Idle No More

[Keith Millea]

Published on Thursday, January 3, 2013 by Huffington Post

Idle No More: Hints of a Global Super-Movement

by Jacob Devaney

What started as a murmur in early October from First Nations People in Canada in response to Bill C45 has become a movement that echoes the sentiments of people all over the world, a battle cry of love for the planet, "Idle No More." At first glance it might appear that this movement is isolated and doesn't effect you if you are not native or if you don't live in Canada, yet it does. It may appear that this resistance is not related to The Occupy Movement, The Arab Spring, The Unify Movement, Anonymous, or any of the other popular uprisings sparked by social unrest, but it is.

At its very core, all of these movements have very common threads and are born from common issues facing people everywhere. Those who represent financial interests that value money over life itself, that are devoid of basic respect for human decency, and for nature have dictated the future for too long and people everywhere are standing up to say, "No more." This non-violent social uprising is viral in the minds and hearts of everyone across the planet determined to bring healing to our troubled communities, our planet, and the corruption that is eroding the highest places of governments around the world.

Flashmobs with dancing and drumming at a malls in Olympia, Wash. Tempe, Ariz., Denver, Colo., a giant circle dance blocking a large intersection in Winnipeg, rail blockades in Quebec, this movement is using cultural expression combined with modern activism to get attention, and it is working. From their website, "Idle No More calls on all people to join in a revolution which honors and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty which protects the land and water.

Colonization continues through attacks to Indigenous rights and damage to the land and water."

Idle No More was started in October by four ladies; Nina Wilson, Sylvia McAdam, Jessica Gordon & Sheelah McLean who felt it was "urgent to act on current and upcoming legislation that not only affects First Nations people but the rest of Canada's citizens, lands and waters."
On December 11 Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence launched a hunger strike requesting a face-to-face meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss broken treaties and protection of natural resources. Spence is staying in a teepee on the frozen Ottawa River facing Parliament Hill and has gained the support from many natives and non-natives who are in solidarity with this movement.

Chief Arvol Lookinghorse from South Dakota recently expressed his support in a letter posted on Facebook that states, "As Keeper of our Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, I would like to send out support for the efforts of Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation, for giving of herself through fasting with prayers for the protection of Mother Earth." He goes on to say,

This effort to protect Mother Earth is all Humanity's responsibility, not just Aboriginal People. Every human being has had Ancestors in their lineage that understood their umbilical cord to the Earth, understanding the need to always protect and thank her. Therefore, all Humanity has to re-connect to their own Indigenous Roots of their lineage -- to heal their connection and responsibility with Mother Earth and become a united voice... All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer.

Society and nature work in similar ways to our own body's immune system. We are given a symptom that causes us to be aware that there is an illness that needs to be addressed. We can try to suppress the symptom, but that does not heal the illness. Popular uprisings with very core commonalities are spreading all over the planet. Exploitation of our environment, as well as the exploitation of people and cultures for the sake of financial gain is immoral and must be stopped at the highest levels of our governments. It is possible to have a thriving economy and environmental ethics.

It is a simple choice: continue to be part of the cancer that slowly destroys our water, our air and the resources that are the fabric of life by staying unconscious, or become the conscious antidote that slowly kills the cancerous disease which threatens the existence of life on the planet.

Here in America, the response to Occupy is tucked into NDAA as Washington prepares ways to suppress the symptoms of social discord. Without addressing the illness at its root nothing will change. It is like the mythical Many-Headed Hydra, if you cut one head off, two more will grow back. Popular uprisings will continue here and all over the world until leaders understand that people want real fundamental change in policy. Governments should lead by example if they want to be respected.

With Twitter, Facebook and the internet, these separate movements are finding solidarity with each other and converging as a global super-movement for the planet and all people. The quote used at Unify is, "Everyone, Everywhere, Together" and it is beginning to resonate more than ever.

Each of these movements share a commitment to non-violent revolution in their call to end the exploitation of people and the exploitation of natural resources. Sustainability can be applied to all aspects of social rights, economics and the environment. Social, economic, cultural, and environmental movements, resistance, civil disobedience, flash mobs and more will continue until this is addressed at home and abroad. Whether it is Anonymous and Wikileaks exposing the corruption of governments, or Indians with drums dancing and chanting in a local mall, people everywhere are awakening, speaking up, and acting for the needed changes. It's time for politicians and religious leaders to get the message everywhere.

It is a simple choice: continue to be part of the cancer that slowly destroys our water, our air and the resources that are the fabric of life by staying unconscious, or become the conscious antidote that slowly kills the cancerous disease which threatens the existence of life on the planet. Is the disease capitalism, corruption, ignorance, greed, The Illuminati, or some combination of all of these things spiralling out of control? It doesn't matter because it is becoming obvious that there are people from all nationalities, religions, and cultural backgrounds who are determined to resist the progression of imminent destruction. A factory producing monkey wrenches for the gears of the machine which is at the center of our collective demise.

Will the leaders wake up to this in order to play the roles they have sworn to uphold or will they further discredit their position, their institutions, and help to destroy the very systems that they have been entrusted to maintain? Every time Congress represents the will of a few wealthy people over the interests and the well-being of the planet and the people, they do more to subvert and destroy the state than ten thousand people protesting in the streets.

When leaders fail, they destroy the trust that holds society together.

Is Harper cold and callous enough to ignore a constituent on hunger strike a short distance from his office? Can he afford to ignore these issues? Can any of us afford to ignore this call to be idle no more?

Take a moment and listen to the eloquent words of an 11-year-old girl in the video below. If a child can understand this, how come world leaders are still silent on making real changes to address these urgent issues?



Please support Idle No More, learn more about the movement, how it effects all of us and get involved. All of our futures depend on it.

© 2012 Huffington Post

Jacob Devaney is Founder and Director of Culture Collective.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/01/03-11

[Keith Millea]

Published on Monday, January 7, 2013 by Common Dreams

'Idle No More' Prepares for Global Day of Action


First Nations' fight for indigenous rights to hit worldwide-

With worldwide support growing for Canada's First Nations' Idle No More protest movement, protest organizers around the world are preparing this week for a Global Day of Action scheduled for Friday, January 11th.

The day will coincide with a scheduled meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nations leadersincluding Chief Theresa Spence whose hunger strike, which began roughly one month ago, sparked the mass movement for indigenous rights.

The group has called upon communities around the world to organize under the motto: "Anything. Everything. Anywhere. Everywhere." The demonstrations will be designed to show "support for the rising global Indigenous Peoples Movement by taking action in your community."

Using the twitter hashtag #J11, the group is asking organizers to spread the word and widely promote their actions in order to raise international awareness about indigenous rights around the world.
A statement from the group reads:

The goal is to raise the profile of the movement, demonstrate our global presence, and give visibility to the growing momentum as a peoples' movement first.

As only a few AFN-determined representatives will be chosen to participate in the meeting with Harper, it will be important to show that the rest of the movement stands united with one voice, that it is not going anywhere, and that we here to demonstrate the strength and resurgence of our nations.

January 11 will also be in honour of Chief Theresa Spence to mark the 1-month anniversary of her hunger strike. As well as to honour the other chiefs and elders who have been on hunger strike with her.

All nations and all people from around the world are invited to join in celebrating and affirming their support for what is happening and the need to keep things moving forward together.

After mounting pressure, including the singular demand of Spence's hunger strike, Prime Minister Stephen Harper finally agreed to meet with Indigenous leaders on Jan. 11. Sure to be discussed will be Canada's recent Bill C-45, which the group says undermines previously agreed to treaties between Canada and First Nations leaders and subsequently does great damage to Canada's pristine environment.

Seattle gathering:


http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/07-3

[Keith Millea]

Published on Thursday, January 10, 2013 by Rabble.ca

With or Without Harper, Justice Will Remain Absent

by Daniel Wilson

While the saga of who will attend tomorrow's meeting between Harper government representatives and First Nations leaders continues, we can be certain that justice will be absent.

For obvious reasons, there will be no justice for the Inuit, as they will not be represented. Nor will there be any justice for the Métis and non-status Indians, who this week won a court battle to have the federal government recognize its obligations toward them, because they aren't at the table either.

And despite having representatives in the room, there will be no justice for First Nations, nor for Canada.

Socrates, according to Plato, argued that the idea of justice could not be reduced merely to that which is to the advantage of the stronger. With possibly one brief exception, no federal government in this country's history has accepted the idea that justice was any less than whatever it could get away with when it comes to Indigenous peoples. The current Government of Canada is no exception. It does what it can get away with doing and having done that, it tries for more. That is why we're in this mess.

Since before confederation, Canada has pursued a single policy objective vis à vis Indigenous peoples; make them go away by making them like everyone else. The titles of early legislation made this obvious, such as An Act to encourage the gradual Civilization of the Indian Tribes in this Province, and to amend the Laws respecting Indians. Bureaucrats like Duncan Campbell Scott also were clear about it, famously admitting that, "Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department." And while they would avoid these exact words, what member of today's cabinet would disagree with the sentiment that, "The happiest future for the Indian race is absorption into the general population, and this is the object and policy of our government"?

It is this insistence on following the same failed strategy generation after generation that underlies the frustration we now see manifest on the streets. When you hear Indigenous people talk about the treaty relationship, nation-to-nation dialogue and respect, understand this means completely reversing the entirety of Canada's policy approach to date. It is an inversion at a philosophical level, which is why it is so difficult for people to see.

The current Prime Minister claimed to understand once. "Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country," he said. Either he misunderstood his own words or he didn't mean it. Nothing has changed.
A government that wants to assimilate Indigenous people would go after their rights, certainly, but the real fight comes when they go after more land.

In an ongoing effort to deny Indigenous rights, Canada's ironically named Department of Justice spends hundreds of millions of dollars every year in court. The appeal it inevitably will launch against this week's decision in Daniels v. The Queen is one example. The ongoing fight to prevent the Canadian Human Rights Commission from even hearing the merits of the case on First Nations child welfare discrimination is another. A recent book adds up over 150 court cases that First Nations have won concerning resource extraction.

The government's method is always the same, fight as hard as possible at every step, lose, interpret the decision as narrowly as possible, and fight the next case on the same issues in the same way. The purpose is to exhaust the funding and energy of the opponent while continuing to exploit the resources. That accomplished, you can then claim that the pursuit of traditional livelihoods makes no sense anymore because all the trap lines have been bulldozed and the fish poisoned. Therefore, nearby reserves are unviable and should be abandoned. Which conveniently leaves them available for more plunder. That's Canada's version of justice.

And to point to just one legislative initiative by way of example, the Harper government -- adopting a Tom Flanagan proposal (see yesterday's discussion of Flanagan) -- promises to "give" First Nations property rights. First Nations citizens already have the right to buy land off reserve, same as everyone else. With this legislation, they gain the right to use reserve land-- their communally held homelands -- as collateral, while they stand to lose everything that hasn't been taken already. It means placing First Nations lands at risk of purchase or foreclosure by non-band members. That leads to the destruction of communities as the land disappears, just as it did in the U.S. when they introduced the Dawes Act.

Progress relies on Canadians understanding the fundamental nature of this conflict so that they can respond to the change it demands. Assimilation policy hasn't worked yet -- for anyone -- and it never will. Indigenous people will not just disappear into mainstream Canada. Their legal rights cannot be willed away and will not be drained away by lawyers or more legislation. They will remain wedded to the land.

A new relationship, based in respect, reflecting the original nation-to-nation relationship can work, but both sides need to try, honestly and wholeheartedly, at last.

Until that happens, there will be no justice. And, as Idle No More protesters have been chanting: no justice, no peace.

© 2013 Daniel Wilson

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/01/10-8

[Keith Millea]

A BIG day of action tomorrow.The weather here in the Northwest right now is cold, rain, and snow.Hopefully supporters can still produce large turnouts for Canadian First Nations.



Say What...Cold Rain and Snow!..Just Had To.. :peace:

[Keith Millea]

The weather has cleared.Actions will be happening.I'll try to find a livestream somewhere.

Published on Friday, January 11, 2013 by Common Dreams

#J11: Idle No More's Global Day of Action

- Lauren McCauley, staff writer

A movement spawned by First Nation activists over indigenous rights and environmental protections in Canada has spread far and wide as Idle No More's Global Day of Action spurred solidarity demonstrations across the country and worldwide Friday.

"The goal is to raise the profile of the movement, demonstrate our global presence, and give visibility to the growing momentum as a people's movement first," one solidarity group announced on Facebook post for an event.

A major rally in Ottawa occurred as a meeting between First Nation leaders and the representatives from the Canadian government began at Parliament Hill.

Live Stream from Ottowa (via CTV):

The Idle No More movement swelled to international prominence over the last month as Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, now on the 32nd day of a hunger strike, gave voice to anger over new government laws that undermined long-standing agreements with First Nations.

Though some leaders agreed to attend a "nation to nation" meeting between First Nation Chiefs, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston, Spence is boycotting the meeting saying it does not meet her demands.

Despite some evidence of friction between some First Nation leaders, the Idle No More movement has in some regards outgrown specific earlier demands as a broader movement for indigenous and environmental rights has grown up around it.

Elsewhere in Canada, British Columbia protesters are expected to set up a blockade at the Port of Vancouver and later will march on City Hall. Demonstrations are also expected today in many other major cities, including Winnipeg, Calgary and Lethbridge, Alta.

As part of the international day of action, aboriginal people are being encouraged not to buy anything Friday unless they do so on a reserve, CBC reports.

Rallies are planned on campuses and other cultural sites around the country, including at the University of Winnipeg, Canadian Mennonite University, the University of Manitoba, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights and the Native Education Centre in Vancouver.

The US is one of many countries participating in #J11 Global Day of Action events in which solidarity actions have been planned in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Hawaii, Italy, Puerto Rico, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/11-2

[Keith Millea]

Published on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 by Common Dreams

Champions of 'Idle No More' Stage Blockades Across Canada

Demonstrators and spin-off protests undeterred by mild divisions within fast-growing movement

- Lauren McCauley, staff writer

Though not officially sanctioned by the Idle No More campaign, First Nations chiefs and activists have picked up the momentum and are rallying across Canada Wednesday as part of a national day of action in solidarity with the ongoing environmental and indigenous rights campaign.


A protestor holds a flag aloft and an Idle No More spinoff protest in Cayuga, Ontario on Jan. 16. (Photo via @CBCHamilton)

Chiefs unsatisfied with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's slow response to First Nations demands have declared the day to assert their rights and hopefully hasten official recognition and legislative action.

Demonstrations, round dances and rallies occurred across Canada while roadblocks of local railway lines and a large demonstration at North America's busiest border crossing have also been confirmed.

"We're sending the message very clearly with the railway blockade that [there's] going to be no more stolen property being sold until such time that they come to the table and deal with the original owners," said Terry Nelson, a former chief of the Roseau River First Nation in southern Manitoba.

APTN National News reported Wednesday: "Rail blockaders in Manitoba. CN confirms regional traffic has been shut down." anon2world @anon2world

Rail blockaders in Manitoba. CN confirms regional traffic has been shut down. fb.me/21aVHcafB #IdleNoMore #YAN
Also, the Global News announced earlier:

Posts on social media Wednesday morning called on supporters to meet at the Red Sun Smoke Shop and Gas Bar just northwest of Winnipeg to join a convoy headed to the intersection of the Trans-Canada and the Yellowhead highways near Portage la Prairie. A blockade of a railway near the intersection is planned.

Occupy Carlisle (@occupycarlisle) tweeted: "Via Rail says blockade between Belleville, Ont. and Kingston, Ont. has forced company to stop trains #IdleNoMore"

Another large grassroots group led an "economic slowdown," targeting the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, Mich.

Organizer Lorena Garvey-Shepley was clear to point out the action was "not a blockade," adding, "we don't want to inconvenience people too much. But we want to be in places that are going to get us noticed and allow us to get our information out."

MT @jvrCTV: #IdleNoMore protest blocking US bound traffic at Windsor-Detroit crossing. May be moving off road now pic.twitter.com/kj8ETJuR

16 Jan 13
Organizers held a "peaceful walk" towards the bridge concluding with a rally at the base on the Canadian side.

Organizers reiterated that today's actions are expected to be peaceful though protesters are prepared to get arrested.

Chief Allan Adam of the Athabaska Chipewyan First Nation said that if the indigenous movement's demands are not recognized soon, more dramatic actions, including roadblocks, can be expected.

"The people are upset with the current state of affairs in this country and things are escalating towards more direct action," he said.

Across Canada, protestors marched the streetsoften blocking trafficbanging drums and carrying banners blatantly displaying "Idle No More."

#idlenomore protest in Sarnia by Aamjiwnanng - about 100 including kids from local daycare asking for clean air pic.twitter.com/Xk9w8epx


16 Jan 13
More pictures from today's actions can be seen here.

CBC News has listed a partial overview of the solidarity actions planned for Wednesday.

_____________________

Though inspired by the Idle No More movement, Wednesday's actionsparticularly the bridge and street blockadeshighlighted protest tactics not condoned by the campaign's founders, marking potential divisions as the movement grows beyond itself.

"If you have an impromptu blockade that doesn't follow the legal permits, then you're irritating the public and that's not the purpose behind Idle No More," said Sylvia McAdam, one of the movement's four originators. "A lot of our children and elders are involved in the [Idle No More] activities, so their safety is our priority."

The movement leaders are instead focusing on a Jan. 28 Idle No More International Call-to-Action during which they will protest at Ottawa's Parliament Hill as "MPs return to the legislature after their winter break."

In a recent interview, McAdam specified that, despite heavy media attention given to co-founder Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence's recent hunger strike, Idle No More has no one leader, saying:

The grassroots movement of Idle No More is the face of all grassroots people...The founders might be considered guides or maintaining the vision, but Idle No More has no leader or official spokesperson.

A recent press release on the Official Idle No More website echoed this sentiment:

This movement has been guided by Spiritual Elders, dreams, visions, and from peoples' core values. We are here to ensure the land, the waters, the air, and the creatures and indeed each of us, return to balance and discontinue harming each other and the earth.

January 11th's official Day of Action and meeting between First Nation leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper exposed a rift in leadership when Idle No More leaders, namely Chief Spence, rejected the meeting on the basis it did not meet their demands while and number of other Chiefs partook despite the protest.

A poll on the official Idle No More website asks "Do you think the media is playing up the perceived divisions within IDM?"

The poll will run for a month, but thus far readers have responded 56 percent voted 'Yes, we are stronger than ever!', 14 percent responded 'I'm not sure' while 30 percent said 'No, there are divisions and the media is playing it just right.'

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/16-7

[Keith Millea]

Published on Friday, January 25, 2013 by Common Dreams

Unified First Nation Leaders Vow to 'Seize the Moment' in Fight for Rights

Canadian government agrees to recognize indigenous rights, ending chief's 43-day hunger strike

- Lauren McCauley, staff writer

First Nations leaders vowed Thursday to keep up the pressure on the federal government as they declared that the grassroots indigenous-rights Idle No More campaign was both unified and hear to stay.


Alex Rogers wears a grass dance headdress near a railway blockade line in Sarnia, Ont. in December. (Photo: Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)

"Make no mistake, the energy that's coming from our people is not going anywhere," said national chief of the Assembly of First Nations Shawn Atleo, who just returned from a medical leave, in a press conference Thursday.

Referring to the increased pressure on the Canadian government to recognize the universal issues of individual sovereignty and environmental protections which have underscored the movement's focus, Atleo continued:

It's not only a single person in the prime minister. It's the fact that this country is now recognizing that we need to address the issues and the relationship between First Nations and Canada, and there's some shared objectives.

[The status quo is] not working not only for First Nations, it's not working for Canadians and it's not working for governments. And so we need to with great haste seize on this moment and say that we're not going to let it go by.

Atleo was one of the First Nations leaders who held a "working meeting" with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on January 11, despite boycott by some chiefsincluding Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spencebecause the meeting did not include Canadian Governor General David Johnston.

Touching upon the conflict, he added, "On principles of substance, we are unified."
A spokesperson for Spence seconded Atleo's statement Thursday, also vowing that the struggle will continue.

Earlier that day, Spence and Manitoba elder Raymond Robinson ended their 43-day hunger strike after representatives from the Assembly of First Nations and various governmental groups endorsed a declaration of specific commitments "to undertake political, spiritual and all other advocacy efforts to implement a renewed First Nations - Crown relationship," including full implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), CBC reports.

A full text of the agreement can be read here.

Going forward, movement leaders are planning an Idle No More World Day of Action on

Monday, January 28 (#J28) during which they will "peacefully protest attacks on Democracy, Indigenous Sovereignty, Human Rights and Environmental Protections" as Canadian Members of Parliament convene at the House of Commons in Ottawa.

Also, demonstrating the reach and international resonance of the campaign, major flash mobs are planned for this Saturday by supporters in the US and Australia.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/25-4