On my way back from physio yesterday, I saw that this stretch of habitat along Shirley Avenue is now poisoned with pesticide. Waterloo is theoretically a bee city. Apparently, Kitchener is not. I hate that so much habitat destruction keeps happening. Last year, there were trees in this spot. They were removed all the way down to that walking trail this spring. This is an area where I used to go foraging. Now it's been intentionally poisoned.

This is part of the Haldimand Tract and is close to the Grand River, territory of the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee. This flouts our treaties with them. https://beecitycanada.org/bee-cities/waterloo/ @waterlooregion #HabitatDestruction #ecology #pollinators #LandBack #ProtectTheTract #pesticides

"WARNING: The WRCSB is voting Monday on a motion that would ban pride flags, slogans, and symbols from being hung or shown (even on a sticker!) on school property. Even teacher's personal flags would not be allowed.

Please show up on Monday to show support!"

I will add that their motion also erases Indigenous Peoples by saying the Canadian flag represents all. Kitchener is on the Haldimand Tract, the stolen, occupied territory of Six Nations.

https://bsky.app/profile/mdruker.app/post/3lkwkdtihyk2y

@waterlooregion #homophobia #CatholicSchool #pride #LGBTQIA2S #fascism #ontario #KitchenerWaterloo #ProtectTheTract #HaldimandTract

I received a notice from the city regarding a nearby property. The neighbours want to put an additional dwelling on the property, and the city wants to know if I have any issues with that. I said I personally have no problems with that so long as the big maple trees aren't damaged/destroyed, but I do want to know if the city contacts Six Nations re. any development. After all, this is their land, and they have placed a moratorium upon development. I'm curious to hear what the folks at City Hall have to say about that.

Edit: I heard back. Response in the comments. #HaldimandTract #ProtectTheTract #SixNations #IndigenousLand #LandBack #Haudenosaunee #Anishinaabeg @waterlooregion

I pass this property on Guelph Street often. Until a few years ago, that shitty stretch of lawn used to be a big cluster of juniper, bearberry, and milkweed. It was necessary food and habitat for monarch butterflies and other critters. Now it is a food desert for pollinators.

And that sign they have along the sidewalk is the meanest, most selfish sign I've ever seen directed to pedestrians. It shows they really don't give a shit about children and pedestrians.

And that last sentence about "these lands" is pretty fucking awful. These lands are on the Haldimand Tract. They're occupied, stolen lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabeg. These lands are under the Dish With One Spoon wampum, and this sign shows the people who currently "own" this property have no intention of honouring that treaty.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/a-dish-with-one-spoon#:~:text=A%20%E2%80%9Cdish%20with%20one%20spoon,spirit%20of%20mutual%20co%2Doperation

#kitchener #HabitatDestruction #ProtectTheTract #HaldimandTract #DishWithOneSpoonTreaty #wampum #MonarchButterflies #AntiPedestrian #CarCulture #Treaty @waterlooregion

"We Remain Certain", a group exhibition curated by a collective of Haudenosaunee artists, showing the enduring relationship between Haudenosaunee and their home in Grand River Territory will be on from January 11 to March 22, 2024 at McMaster Museum of Art. Curated by Protect The Tract (here to a limited extent at @protectthetract)

The opening is this Thursday.

See images for more details.

#Art #ArtExhibit #ProtectTheTract #GrandRiver #OseKenhionhatatie #WeRemainCertain

Post I made on this date in 2020: Rubber bullets don’t sound all that bad. They sound like toy versions of bullets. But they can remove all the flesh right down to a bone. They can shatter bones and remove eyes. They kill. And the RCMP and OPP have no compunction against shooting at us.

Not long ago, the OPP drew firearms on people at 1492 Land Back Lane in another act of terrorism against Indigenous people. They fired at women, including an elder, who were sitting outside the so-called exclusion zone.

And then they got inside their squad car and filmed the reactions. I am certain this was an intentional act of provocation. It finally worked. It elicited the violent reaction they’ve been hoping for all along. Two people attacked the squad car, and the OPP got that part on film and used it to say this was an unprovoked attack.

Give me a break. If someone were to draw a gun on your mom or grandma, I’m willing to bet it would elicit a reaction from you, too. For many of you, it would be violent.

These folks who attacked the car were trying to make the cops leave. I’ve seen video from the other side. They were trying to make the cops leave.

As someone who recently stopped cops from hurting a woman, I understand their rage.

This is continued genocide. Do not let it slide. Do not let the cops control the narrative. #ReconciliationIsALie #HaldimandTract #ProtectTheTract #IndigenousMastodon #OPP #AbolishThePolice #1492LandBackLane