"We do it for the water"
Mi'kmaq water protectors and allies are building a strawbale house at the front gates of the Alton Gas site, and could use some financial support. The worksite is located on the banks of the Shubenacadie river, where Alton wants to dump salt brine equivalent to 3170 tons of hard salt every day. This is part of a project to create caverns out of underground salt deposits, which would then be used to store natural gas.
Since September 2016, the Mi'kmaq water protectors have been watching Alton from a Truck House that they built along the banks of the Shubenacadie. Since May of this year, a treaty camp was built at the entrance to Alton's worksite, to prevent Alton Gas from working on the project.
At no point has consent from treaty right holders been given. In fact, the Supreme Court of NS recently ruled in favour of the Sipekne'katik acknowledging that proper consultation did not take place. Many Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbours weren't informed about this project until 5+ years after it was approved.
Mi'kmaq water protectors have been effectively blocking this project for almost 6 months, and are now building a strawbale house at the front gate to winter at the camp! Please help this project and the sustainability of the camp throughout the winter!
Read more about why this project is a bad idea.
WHAT YOUR FUNDS WILL GO TOWARDS:
Sand and bags: $300
Straw Bales and Straping: $1000
Lumber
for Roof Trusses and Top and Bottom Plates: $1000
Roof Sheathing:
$500
Screws and Nails: $150
Cement for Foundation:
$100
Miscellaneous Materials: $150
Facia and Drip Edge:
$100
Ceiling Boards and Insulation: $400
Other camp
weatherizing needs: $600
Fundrazr fees: $350
Gift
fulfillment (postage, printing, etc.): $350
TOTAL: $5000 CAD
STRETCH GOALS – BREAKDOWN OF COSTS:
Truckhouse expenses
Steel roof from debert (community
metal): $617 taxes in (+$75 for delivery)
Rigid foam board
insulation for ceiling,floor and remainder of walls (including screws
and spray foam for fastening and sealing) = 658.91 taxes in from home
hardware in Stewiacke.
thin plywood panelling $320 with meranti
from home hardware.
=1700 for Truckhouse reinforcement
Cook
House:
Prep Sink (steel): $1000
Shack or housing structure:
$1500
Fundrazr fees: $200
Gift fulfillment (postage,
printing, etc.): $100
NEW GOAL: 5000 +4500 = $9500
note: this house is being built with volunteer labour and many donated supplies. If you have music or art to contribute as fundraising gifts, please contact: sakura.saunders@gmail.com!
VIDEO CREDITS: Special thanks to Submedia.tv for most of the video, and Cee Reality of Test Their Logik for the music (second track). Additional footage provided by Sakura Saunders. Interviews with Madonna (kukuwes wowkis) and Dale, video footage of Dorene from Alton Gas townhalls, used with permission from Council of Canadians.
For those in the Halifax area, SWAGR (Solidarity with Alton Gas Resistance) is hosting a show and silent auction at the Bus Stop Theatre on Dec. 3! There'll be performances, speakers, and a lot of cool stuff! For more info, check out our FB event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/486427711728648/
Perks
- 8 claimed
Get a picture thank you card with a hand-written note, thanking you for your support!
- 21 claimed
Receive a card that you can give as a gift to a Water Protector in your life. This card will have a picture from the camp, and will be blank outside of the inscription: "To honour our friendship and our shared love of Mother Earth, I made a donation to Stop Alton Gas."
- 46 claimed
A silk-screened poster of Christi Belcourt's "Water is Life" graphic. Printed with permission to raise funds for the camp!
- 2 claimed
- 3 remaining
Get one of these limited edition prints by the late David Brooks, donated by his widow for the water protectors at the Alton Gas site. Please indicate which print you would like with the number.
- 25 claimed
- 0 remaining
Get your hands on a beautiful, hand silk-screened poster about the struggle for the water and against Alton Gas. Made by Jeighk from Inkstorm.
- 15 claimed
- 0 remaining
Political print maker Annie Banks has graciously offered multiple prints of her "River of History" graphic. This beautiful linocut is especially meaningful as the Shubenacadie River is known for its changes in direction as the tidal bore sweeps in from the Bay of Fundy. Let us also see this struggle and its success as a change in tide towards respecting native sovereignty and centring the protection of the water and our environment in how we share these lands. Read more about Annie Banks: anniebanks.net
Highlights
See all activity166Activity
- 8 claimed
Get a picture thank you card with a hand-written note, thanking you for your support!
- 21 claimed
Receive a card that you can give as a gift to a Water Protector in your life. This card will have a picture from the camp, and will be blank outside of the inscription: "To honour our friendship and our shared love of Mother Earth, I made a donation to Stop Alton Gas."
- 46 claimed
A silk-screened poster of Christi Belcourt's "Water is Life" graphic. Printed with permission to raise funds for the camp!
- 2 claimed
- 3 remaining
Get one of these limited edition prints by the late David Brooks, donated by his widow for the water protectors at the Alton Gas site. Please indicate which print you would like with the number.
- 25 claimed
- 0 remaining
Get your hands on a beautiful, hand silk-screened poster about the struggle for the water and against Alton Gas. Made by Jeighk from Inkstorm.
- 15 claimed
- 0 remaining
Political print maker Annie Banks has graciously offered multiple prints of her "River of History" graphic. This beautiful linocut is especially meaningful as the Shubenacadie River is known for its changes in direction as the tidal bore sweeps in from the Bay of Fundy. Let us also see this struggle and its success as a change in tide towards respecting native sovereignty and centring the protection of the water and our environment in how we share these lands. Read more about Annie Banks: anniebanks.net