ee ee wee

ee ee oe

PAGE 8

CONT FROM/ PAGE 5

we would be a whole lot better
with the Native people in Cole
Bay than with the military
people (in Cole Lake),’’ said
Shaw.

Women went to protest cru-
ise missile testing, but there
were other reasons. Women
gathered to discuss how mili-
tarism affects our society,
especially the lives of women,
and to renew our strength in
working towards a peaceful
society.

Tests ofthe guidance system
were suspended recently in
the United States because of
technical problems. This
raises the fear a missile could
veer off course and crash in
populated areas near Cold
Lake.

Let E

Canada agreed formally on
July 15 to test the American-
made missile in Alberta. The
Primrose Lake area was cho-
sen for its similarity with
terrain in the Soviet Union. It
is flat and white in winter and
is sparsely populated, explain-
ed Jeanne Shaws. ‘‘The gov-
ernment conveniently forgot
that the area is inhabited very
much by natives.”’

Our stay at the camp culmin-
ated in a ritual, where we
destroyed symbols of our mil-
itarist society, and reaffirmed
our hope for a peaceful future.

Standing around a fire, each
woman brought a slip of
paper. On the paper was
written what she most hated
about militarism.

““...1 burn my fear...I burn
my silence...I banish the con-

THE OTHER PRESS
R .

trol that others have over my
life... burn my fear that my
children may not have a
chance to grow up...”’

One woman put her diary in
the fire, and with it her past.
Anger and despair descen-
ded upon us one by one as the
symbols were burned. But
then we talked about what
makes us feel powerful. Be-
longing to the peace camp
group, sharing common goals
and feeling the support of
friends, were all mentioned as
power-giving. One woman
simply walked around the
inside of the circle and said
‘‘this is what makes me feel
powerful.”’

Finally, we each took turns
creating a ‘‘New World
Quilt’’, symbolizing our wish-
es for a new society, and

 

E- Eo AT 1 RSE

containing contributions from
all of us.

Now our mood was positive
and hopeful.

We left the camp, each with a
package of seeds given to
remind us of the experience,
and to help us draw upon our
collective strength.

But militarism quickly show-
ed its face, in the form of an
unmarked police car following
our bus to the Cold Lake base.
The police stopped us, warn-
ing us not to enter the base
area. We drove as far as the
base border, and as soon as
we stepped outside, the Mili-
tary and RCMP erected a road
block, halting all traffic in and
out of the base.

Now the brush-cut policemen
began to photograph us,
which we interpreted as an

: militarism will not be broke

OCTOBER 19TH 1983

   
   
 
   
  
   
   
 
 

obvious attempt at intimida-
tion.

The women formed a circle.
After a couple of minutes of
silence, we sang one of our
ritual songs:

We are the flow
We are the ebb
We are the weavers
We are the web.

Two women planted their
seeds outside the base, sym-
bolizing their hope for change
in the area. We were followed
all the way home.

Our gathering has resulted in
an on-going women’s peace
camp at Cole Bay. Currently
there are five women on the
site, and more are planning to
join.

The international chain of
women standing up against

 

 

When you've got
Molson Malt
you've got it all!

 

 

  
  

LOUIS «iy
a dR

Benepe

CEH Neier

3
$
¥.
x
sy
a SS
Gis