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‘Twas a night in December, as sacred fires burned
Sacred pipes were smoked by the countless concerned
Our Drum-keepers gathered and Elders sat near
As we’ve all prayed that changes were coming and near

All over these lands, we answered the call.
For ceremonies to guide our refusal to fall.
From East to West, smoke rose to the sky
Holding our prayers, all wrapped up inside.

Harper and his cronies were nestled all snug in their beds
As stolen lands and resources danced in their heads
As collaborators laughing and denying the harm
As they burn each of our treaties to keep toasty warm.

But when sunrise came, there arose such a roar
As if Thunderbirds shook pillars from ceiling to floor
Away to the windows; politicians flew in a flash
As a growing tsunami hit the shore with a crash.

The morning sun and the new-fallen snow
Gave a backdrop to unprecedented action that continued to grow
Thousands upon thousands Indigenous took to the streets
And flooded where Indian Affairs and legislators meet

Young and old, women and men, and allies stood in force
As we watched Indigenous history take a new course
More rapid than frenzied eagles, they descended and they came
Our Warriors raised their voices across the Island — called by each name:

“Now Winnipeg! Now Calgary! Now Van-City and Ottawa!
On Edmonton! On Sask! On T-Bay and Kenora!
All across our territories, we answer the call.
Sky above us! Earth below us! And Fire within us all!

We gathered in force to speak for the silenced
For the voiceless impacted from continued State violence
For our families, our unborn, and our Nations they deny
And our Mother Earth and the life she provides

We gather to honour the Creator’s laws
In Truth as on-looking hearts start to thaw
We gather in responsibility and in vision today
And no matter the tomorrow, there will be no delay.

With drums sounding their voices, from far and wide we came
Eagle staffs raised-skyward, fanning our flames
By the thousands and thousands, we shatter their chains
And by the thousands and thousands, we walk what we claim

We stood proud in who we are, in spirit and in voice
and we stand proud in our clans – and in each we rejoice
And watching the crowd with curious eyes
A small child asked a fluent elder just how to say “Rise”

First time in ages — together — as unity grew
Proud elders next to children next to parents and neighbors too.
Across our Nations and across our names, we greet tomorrow without pause
And it greets us committed — to our Nations and cause.

Take a look across the land, a revolution so belated.
Our children are seeing by example how history is created.
Take a listen across the land, to the voices and the drumming
To understand how strong our children are becoming!

It shows us a truth — so simple and pure
Awareness without action, a diagnosis without cure
Twas a night in December when all it began
And many Decembers from now, together we’ll stand

Our children will be curious and will ask us one day
“Where were you when we came so close to the fray?”
And we’ll tell them that beside them is where we all stood
And we’ll tell them the story — because we’ll know that we should.

My Relations – ‘TIS THE SEASON and our times are quite urgent
In times that call for an Indigenous Nationhood Resurgence
They’ve woken a sleeping giant and ignited our cores.
No Fear. No Surrender. And Idle No More.

Now we’ll rise to our feet with drums and voices so loudly
And into the streets we’ll flood, unified so proudly
And you’ll hear us exclaim “Inherent!” and “Treaties!”, as we march into sight.
Nationhood and Resurgence to All — And keep up the fight!

 

Happy Holidays, Harper. We’re coming.

Written by Robert Animikii Horton, Rainy River First Nations, Anishinaabe, Marten Clan.