Upon request, Peace Brigades International (PBI) has worked with conflicts involving Indigenous communities in North America. These pages provide information about PBI's North America Project (NAP) which started in 1992 and was closed in 1999.

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Principles and Mandate

We are committed to nonviolence and non-partisanship, engaging in dialogue and listening to all parties to a conflict. We do not take sides in a conflict or propose solutions. We recognize that for just resolution, the parties involved must determine the solution.

The North America Project is concerned about and committed to working against racism and structural violence. We recognize that the problems faced by many Indigenous communities are outcomes of structures that do not represent their culture or tradition, and whose imposition is experienced as violence - an ongoing experience of conquest. We encourage understanding and trust, so that the rift between native and non-native communities may begin to heal for the benefit of all.

The North America Project of Peace Brigades International began in 1990 as a response to increasingly violent confrontations between Native American people and mainstream society and governments. It was closed in December 1999.

In the summer of 1990, Mohawks from Kanehsatake, near Oka, Quebec, set up a blockade to prevent the building of a golf course on land that they claimed as a sacred burial site. During the blockade a police officer was killed and there followed a tense stand-off between the Mohawks, the police and the Canadian military. During both of these stand-offs a number of groups tried to contribute to a peaceful solution by sending observers to be present at the conflict.

PBI members recognized the need for an ongoing organization to coordinate and train such nonviolent efforts, and began testing the idea of a North America Project of PBI. The Project was officially opened in April 1992.

The Innu of Sept-Iles, Quebec

In 1993, the Innu of Sept-Iles requested PBI to provide an observer team, as a result of the announcement of the construction of a hydro dam on Innu hunting territory. PBI maintained a team in the area for five months. The team returned in April 1994, when construction began, to be present at a barricade errected by Innu protesters.

The Innu of Labrador

In January 1994, PBI responded to an emergency request from the Innu Nation, who were afraid of a violent confrontation with the RCMP in the community of Davis Inlet. A few weeks earlier, a group of women had demanded the visiting judge and RCMP to leave, believing that the Canadian justice system was causing more harm than good in their community. Over a two year period, PBI spent time in Sheshatshit, Goose Bay, Davis Inlet, St. John's, as well as in the bush, offering nonviolence workshops and conducting interviews with Innu people, government and other officials.

Chippewas in Ontario

The Saugeen and Nawash bands of southern Ontario have treaty rights to the commercial fisheries around the Bruce Peninsula of Ontario. After years of legal action, these were finally acknowledged in 1993. However, their ability to practice these rights have been threatened through various forms of violence, both overt and indirect. PBI-NAP visited the area periodically since August 1994 to observe the conflict and support nonviolence.

Western Shoshone

In 1863 the Western Shoshone signed a treaty with the US government allowing railway building and safe passage for settlers. Since then, however, the government has assumed it owns the land, and ranching, mining and settlement have devastated the Western Shoshone.

For the past 20 years, Western Shoshone ranchers Mary and Carrie Dann have been reasserting their sovereignty by grazing cattle on public lands without permits. This has led to potentially violent situations when the Federal authorities tried to impound the Dann's livestock. Other sources of conflict include land claims and gold-mining plans which threaten the water supply.

In October of 1994, a team visited the area to interview Shoshone leaders, federal authorities, and ranchers. A team returned in 1995 to conduct a nonviolence workshop.

Big Mountain was the last site for PBI-NAP work. The complex situation at Big Mountain has been brewing for two centuries, involving Dineh (Navajo) families resisting relocation from the Hopi Partitioned Land (HPL), those who have relocated, Navajo and Hopi tribal councils, the US federal and state governments, and the coal mining company which is interested in the land's rich mineral resources. PBI sent an exploratory team to Big Mountain in May 1997. However, the project could no longer muster sufficient resources to sustain an active field team.

PBI Reports from the North America Project

December, 1996: The Chippewas of Saugeen
September, 1996: Observation Teams for the Chippewas of Nawash
May, 1996: Listening and the Power of Context
March, 1996: The Algonquins of Barriere Lake, Quebec

November, 1995: Justice and Healing in Sheshatshit and Davis Inlet
October, 1995: Davis Inlet - Progress with Justice
June, 1995: Nawash Fisheries Conference - March 10-12, 1995
January, 1995: Western Shoshone (Nevada)

For more information contact either your country group or the International Office at the address below.