He pointed to how the Building Canada Act facilitates settler-colonialism, warning crowds of how the rise of data centres and the natural resources used to power AI tools could continually impact the world around us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Building Canada Act is a legal tool facilitating the procurements of natural resources needed to meet the ever-growing demand for AI,\u201d Kosseim said.<\/p>\n
For Albert Lalonde, project lead with the Climate Conscience Lab of the David Suzuki Foundation, joining together as advocates and citizens is key to opposing the Act. He said that the way the legislation currently stands risks sweeping infrastructure projects being imposed on First Nations communities without their informed consent.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the culmination of colonial logic, which amounts to saying \u2018You\u2019ve already been conquered, now shut up. You have no rights,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no mechanism to ensure input.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gabriel characterized the Act as a continuation of Canada\u2019s ongoing colonial legacy, and another way to exert control over First Nations and their land.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Canadian constitution does not protect our rights, because we have to go to court to define them. One of the things that I think is really important for people to understand is that colonialism is something that we are living as Indigenous people on our reserves,\u201d she said. \u201cOur reserves, our lands, which are small, postage stamp-sized lands that we are allowed to live on.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said change needs to happen at a fundamental, systemic level.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s not enough to sign petitions, and demonstrations are not enough,\u201d she said. \u201cThe system is broken. The Indian Act is broken. It\u2019s never been right.\u201d<\/p>\n
The day finished with a round dance, with organizers and attendees joining hands in a circle and dancing in front of Place du Canada, the clouds finally clearing and the sun beating down on participants.<\/p>\n
Gabriel closed out the event with a message of hope.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a beautiful planet. We can breathe. We can grow gardens,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalk side-by-side with us to protect this Earth, because it\u2019s so precious, it\u2019s so valuable, and it\u2019s so beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n