This story has been updated from its original version.
Protestors peacefully voicing their opposition to fish farms in British Columbia crashed Canada Day celebrations on the legislature lawn in Victoria, Sunday.
As thousands of people donned in red and white assembled to take the cityB次元官网网址檚 annual living flag photo, roughly twenty activists took the opportunity to spread their message, sitting before the large audience, chanting.
Fish farm protestors peacefully crash the living flag photo on on the lawn of chanting B次元官网网址淥h, DFO, fish farms have got to go!B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� Kristyn Anthony (@kristyn_anthony)
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not here just to blindly celebrate,B次元官网网址� said Bobby Arbess, a Victoria resident and settler Canadian.
B次元官网网址淲e are in the era of post-truth and reconciliation and we need to think very seriously about how the economic conditions in this country continue to oppress and dispossess Indigenous peoples,B次元官网网址� he said, pointing to the 30-year history of fish farms on unceded traditional territories.
B次元官网网址淭his is a form of genocide,B次元官网网址� he added, calling fish farms the decimation of the food staple of the coastal Indigenous peoples of B.C.
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Activists say fish farms have proven to pollute the waters in which they operate, threatening native wild and sea life as well as producing unhealthy seafood and harming local fishing communities B次元官网网址� many of whom are Indigenous.
Arbess said Canada Day was B次元官网网址渁 great opportunityB次元官网网址� for people to reflect upon the true history of the nation B次元官网网址渓iterally founded on the backs of Indigenous peoples.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not here just to blindly celebrate,B次元官网网址� Bobby Arbess told me shortly after he spoke to the crowd on the lawn on in
B次元官网网址� Kristyn Anthony (@kristyn_anthony)
Rose Henry, a First Nations activist and educator originally from TlaB次元官网网址檃min Nation said it is time to start looking at alternative fish farms like the one on her home territory, operating on land since the late B次元官网网址�70s. B次元官网网址淲e need to get the fish farms out of the ocean.B次元官网网址�
Indigenous people living in poor health, or without basic necessities like hydro and clean water, or experiencing homelessness directly affects all Canadians, Henry pointed out, citing rising health care and homelessness costs.
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B次元官网网址淭he struggle is real for many of us,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o many of us donB次元官网网址檛 live on reserves because there is almost a substandard life for people residing on the reserves.B次元官网网址�
And, that has a rippling effect to the rest of Canada, stressed Henry, who said a peaceful protest at such a popular Canada Day event was a way to bring more awareness to the issues.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of these people donB次元官网网址檛 know what is really happening,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hat is what is great about living here on this land B次元官网网址� we still have the freedom to voice our opinions.B次元官网网址�
