If police intervened, there were immediate cries of police brutality. Prior to 2020, Canadians of a left-wing persuasion were adamant that protesters had the right to conduct occupations, marches and demonstrations. It is interesting that occupations have been viewed in a different light since the COVID-19 pandemic. I have no doubt the campers will call it injustice. No doubt the iPhone video cameras will be recording while this is taking place. When one of the campers was interviewed, he replied, “We will not move, we are here to stay.”īy allowing this encampment to go for a year, our provincial government will undoubtedly give the city of Winnipeg police officers and others the unenviable task of taking down these structures, during which people could be injured. It’s obviously a health hazard with no washroom facilities or garbage removal. Disgraceful and unlawful are my words that describe the encampment on our legislature grounds. Instead of being a gem in our city, the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature are an embarrassment. Maybe there is a way to maintain the sacred fire to help us all keep our focus on addressing these forgotten deaths. Instead of a law and the eventual use of force, perhaps the government, and even Brodbeck, could talk with the campers. I believe the danger is not from the campers, but from society forgetting to address this injustice.īrodbeck notes “assaults have been reported.” Have there been convictions, and are these convicted people from the camp? This is an important goal and consistent with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. Campers told me their purpose was, through maintaining a sacred fire, to ensure that all unmarked Indigenous-person graves be marked and that these unknown people be remembered. I noticed Brodbeck does not discuss the purpose of the encampment.Īs a non-Indigenous Canadian seeking to understand my role in building truth and reconciliation, I have had the privilege of visiting the camp several times in the last year. He argues this is justified because of a new law that disallows camping, because the campers are untidy, and the campers might be dangerous. Tom Brodbeck’s columns are usually well-researched and balanced, so I was surprised when he called for the sacred-fire campers to leave their camp just east of the legislature.

Re: Occupiers can’t say they weren’t warned (Opinion, Aug.

Sacred fire book review