrounding the reserve dumped now-banned chemicals into the #StLawrenceRiver, #contaminating the land and water. But Barnhart Island is upstream of the contamination — the breeze is still sweet and the water is clear. And soon, Akswesasne #TribalGovernment may sign a settlement agreement with the State of New York, ceding its title to the island forever.

For the #LandDefenders who were arrested, reclaiming #BarnhartIsland goes hand-in-hand with protecting what’s left of their territory that is still healthy enough for them to gather medicine, hunt, fish, conduct ceremonies and heal. They aren’t willing to sell their homeland — not for any price.

Freelance #journalist Brandi Morin and #photojournalist Ian Willms spent five days on the territory in June to document the fight for clean land.
https://thenarwhal.ca/akwesasne-mohawk-monsanto-barnhart-island

#Indigenous #NativeLand #Unceded #Environmental #Pollution #Ecocide #ToxicWaste #TurtleIsland #CDNpoli