Attawpiskat First Nation filmmaker makes a call for action

A northern Ontario Indigenous family from Attawapiskat is going on a paddle planting flags to protest the government and protect their land.

Jeronimo Kataquapit, 20, of Attawapiskat First Nation is using his filmmaking talents to protect his ancestral lands.

“This is a national call to action,” said Kataquapit in his film, ‘Here We Stand – Call to Action.’

Kataquapit is taking a stand against the federal and provincial governments and two new laws -- Bill C-5 and Bill 5 –– that aim to fast-track economic projects.

“I didn’t believe something like this could be happening this year, especially this fast, just out of the blue,” said Kataquapit.

“I felt like I took maybe an hour to process it, and I said, OK, we got to go do something. We’re going to have people down south. We’ll have people at Queen’s Park, we’ll have people at Parliament Hill. But we need people on the land.”

He, his parents and brother are currently canoeing the Attawapiskat and Muketei Rivers to install flags created by families who live on those waterways.

“Some of the flags just have their signature, maybe their handprints and whatever message they want to put on there could be -- it could be art, it could be whatever,” said Kataquapit.

Protecting the land

“We hang up their flags to show that the families use this territory, use this land, and want to protect this land. I want to preserve this land for the next generation.”

He said more support is needed. Through his social media platforms, he is inviting others to join him for live updates and urges followers to also take a stand against the new legislation.

“If they succeed in doing whatever they want here, if we do not make our stand here, and no Indigenous nation on Turtle Island will be safe from their destructive greed,” said Kataquapit in his film.

The second-year Waterloo University student is studying geography and environmental management. He said the issue was serious enough for him to put his education on hold.

“If they do not respond to our demands to withdraw Bill 5 and scrap the national interest legislation, we will be prepared to further escalate our actions,” Kataquapit said in his film.

His father, James A. Kataquapit said he is proud of his son’s efforts.

“I’m very happy,” he said.

“We’re supporting each other, all four of us, and especially our son Jeronimo who is leading this and what he believes.”

The Mushkegowuk Council also has concerns over the legislation.

A media release to CTV News said that resource development projects in Mushkegowuk territory can only move forward with the full participation and consent of affected Mushkegowuk First Nations.