Concerning our late elder...
Harriet Nahannee, Hamy'ya to you from all of us in the struggle for freedom from oppression and freedom to have dignity, human rights, life and land. It is because of you that many of us will know how important it is to build up our unity, strength and integrity, and to fight for the future generations and the land as you have.This site is attributed to Harriet’s commitment and dedication to stop the kkkandian government’s destruction and theft of Indigenous lands and to her efforts to re-claim our Original and sacred relationship and rights to our territories. One of her biggest goals was to stop the Olympics 2010. Her death is connected to this plight, and hence the importance of remembering her Spirit and continuing her fight. This site honors her request for us to defend the land in all ways possible. We hope people can come to this site to find out about actions, events, analysis and information needed to stop the devastation of the land and to protect the human rights of Indigenous people, the poor and the homeless that the Olympics 2010 (VANOC) plans suspend and deny. This site is by Indigenous people and for all to learn, share and to Act – in order to honor the spirit of Harriet.
Harriet Nahanee’s Warrior spirit lives on today. However, she passed into the spirit world at the age of 72 after she was abused in a Kkkanadian prison system after she sacrificed her life to protect her land and sacred rights to it. This is her story through our eyes.
Harriet was a Pacheedaht grandmother, Elder, and an Indigenous Warrior who had married into the Skwxwu7mesh (Squamish) Nation. She was one of the only Indigenous protesters protecting the Eagle Ridge Bluff site on Coast Salish Territory where people stayed to protect the site that was slated to be destroyed to expand the Sea to Sky Highway for the 2010 Olympics.
For asserting her Indigenous rights as an Indian under the Canadian Constitution and for refusing to apologize for her blockade action, on January 24th, 2007, despite her frail health, Harriet was sentenced to fourteen days in the Surrey Pretrial Centre, a men's prison and a notorious hell-hole for women. Lawyers are now looking into how she was treated at the prison and why she became sick. Many people have talked about how she was not given blankets, proper medical treatment, and was further subjected to racist abuse by prison staff and inmates.
In a letter to Justice Brenda Brown, prior to the sentencing of Ms. Nahanee, Betty Krawcyzk urged compassion: "I am very worried about Mrs. Harriet Nahanee. Mrs. Nahanee is not well. She has asthma and is suffering the after effects of a recent bout of flu that has left her very weak."Despite the pleads of Krawcyzk, Madame Justice Brenda Brown sentenced Mrs. Nahanee, aged 72, to fourteen days incarceration for contempt of court in disobeying the Eagle Ridge Bluff injunction. While in jail, under unacceptable conditions at Surrey Pre-Trial Centre, where she was held in a cell with tens of other inmates and subject to racist treatment, Harriet Nahanee contracted pneumonia. She was hospitalized within a week of her release from custody and passed away within a week.
Indigenous activists and non-Indigenous concerned people are demanding a public inquiry into Harriet Nahanee’s death as a direct result of her incarceration. These are the questions we want answered:
- Why was Indigenous Elder Harriet Nahanee sent to jail despite clear direction from the Supreme Court of Canada that imprisonment should be the last remedy for Indigenous persons?
- Why did Madame Justice Brown fail to take Mrs. Nahanee’s frail health into consideration?
- Why did Madame Justice Brown refuse to hear Mrs. Nahanee’s Indigenous sovereignty defence?
- Why was Mrs. Nahanee incarcerated at Surrey Pre-Trial Centre, under such inappropriate conditions?
A public inquiry will have to determine why Madame Justice Brown refused to hear Mrs. Nahanee’s Indigenous sovereignty defense and why she incarcerated her, whereas all non-Indigenous defenders of Eagle Ridge Bluff, charged with the same offense were given either fines or community service. Such an inquiry will also have to address Madame Justice Brown’s refusal to exercise her discretionary powers in considering other sentencing options or not ordering a medical check-up before incarcerating a great-grandmother. Madame Justice Brown was made aware of Elder Harriet Nahanee’s health condition, including her asthma and recent influenza before sentencing her. Madame Justice Brown is also set to sentence, fellow activist and Elder, Betty Krawczyk, 78, on Monday, March 5, 2006 for her involvement in the Eagle Ridge Bluff Protests. Crown Counsel is asking for 9-15 months of incarceration for Mrs. Krawczyk for her opposition to the expansion of the Sea to Sky Highway, paving the way to the 2010 Olympics. The Crown and the courts also have to answer the underlying question: why are 2 respected elders and women over seventy years of age being prosecuted for protecting the environment and sent to jail for defending the land?
There can be no justification for the incarceration and resulting death of esteemed Indigenous Elder, Harriet Nahanee, a strong voice for her people at a time when many are afraid to speak out in the light of the criminalization of dissent.
Harriet Nahanee was a part of many struggles. Firstly, for the recognition of Indigenous land rights and protecting the environment, and also fighting against discrimination, marginalization and institutionalization of Indigenous people in the cities, especially Indigenous women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. She was a vital member of so many movements and activist communities, a role model for many and will be deeply missed. The loss is aggravated by the fact that she passed away as a direct result of her incarceration, starting January 24, 2007, in Surrey Pre-Trial where she contracted pneumonia. A service was held at the Squamish Recreation Centre on February 28 with hundreds of people in attendance mourning the passing of their mother, grand-mother, great-grandmother, fellow activist, Warrior, Elder, friend and role-model.
Photo: Christopher Grabowski
Seitcha: I will be forever greatful for the courageous, strong stance our elder has taken for all indigenous people and our respected territories. She is an example for all of us to follow at this critical moment in our history where our lands and resources continue to be depleted. We must confront our enemies and those sell outs amongst our own people and let it be known that enough is enough!
"Each generation must out of relative obscurity discover its mission, fulfill
it, or betray it." Frantz Fanon
Posted by
Anonymous |
March 5, 2007 at 2:17 PM
And the Abusive Injustice system has not learned from its recent mistakes..
After 72 year old Indigenous Elder and Warrior, Harriet Nahanee passed away last week after spending 1 week in a highly abusive and racist prison, another great-grandmother, and non-Indigenous activist, 78, was sentenced to 10 months in jail today.
B.C. activist, 78, gets 10 months in jail
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Last Updated: Monday, March 5, 2007 | 11:29 AM PT
CBC News
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A 78-year-old environmental activist and great-grandmother was given a 10-month prison sentence in B.C. Supreme Court Monday for criminal contempt of court.
Betty Krawczyk had been convicted of contempt after being arrested three times while taking part in last year's protests against highway construction through the Eagleridge Bluffs in West Vancouver.
She has spent 21/2 years in jail for previous contempt convictions stemming from anti-logging protests.
A dozen supporters staged a sit-in protest at the B.C. Supreme Court registry on Smythe Street in downtown Vancouver, and another 50 people were protesting outside.
They say they're angry about the sentence, and about the security measures that were put in place for Monday's proceedings.
Krawczyk was sentenced in the high-security courtroom built for the Air India trial.
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Today,also, A group of Indigenous women went to the Eagle Ridge Bluff site today to say prayers for Warrior Harriet Nahanne and leave pictures. While at the site the women were confronted by police...
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Posted by
Hunter |
March 5, 2007 at 6:11 PM
I just heard on CBC News that "A Large Olympic Flag was burned last night at city Hall. The Flag was worth about 1500 dollars. The flag has been destroyed"
-Keira
Posted by
Anonymous |
March 6, 2007 at 9:35 AM
John Shafer
From Oka to Gustafsen Lake Harriet Nahanee seemed always to be there
whenever Indigenous sovereignty was raised or fought for. She helped me to see why it was important even as a honky settler to fight
against colonialism and not endorse white supremacist environmental strategies that simply enabled more colonialist land grabs styled as
national or provincial Parks. Harriet intended to read to the juge that imprisoned her the Royal Proclamation of 1763. Even their own law says
they can't do what they are doing in BC and renders them criminals for doing it. It must be taken back from their control by any means necessary.
She fought for truth and against colonialism and genocide since childhood. Elders such as Harriet Nahanee, or Haida elder Lavina White, Secwepemc
elder Wolverine and others who pass on the lesson of resistance and struggle are more important than we know. Especially in such times of
cooption, surrender and selling out. I will never forget Harriet Nahanee and more importantly, I will not forget the lesson of unceasing resistance
she lived and practised. We must all become warriors such as this elder.
There must be no 2010 Olympic Games on stolen desecrated sovereign land.
In memory, love and resistance always
Posted by
Anonymous |
March 8, 2007 at 9:38 PM
"whereas all non-Indigenous defenders of Eagle Ridge Bluff, charged with the same offense were given either fines or community service". So now Betty Krawczyk is a Native?
Posted by
Anonymous |
March 13, 2007 at 12:15 AM
I think that stament was made prior to Betty's arrest...
In solidarity
Posted by
Anonymous |
March 13, 2007 at 7:34 AM
"The loss is aggravated by the fact that she passed away as a direct result of her incarceration, starting January 24, 2007, in Surrey Pre-Trial where she contracted pneumonia" The Writer would have us believe that if this dear woman had not been in the Surrey Pretrial, that she would not have concocted pneumonia. How is this information substanciated? Is it so, because the Writer "says it's so, or is there irrefutable proof not being disclosed by the Writer?
Posted by
Anonymous |
March 14, 2007 at 10:47 PM
its sad that you (the previous bloger) questions the life and death of an Elder and not the Canadian government, prison system, justice system, and even the fact that a 72 year old great-grandmother was mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically abused by these systems...this is not new for the Canadian governement, in fact it anuniciates a legacy of hundreds years of brutal rape, murder and low and high intensity warfare and oppression of Indigenous people in order to gain access at the land...
You ask to question the "legaity or verfication" of the death of this honored Elder, in question and I urge you to fisrt question the legality and verification of the theft of Indgenous land. Who is the real culprit here. Think about it...
Posted by
Hunter |
March 15, 2007 at 1:23 AM
The Writer would have us believe that if this dear woman had not been in the Surrey Pretrial, that she would not have concocted pneumonia. How is this information substanciated?
Posted by
Anonymous |
March 16, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Being a nurse (as well as a person with common sense), I know that when put in squalor without proper blankets, tea, water and subject to cold and unaccommodating conditions, the human body is more suseptible to contracting such a disease...like DUH
Posted by
Anonymous |
May 16, 2008 at 12:13 PM