Defenders of the land of the Maya Q’eqchi’ and Mi’kmaq meet on Highways 134 & 116

When Angelica Choc arrived on unceded Mik’maq territory in Rexton to visit with Mi’kmaq people and allies against shale gas on October 31st, it was an international connection – from Maya Q’eqchi’ lands to Mi’kma’ki – of resistance to resource extraction companies and the brutality at their behest. The repression against opponents of shale gas seen recently in Rexton and earlier in the summer in Elsipogtog was in defence of the interests of resource extraction companies, which has been the same story for Angelica and her community.

Angelica Choc is a Maya Q’eqchi’ woman from El Estor, Guatemala currently touring through the Maritimes telling the story of her community’s fight against Toronto-based mining company HudBay Minerals, the tragic injustice faced by her family and neighbours at the hands of the company and her current lawsuit against the company. A security guard for HudBay Minerals stands accused of brutally murdering Angelica’s husband Adolfo Ich Chaman, a teacher, father of her five children and mine opponent.

At both the longhouse on Route 116 and at the camp in Rexton, Angelica Choc shared her story and listened to the stories of women and men there who are facing legal struggles of their own. She made it clear that she and others in her community are continuing their fight against HudBay and she encouraged the same against shale gas development here. A point that she made very clear was that in neither case has mining interests and their armed forces been able to defeat community resolve.

Angelica Choc will speak at two events in Fredericton on Friday, Nov. 1st. Both are open to the public.

Noon hour talk at UNB Law School: Angelica Choc will speak at the UNB Law School at 12 noon in Room 2, Ludlow Hall, UNB, on Friday, Nov. 1st. Hear Angelica’s story and learn about the litigation between Maya Q’eqchi’ plaintiffs and HudBay.

Cinema Politica premiere of Defensora: A new film about Angelica’s community’s struggles, Defensora, will premiere at Cinema Politica at Conserver House, 180 Saint John St. at 7:00pm on Friday, Nov. 1st. Angelica Choc will speak after the film screening. Defensora is a documentary about Maya Q’eqchi’ resistance against mining in Guatemala. Tensions run high against a backdrop of violence and forced evictions. The film takes audiences into the lives of resisters who struggle to reclaim their ancestral lands and seek justice in Canadian courts for alleged human rights violations.