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No One Is Illegal-Vancouver Statement of Solidarity to the Gathering of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

No One Is Illegal Vancouver would like to extend our deep respect and humblest gratitude to the Commission of the Sixth Declaration of the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) for their proposal to the Organizing Commission of the Gathering of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas to extend to our group an invitation to this historic gathering this October 2007 in Vicam, Sonora, México.

Although we are unfortunately unable to attend, we know this gathering is hugely significant and will certainly be a powerful and inspiring meeting of indigenous communities, tribes, and nations of the Americas and their trusted allies. We are incredibly honoured to be considered as allies in the struggle for indigenous self-determination and liberation and to have been invited to participate in this gathering.

As a group, we place ourselves within the broader anti-colonial and anti-capitalist movement of "No One Is Illegal." We believe that there are no "illegal" immigrants, only illegal colonial governments and inhumane laws. As a movement for self-determination that challenges the ideology inherent to immigration controls, we are in full confrontation with Canadian border policies that perpetuate violence, racism, destitution, and exploitation.

We recognize that the global forces of war and capitalist destruction that are causing the dispossession and migration of millions of immigrants and refugees across the global South, such as the migration of millions from Mexico into the US, are also causing the devastation and conquest of indigenous communities and territories across the Americas. While these colonial borders are being made open to capital through so-called "free trade" agreements, the borders of countries like Canada and the US are being militarized against the people- especially indigenous people of the South, who are being forced off their lands, from their homes, and whose entire lives are being stolen by this system of greed and plunder.

Therefore we strongly believe that our work must always be carried out in solidarity with the struggles for the self-determination of indigenous communities of the Americas.

For those of us who are indigenous to different parts of the Global South, we also extend our hearts as sisters and brothers in the struggle against colonization and imperialism.

To all those in attendance, we extend our warmest greetings and our solidarity in the struggle ahead.

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No One is Illegal - Vancouver (Nadie es Illegal - Vancouver) Declaracion de Solidaridad con el Encuentro de Gentes Indigenas de las Americas

No One Is Illegal - Vancouver quiere extender nuestro profundo respeto y humilde gratitude a la Comision de la Sexta Declaracion del Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional (EZLN) por haber propuesto al Comite Organizador del Encuentro de Gentes Indigenas de las Americas que extiendan una invitacion hacia nuestro grupo para atender este encuentro historico en Octubre del 2007 en Vicam, Sonora, Mexico.

Apesar de que por lastima no vamos a poder atender, sabemos que este encuentro es muy importante y ciertamente va a ser una reunion ponderosa e inspiradora para las comunidades indigenas, tribus y naciones de las Americas y sus aliados de confianza. Nos llena de honor ser considerados aliados en la lucha por la liberacion y autodeterminacion indigena y por haber sido invitados a participar en este encuentro.

Como grupo, nos encontramos dentro del movimiento mas amplio anti-colonial y anti-capitalista del movimiento “Nadie es Illegal”. Nosotros creemos que los immigrantes “ilegales” no existen, solo existen gobiernos ilegales y leyes inhumanas. Como un movimiento por la autodeterminacion que desafia la ideologia inherente de los controles de immigracion, nosotros confrontamos completa y directamente la politica de la frontera Canadiense que perpetua la violencia, el racismo, la destitucion y la explotacion.

Reconocemos que las fuerzas globales de guerra y destrucción capitalista que causan la desposesión y migración de millones de inmigrantes y refugiados a traves del Sur Mundial, como la migración de millones de mexicanos a los Estados Unidos, son también las causas de la devastación y conquista de las comunidades y los territorios indígenos a través de las Américas. Mientras que las fronteras coloniales están abiertos para capital por medio de lo que se llama “comercio libre”, las fronteras de países como Canadá y los Estados Unidos están militarizadas contra la gente, en particular las gentes indígenas del Sur, quienes están forzadas fuera de sus tierras y sus casas, y cuyas vidas están robadas por este sistema de avaricia y saqueo.

Por tanto, pensamos fuertemente que nuestro trabajo siempre debe ser realizado en solidaridad con las luchas de autonomía para las gentes indígenas de las Américas.

Para nosotros quienes somos indigenos de las partes distintas del Sur Mundial, también tendemos nuestros corazones como hermanas y hermanos en la lucha contra colonialismo y imperialismo.

Para todos en asistencia, reciban nuestros saludos y nuestra solidaridad en la lucha que viene.

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No One is Illegal-Vancouver
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No One is Illegal – Vancouver is a grassroots anti-colonial immigrant/refugee rights community collective with leadership from members of migrant and/or racialized backgrounds. As a movement for self-determination that challenges the ideology of immigration controls, we are in full confrontation with Canadian border policies; denouncing and taking action to combat racial profiling, detention and deportation, the national security apparatus, law enforcement brutality, and exploitative working conditions of migrants.

We struggle for the right for our communities to maintain their livelihoods and resist war, occupation, and displacement; while supporting indigenous sisters and brothers fighting theft of land and colonization. We also place ourselves within the broader movement for global social justice that struggles against capitalism, militarism, oppression, poverty, imperialism, and other systems of domination and exploitation.