Translating the printemps érable
If you would like to volunteer and join the effort, please contact us at the above email before embarking on any translation work, in order to avoid any redundancies. We cannot accept translations that have not been cleared with us first.
-----------------------
For more useful English-language sources on the conflict, see:
CUTV - broadcasting live from the protests nightly
Rouge Squad - Tactical Translation Team
Rabble.ca's Maple Spring Coverage
En solidarité avec le mouvement #IdleNoMore (notre traduction étant «Plus jamais oisif»), avec Chef Theresa Spence et sa lutte pour engager la conversation avec le Gouvernement du Canada à propos du respect des traités historiques, nous publierons quelques écrits que nous avons traduit de l’anglais au français afin d’encourager la circulation de ces idées dans les régions francophones du Canada. Nous vous demandons de faire circuler les textes de #IdleNoMore pour aider à amplifier ce discours important.
Site web: http://idlenomore.ca/
Texte original anglais: http://www.idlenomore1.blogspot.ca/p/manifesto.html
MANIFESTE
Nous soutenons que:
Les traités sont des ententes d’une nation avec une autre nation, entre les Premières nations et la Couronne, deux nations souveraines. Les traités sont des ententes qui ne peuvent être altérées ou rompues par une partie des deux nations. L’esprit et le dessein des traités signifiaient que le peuple des Premières nations partageraient les terres, mais conserveraient leur droits intrinsèques aux terres et aux ressources. Les Premières nations ont plutôt vécu une histoire de colonisation ayant comme résultats des titres fonciers échus, une pénurie de ressources et un financement inégalitaire de services tels que l’éducation et l’hébergement.
Nous soutenons que:
Le Canada est devenu une des nations les plus riches du monde par l’exploitation des terres et des ressources. Les entreprise d’exploitation minière et pétrolière, de foresterie et de pêche sont des plus puissantes mondialement grâce au territoire et aux ressources. Quelques unes des communautés les plus démunies des Premières nations (telle que Attawapiskat) ont des mines et d’autres développements sur leur territoire, mais n’obtiennent aucune part des profits. L’exploitation des ressources a aussi empoisonné beaucoup de terres et d’eaux – la faune et la flore meurt dans plusieurs régions au Canada. Nous ne pouvons vivre sans la terre et l’eau. Nous possédons des lois gouvernant comment vivre avec la terre qui précèdent ce gouvernement colonial.
Nous soutenons que:
Présentement, le gouvernement tente de passer de nombreuses lois qui faciliteraient l’achat et la vente des territoires réservées par des grandes entreprises qui profiteraient des ressources. Ils promettent de partager cette fois-ci… Pourquoi ces promesses seraient-elles différentes des promesses antérieures? Nous nous en sortirons qu’avec des eaux, des terres et l’air empoisonnés. Il s’agit d’un effort d’enlever notre souveraineté et le droit intrinsèque à la terre et aux ressources des peuples des Premières nations.
Nous soutenons que:
Il existe de nombreux exemples d’autres pays qui se dirigent vers la durabilité, et nous devons aussi exiger le développement durable. Nous croyons aux communautés saines, justes, équitables, et durables, et nous avons une vision et un plan pour comment les bâtir. Joignez-vous à nous pour créer cette vision.
***
In solidarity with the #IdleNoMore movement, Chief Theresa Spence and her struggle to engage the Canadian government in a conversation about the respect of historical treaties, we are publishing a few items that we have translated from English to French in order to increase circulation in French-speaking regions of Canada. Please circulate #IdleNoMore texts widely and help increase the volume of this important dialogue.
#IdleNoMore website: http://idlenomore.ca/
Original English Text: http://www.idlenomore1.blogspot.ca/p/manifesto.html
MANIFESTO
We contend that:
The Treaties are nation to nation agreements between First Nations and the Crown who are sovereign nations. The Treaties are agreements that cannot be altered or broken by one side of the two Nations. The spirit and intent of the Treaty agreements meant that First Nations peoples would share the land, but retain their inherent rights to lands and resources. Instead, First Nations have experienced a history of colonization which has resulted in outstanding land claims, lack of resources and unequal funding for services such as education and housing.
We contend that:
Canada has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world by using the land and resources. Canadian mining, logging, oil and fishing companies are the most powerful in the world due to land and resources. Some of the poorest First Nations communities (such as Attawapiskat) have mines or other developments on their land but do not get a share of the profit. The taking of resources has left many lands and waters poisoned – the animals and plants are dying in many areas in Canada. We cannot live without the land and water. We have laws older than this colonial government about how to live with the land.
We contend that:
Currently, this government is trying to pass many laws so that reserve lands can also be bought and sold by big companies to get profit from resources. They are promising to share this time…Why would these promises be different from past promises? We will be left with nothing but poisoned water, land and air. This is an attempt to take away sovereignty and the inherent right to land and resources from First Nations peoples.
We contend that:
There are many examples of other countries moving towards sustainability, and we must demand sustainable development as well. We believe in healthy, just, equitable and sustainable communities and have a vision and plan of how to build them.
Please join us in creating this vision.
Savignac, Blogger August 19. 2012
Original French Text: http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/savignac/salut-le-jeune_b_1806556.html
It started like that, Hey kid. Do you remember? I wrote you a note back in March. I was asking a lot, not knowing that you would give so much. An RRSP, a mortgage, kids and wearing pleated dress pants, I spoke to you of my powerlessness, and I was asking you to turn them all down, for all of us. I was telling you how much I needed your euphoria, your rage, your strength, your freedom.
Today it’s over. You’re back in school. Studying. You never had any other goal. Your coherence honours your springtime and your little square of fabric. Lost, won, over five years, seven years, loans, bursaries, one coffee a day, the fair share… I know you’ll meet the challenge, no matter what happens.
Jacques Léger, Montréal August 10, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/education/356462/mille-fois-merci
You are stepping down as the co-spokesperson of CLASSE, but you will stay very present and very much with us for struggles today and in the future! Democracy in Quebec has again begun to sound its noble and undeniably beautiful notes, thanks to you and your companions. Though you and I are at opposite ends of life, you filled me with the energy, hope and courage of a new spring. I followed you on the rocky road of your speaking engagements, and from this moment on, I will be with you to walk at your side.
An endless, thoughtful human chain, stretching through all the quarters of Montreal and Quebec, through every district of this fascinating country, must encircle the struggles of today and of tomorrow, and must imagine the words and actions needed to build us up and break us out of today’s political mediocrity.
Karl Rettino-Parazelli August 13, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/education/356661/titre
Photo cation: Lucile Plourde, of Têtes blanches, carré rouge: “It is young people who woke me up.”
Groups created last spring in support of the student struggle met yesterday in Montreal to express their concern, the night before students are to be sent back to class “by condition of Law 12.”
The groups — Mères en colère et solidaires, Parents contre la hausse, Profs contre la hausse and Têtes blanches, carré rouge — spoke together to address elected officials, managers of colleges and deans of universities.
Lise Payette August 10, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/education/356453/lettre-a-une-campeuse-en-colere
Madame, it happened last Friday. I have been thinking about you ever since. I would have liked to tell you in a private letter how upset I was to hear your answer to TVA reporter Jean Lapierre, broadcasting from a campground in L’Islet-sur-Mer. He neglected to identify you. Had I known your name, I would have invited you to a meeting during which I would have tried to help you understand how much your answer to Mr. Lapierre’s question frightened me.
He asked you about the student strike, the well known walk-out last spring that let the wider public know about an issue youth cared about, the high costs of post-secondary education, costs that were going to be further increased by Jean Charest, and that young people decided to decry in public by walking out of their classes and into the street. At first they were alone, then parents joined them, and even grandparents, and the crowd demonstrated very peacefully until those so-called “hooligans” got involved.
The “hooligans” are known to the authorities. Compared to the number of police officers who seem to be everywhere, they are very few. If the hooligans were not stopped, perhaps it’s because the police need hooligans to cause trouble. And if there’s trouble, then it’s alright for the police to resort to violence, isn’t it?
Julien Villeneuve, member of Profs contre la hausse, presented at CLASSE event at Cabaret Olympia
August 10 2012
Original French Text: https://www.facebook.com/Anarchopanda/posts/259944277450788
Dear students fighting alongside the CLASSE,
My name is Julien, I teach Philosophy and I am in favor of free education. I am part of the Profs contre la hausse [Teachers Against the Hike], which, despite the title, brings together many teachers who are also in favor of free education. I’ve been asked to tell you what exactly Profs contre la hausse is, and why we support you. Seeing that I only have a few minutes, I will try to do both at the same time.
If I had to explain to you what Profs contre la hausse is in one sentence in the most scientifically precise way possible, I would say, “Profs contre la hausse is like you guys, but less cool and with teachers.” I’ll explain myself.
Profs contre la hausse sprung from the teachers’ need to meet right away, all together, inter-syndically if not para-syndically if not almost extra-syndically (meaning the larger central unions, of course), in order to reflect (not too much) and to act (as much as possible) in support of your struggle. I know that I should say our struggle. I’ll come back to that later.
VIDEO:
The Quebec Spring - When the People Awaken
[Sans la nommer lyrics]:
I would like, without naming her, to speak of her to you.
Like of a loved one, of a faithful one.
A quite lively girl who’s awakening
To tomorrows singing under the sun
(CHORUS)
She’s the one who’s being clubbed, being chased, being tracked
She’s the one who is stands up, who suffers, who goes on strike,
She’s the one we put in jail, who we betray, who we abandon,
Who makes us want to live, who makes us want to follow,
Till the end, till the end.
I would like, without naming her, to pay homage to her.
Beautiful flower of the month of May or wild fruit.
A plant well pitched on her two legs
And who errs freely where she pleases.
August 4, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.villeray.philotech.org/wp/?p=224
As Popular Autonomous Neighbourhood Assemblies (French: Assemblées populaires autonomes de quartiers) formed after the imposition of emergency legislation, we openly give our support to student associations who decide to continue to strike in opposition to the increase to tuition fees, and who continue to disobey this emergency law. To force students back to class, as is supposed to happen starting August 13, is nothing more than an attack on students’ right to collectively organize. For this reason, we offer our support to students on strike: we will organize demonstrations and we will be present on picket lines.
Signed by:
- Assemblée populaire autonome de Villeray (www.apaqvilleray.org)
– Assemblée populaire autonome de Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (www.apahochelaga.org)
(Other Popular Autonomous Neighbourhood Assemblies who support us are encouraged to add their names to this list by contacting bloquonslarentree@bloquonslarentree.com.)
On August 13, Assemblée populaire autonome de Hochelaga-Maisonneuve invites everyone to a casserole demonstration that will start at Place Valois (corner of Ontario and Valois) at 7:00 AM, heading towards CEGEP Maisonneuve in support of striking students who will be holding picket lines.
Antoine Dubé, Lévis July 24, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.ledevoir.com/societe/education/355189/pourquoi-j-ai-participe-a-la-manifestation
Because as a baby-boomer, I myself have benefitted from low tuition fees, and because I think it is fair that young people today should be able to get a university education at a price equivalent to what my generation had to pay;
Because I think it is contradictory that we are asking students to take on debt as individuals so as not to increase the collective debt of future generations;
Because if education allows, in principle, better-paying jobs in the future and if such jobs will bring in more taxes for the government, then it seems illogical to me that the government should limit access to education and deprive itself of future revenue;
Where: Consulate of the Russian Federation (3655 Avenue du Musée, Montréal)
When: Wednesday August 1 NEW DATE: Thursday August 2 2012, 6:30PM - 8:30PM
Original French Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/394101260647067/
Let’s gather in solidarity with Maria Alekhina, Ekaterina Samutsevich and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, three members of the PUSSY RIOT punk collective, who were absurdly condemned by the Russian judicial system to three months of prison for having possibly expressed their political opinions during a “punk prayer” staged on February 21 2012 at the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
The song requested that the Virgin Mary become a feminist and banish Vladimir Putin. It also criticized the support that certain representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church had given Putin. For this act, the members of PUSSY RIOT are facing charges of “hooliganism on the grounds of religious hatred”.
The gathering will begin in front of the Consulate of the Russian Federation (3655 Avenue du Musée, Montréal). If our numbers are great enough, we will then leave in a demonstration to then make our way to Parc Émilie-Gamelin in time for the 100th Nighttime Demonstration.
Bring your balaclavas! :D
