The land on which ULPC conducts our work and holds our events is the traditional, unceded, and unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin nation. We acknowledge that this place that has come to be known as so-called “canada” is a settler colony built on stolen land and made possible by ongoing and centuries long colonial violence, displacement, dispossession, and genocide of the Indigenous peoples of this land. The Anishinaabeg nation are the continued stewards of the Ottawa River Valley, and have lived on this land since time immemorial. We acknowledge their continued resistance against colonial systems of oppression and reaffirm our commitment to supporting decolonial movements here on Turtle Island and on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabeg.
We acknowledge as well the atrocity, colonial violence, and genocide of the Palestinian people that we are bearing witness to in Gaza right now. We acknowledge that all forms of oppression and struggles for liberation are interconnected, and that the movement for a liberated Palestine, free from colonial occupation, is deeply connected to land back, truth and reconciliation, Indigenous sovereignty, and decolonization movements on Turtle Island and on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabeg.
ULPC does not tolerate any form of antisemitism, islamophobia, and hate in our spaces, and we recognize the importance of not conflating Judaism with Zionism, and the harm in aligning all Jewish people with the state of Israel.
At ULPC, we seek to embody the importance of moving beyond acknowledgement towards meaningful and concrete action in our monthly, weekly, and daily lives. Below is a list of educational and informational resources to support efforts to end the genocide, apartheid, and occupation in Palestine, as well as mental health resources for anyone in need.
Resources in support of Palestinian liberation
For information about the movement for a liberated Palestine and for educational resources, visit the Palestinian Youth Movement.
For news about local protests and actions in Ottawa, see @ottawapym or Instagram or find more ways to stay up to date with their work here.
For resources from Canadian Jewish communities organizing for justice in Palestine, visit Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and their Ottawa chapters @ijvottawa @ijvcarleton on Instagram.
For information about weapons manufacturing companies in Canada involved in arming the Israeli military, and resources to put pressure on your elected officials to demand an arms embargo, visit World Beyond War.
For information about the Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions movement, visit this overview, and click here and here for a list of to products and companies to boycott.
See this Digital Action Toolkit by Action Network for a comprehensive guide on ways to support the liberation of Palestine and how to stay informed through news and social media.
Mental Health Resources
Solidarity Therapy is offering low cost or free counseling to Palestinian or Jewish community members in Canada impacted right now. Text 604.313.6818 or email hello@solidaritytherapy.ca
Registered psychotherapist Reem Khafagy (www.reemkhafagy.com and @therapyreem on Instagram) is offering a number of free therapy sessions to Palestinians, allies, activists and anyone impacted by the ongoing crisis in Palestine. Email therapywithreem@gmail.com to book a session
Counselling Connect offers free counselling for residents of Ottawa and the surrounding area of all ages
Distress Center of Ottawa (24/7 crisis line + text)- 343-306-5550 / www.dcottawa.on.ca
Connex Ontario (free 24/7 mental health + addiction support) – 1-866-531-2600 / https://www.connexontario.ca/en-ca/
Kids Help Phone (24/7 phone+text counseling for youth) – 1-800-668-6868 / https://kidshelpphone.ca/
Tel-Aide Outaouais (French language crisis line) – Ottawa: 613-741-6433 Gatineau: 819-775-3223 / http://telaideoutaouais.ca/
National Hope for Wellness Hotline (24/7 helpline for Indigenous peoples across Canada) – 1-855-242-3310 / https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
National Black Youth Helpline (helpline for Black youth available from 9am – 10pm) – 1-833-294-8650 / https://blackyouth.ca/ Youth Services Bureau (24/7 youth crisis line + a range of mental health/other support resources) – 613-260-2360 https://www.ysb.ca/
Urban Legends Poetry Collective 