Idle No More

I plan on visiting Ottawa this week and dropping off some wood and other items.

First Nations “war drums” will “ring loudly” if Attawapiskat Chief Spence dies: Nepinak

The “long silent war drums” of First Nations people will pound again if Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence dies from her hunger strike, says the head of Manitoba’s largest chiefs organization.

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Derek Nepinak issued the statement Sunday, the same day Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo released an open letter calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston to agree to Spence’s demand and meet with First Nations leaders to discuss the treaties.

Spence is into her sixth day of a hunger strike and she’s spending her days and nights in a teepee on Victoria Island which sits in the Ottawa River and in the shadow of the Supreme Court of Canada and Parliament Hill. Temperatures in Ottawa hovered between -6C and -10C over the weekend....

Round dance during Saturday’s Sandy Bay First Nation Trans-Canada blockade in Manitoba.

Treaty Six Chiefs reject C-45:

As Indigenous Nations, the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations do not recognize laws and enactments of the Government of Canada, including but not limited to Bill C-45, which do not fulfill their constitutionally recognized and affirmed Treaty and Aboriginal rights; as well as the Crown’s legal obligations to meaningfully consult and accommodate First Nations.

http://www.treatysix.org/upload/documents/CT6FN%20PRESS%20RELEASE%20Bill...

It’s Political Unrest. No, It’s a Resurgence

#IdleNoMore

The movement has begun, as we see a united front of our indigenous nations with their fists raised in the presence of waving flags.  We are in a critical time- a time where you recognize microphones and megaphones waiting to be utilized to motivate, inspire, and rally our people.  It is legitimate to say that a sleeping giant of Indigenous presence has been prodded by the pitchfork of Canadian legislation.  The blankets of comfort have been ripped off our people as many are awakening to the realities of the state of our Indigenous nationhood....

Driftpile Cree Nation launched Idle No More Alberta highway blockade

In Alberta, Driftpile Cree Nation members also held a peaceful blockade of a major highway running through their community this past weekend.

Organizers say they want to show their support of the Idle No More movement in opposition to Bill C-45 and to bring awareness that all Canadians are being impacted by the proposed bill.

Idle No More protests continue, from one community to another

Hundreds more took the streets in Lethbridge and Regina as part of the ongoing protests against Bill C-45.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                               

18 December 2012

Thousands expected at Ottawa protest on Friday

First Nations people and their supporters are uniting under the banner Idle No More against the federal government’s changes to legislation which will affect treaties and traditionally used lands.

At noon on Friday, December 21st, a grassroots led protest is expected to attract thousands of Aboriginal people to a ceremony at Victoria Island, who will then march in solidarity on to Parliament Hill. Idle No More Ottawa will feature voices from many nations and political stripes in a speakers rally that will last until dusk. 

The peaceful event page, which organizers simply posted on facebook and twitter, has elicited support for change from around what’s known as Turtle Island and follows several similar protests held across Canada.

On the following page is a timeline and speakers list for Idle No More Ottawa.

Here is a link for Idle No More Ottawa on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/453702748027709/

I am so excited about this movement.  Thank You.  

Hope to see in my neighbourhood soon.

Mapping Idle No More Teach-ins, blockades, rallies, flash mobs and hunger strike

click on this link.

Idle No More is a multi-faceted movement spear headed by First Nations communities to oppose several bills being pushed through parliament, including the Bill C-45, and to unite communities in their opposition to colonialism and its attacks on indigenous peoples, and damage to the land and water.....

http://toronto.mediacoop.ca/story/mapping-idle-no-more/15183

I also found it odd that the CBC morning National news talked about protesters disrupting shoppers.

That's not how the round dances in shopping malls have been playing out here. It's more of a show of unity, an invitation to draw in others to the fact that while this is primarily about Native rights, it has a great effect on all of us.

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Thousands+take+over+Saskatoon+mall+Id...

(edit)

... and that would be the well-dressed Jonathan Kay.

6079_Smith_W wrote:

I also found it odd that the CBC morning National news talked about protesters disrupting shoppers...

I caught a bit of Newsworld just a while ago and an Idle No More newsbite came on. The Reporter did a good job describing the movement and how, after "decades and centuries", it's boiled down to the need to reset the relationship. After the story they introed a newstory about how and where the Ikea monkey was going to spend Christmas . We all know how important Christmas is to Ikea monkeys... no pun intended. And, I mean no disrespect to the victims of crap "pet owners" but this story is becoming a bit symbolic for me at the sometimes farsical nature of popular media.

Serviam6 wrote:

6079_Smith_W wrote:

I also found it odd that the CBC morning National news talked about protesters disrupting shoppers.

 

 

I was reading the feedback about the Idle No More protests on the NovaScotia highway on a CBC website and I feel it validates my opinion on roadblocks- they don't work. They actually do more to damage to this cause than anything else.

 

In the most general terms blocking off a highway pisses people off. A lot. Memebsr of rabble.ca for example will not only understand but sympathize and support these roadblocks.  It's not rabble.ca (and friends) who protesters need to get support from. It's the average day to day citizens who don't really know what the issues are about or haven't been educated yet.

Inconvieniencing them for 2 hours doesn't make them want to get home and read up about the issues it just annoys them.

I've never been under the assumption that roadblocks are intended to get the average citizen to care about an issue, because even if you have a majority or plurality of the public on your side, that doesn't necessarily force the government's hand. I've always thought of roadblocks as economic disruption. In an age of just-in-time delivery, blocking a highway can seriously fuck with a business' production schedule, and subsequently, their bottom line. I think the capitalists have more influence on the government than the average citizen, so if these disruptions start to effect their profits, [i]they're[/i] the ones who can put in a call to Stevie to tell him that he needs to do [i]something[/i] to address the situation.

ETA: I also think that at this point in our colonial history, First Nations folks just gotta do what they gotta do, regardless of what the people who post in the CBC comments section think. I mean, just yesterday there was a report on CBC Ottawa's website about the government of Ontario [i]finally[/i] reaching a draft agreement on a land claim with the Algonquins of Ontario. Much of eastern Ontario is unceded Alqonquin territory, and yet most of the comments were incredulous that the government was "giving away" our (i.e. settlers') land to the Algonquins, showing zero willingness to acknowledge that this was never "our" land to begin with.

I'm not saying that it's a good idea to deliberately allienate the general public, but I don't think First Nations folks should let our unwillingness to own up to our colonial past and present stand in the way of justice.

Idle No More: Interview with Darla Goodwin

http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/f-word/2012/12/idle-no-more

Speaking of unceded native land in eastern Ontario, the ontario government has this on their website:

Overview: What is the Algonquin Land Claim About?

Land claim territory

The Algonquin land claim covers a territory of 36,000 square kilometres (8.9 million acres) that fall within the Ontario portion of the Ottawa and Mattawa River watersheds.

The area that is the subject of the Algonquin claim includes most of Algonquin Park as well as CFB Petawawa and the National Capital Region, including Parliament Hill.

Of the area within the claim territory, approximately 59 per cent is privately held patented land, 21 per cent of the land mass is within Algonquin Park, 16 per cent is land held by Ontario as public lands and by provincial Crown corporations, and four per cent is federal Crown land.

This is the geographically largest and one of the most complex native land claims in Ontario under active negotiation. More than a million people reside and work within the claim territory

The Aamjiwnaang First Nation are blocking the CN rail in support of the #idlenomore movement until Harper meets with Spence.

From a Facebook post: Aamjiwnaang Citizens are indicating they will continue the blockade until Chief Teresa Spence is granted a meeting with Prime Minister Harper, and there is recognition of the historical injustice inflicted upon the community. Following a community meeting this morning, and a meeting with the Mayor of Sarnia, Chief of Police and CN Rail representative, citizens of Aamjiwnaang have determined to maintain the blockade until community demands are met. Aamjiwnaang citizens are calling on all allies to come support the blockade. Bring WARM clothes and good intentions. Accepting food, wood and warm clothes donations

A demonstration / ceremony at the pine woods - la pinède - at the heart of the Oka protest over 20 years ago (my, how time passes, eh?)

Local Mohawks protesting at the site of the Oka Crisis (the Pine forest that was to be made into a golf course):http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2012/12/22/montreal-oka-idle-no-more.html

Funny thinking how long ago that was. We cycled down to the Hydro-Québec headquarters (also the office of the Québec PM) after work, and some of us travelled to Oka when we could to show our solidarity with the cause. It was funny how the Zapatistas picked up on their Northern cousins' fashion sense some time after... Long time ago, that. These were important milestones in the re-emergence of an Indigenous movement throughout the Americas and beyond. 

Don't hesitate to comment - the first comments were quite good, but the usual mouthbreathing crew has come along to tar Indigenous demands. Yes, of course there are corrupt chiefs and gangs using Native demands for their own purposes, but those are hardly limited to Aboriginal communities...

lagatta..here's some aptn video. good to see settler support.

Kahnawake takes to Mercier Bridge in Idle No More rally

For one hour this morning the Mohawks of Kahnawake peacefully shut down an on ramp to the Mercier Bridge near Montreal.

They want to show solidarity with Chief Theresa Spence and put more pressure on the government.

There's good comments. I'll be adding mine when I retrieve my CBC password.

One tiny article on Radio-Canada.ca...Many stupid, ignorant comments...http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ontario/2012/12/25/001-theresa-spence-greve-faim-deux-semaines.shtml 

[url=http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/25/idle-no-more-is-a-christmas-gift-to-u... No More is a Christmas gift to us all[/url]

Quote:

Instead of big signs of advertising for perfumes and shampoos, Idle No More is filling our shopping malls with posters and signs against Harper. I’m incredibly inspired by the young Indigenous women who began Idle No More to not only build in opposition to Bill C-45, which would reduce protections over waterways, but also to build a revolution for Indigenous sovereignty and to defend the earth. Idle No More is exposing the ruthlessness of the Harper government. Chief Theresa Spence is risking her life for all of us. Harper is letting Chief Spence starve, refusing to meet the simple ask of a meeting. But the strength and resolve of this leader in her 14th day without food is galvanizing opposition.

...

Quote:

But, for the first time ever, I shared the joy of democratic demonstration with my family — my Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, and brother-in-law. There was nothing more special than huddling near the sacred fire with my brother in-law to listen to a former soldier speak in support of Idle No More. There was nothing better than making signs with my grandpa that read: “Harper, have you packed your bags yet?” and “Support Aboriginal Rights”. What an incredible joy!

Many gifts, think laptops and iPods, often make me feel further away from the people who are dear to me. But by joining in Idle No More, I feel closer now to my family and closer to a place of shared understanding.

And in the wake of the Idle No More demo we’d just participated in, at our family dinner this year, we didn’t just talk about the gravy, but about the ugliness and destructiveness of some of our history and our reality, and the incredible opportunity of this moment to be part of creating a brave and bright future for us all.

 Idle No More: Indigenous -Led Protests Sweep Canada for Native Sovereignty and Environmental Justice - Democracy Now (and vid)

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/26/idle_no_more_indigenous_led_protests

"...We, First Nations people, have been subsidizing the wealth, prosperity, programs and services of Canada from our lands and resources,' Palmater says, and that's the reality here that most people don't understand..."

MNN: Idle No More MapQuest

http://mohawknationnews.com/blog/2012/12/24/mnn-idle-no-more-mapquest/

"As Sitting Bull said, 'Money soon gone but land is forever'...No one in the world can stop us from becoming free."

It seems that they have been following advice like yours for sometime but they are now choosing to be Idle No More.  Being civil gave them Harper ripping up their treaty rights. Most Canadian settlers merely think that they stole the natives land ages ago so why the fuss now.  Maybe if they get stuck in traffic they might give it at least one thought because without the protests FN's were sure not getting a mass outpouring of support from their settler neighbours.

peeps who are stating here road blocks don't help are no allies. neither here nor in society at large. 

maybe the same ones who are out there agreeing with the racists who want to continue stealing FN land and resources instead of calling them on it.

rail line gets blocked here all the time 'cause of avalanches or rock falls.  and omg in the busy season...too. how dare mother nature close the rail lines its Christmas!!!!!!!! ffs

 like the poor busnesses are more important than First Nations and their rights or what? like what are people thinkin when they say shit like that?