What The Heck Are All These Indians Acting All Indian About, Eh?
Lately, Native people have taken to the streets malls in demonstrations of Public Indian-ness (or "PI") that surpasses the sheer volume of activism of even Alcatraz and the Longest Walk. There's a heapum big amount of PI going on right now! Many people, non-Native and Native alike, are wondering what the heck is going with their local Native population and how this so-called #IdleNoMore movement managed to get the usually muffled Natives restless enough to be Indian in public. I mean, like Chris Rock said, he hasn't ever even met two Indians at the same time. He's seen "polar bears riding a tricycle" but he's "never seen an Indian family just chillin' out at Red Lobster."
Yet, now people can't seem to get away from us.
And that's cool, but isn't that what pow-wows and November is for? People (non-Native and Native alike) can only take so much PI, right? Is that what the #IdleNoMore movement is -- an extended Native American Heritage Month, where non-Natives have to act like they're fascinated by Native culture?
In a word, no. It is much more. Please consider this a fairly exhaustive explanation of the #IdleNoMore movement, what it is not and what it is. If for some reason you cannot read the next 1,000 or so brilliant words, they can be summed up thusly: the #IdleNoMore Movement is not a new movement. Instead, it is the latest incarnation of the sustained Indigenous resistance to the rape, pillage and exploitation of this continent and its women that has existed since 1492. It is not the Occupy movement, although there are some similarities. It is not only about Canada and it is not only about Native people. Finally, and probably most importantly, it (and we) are not going away any time soon. So get used to it (and us).
#IDLENOMORE Movement: What it is about
"The ground on which we stand is sacred ground. It is the blood of our ancestors."
Chief Plenty Coups, Apsaalooke
"...you have come here; you are taking my land from me; you are killing off our game, so it is hard for us to live."
Tasunke Witko (Crazy Horse), Oglala Lakota
As the above quotes display, the Indigenous Resistance to the raping and pillaging of the Earth is not new. Likewise, Indigenous peoples' efforts to protect the mothers of our Nations -- the women -- are not new either. The #IdleNoMore movement is simply the latest chapter in that resistance.
It's About: PROTECTING THE EARTH. First and foremost, the #IdleNoMore movement is about protecting the Earth for all people from the carnivorous and capitalistic spirit that wants to exploit and extract every last bit of resources from the land. Therefore, anybody who cares about this Earth should be interested in the #IdleNoMore movement. The engineers were Nina Wilson, Sheelah Mclean, Sylvia McAdam and Jessica Gordon. It was a response to Canada's Bill C-45, which overhauled the Navigable Waters Protection Act and removed protections for many waters that go through First Nations. Changing the Act literally moves the emphasis of the protection -- it morphs from protecting the waterways to protecting the navigation on those waterways. Now, instead of 30-some thousand lakes being protected under the old Act, only 97 lakes will be protected. As Canadian Parliament Member Kirsty Duncan eloquently states, "The days when Canadians take an endless abundance of fresh water for granted are numbered..."
These mobilized Native people wanted to ensure that children two, three and 12 generations from now would have clean water. The children that will benefit from the Native mobilization are not just Native children it's for all children. Lakes and rivers tend to be either clean or dirty for Native and non-Native children alike.
It's not a Native thing or a white thing, it's an Indigenous world-view thing. It's a "protect the Earth" thing. For those transfixed on race, you're missing the point. The #IdleNoMore Movement simply wants kids of all colours and ethnicities to have clean drinking water. It's also not a "Canada" or "United States" thing. Multinational corporations do not care about borders and neither should we. Despite legislation to intended to prevent pollution, corporation pollute freely with almost complete impunity and our children are the ones that suffer. We likewise should not care about borders -- we are mobilizing on both sides because we understand that what we do affects one another.
We will continue to aggressively organize and be #IdleNoMore about the attempts to destroy our sacred lands, whether its Keystone XL Pipeline or Tar Sands Mining in Canada. We will be #IdleNoMore on SSA Marine's attempts to create a deep-water shipping terminal for water and air poisoning dirty coal in the Lummi waters near Pugent Sound, WA or any disrespect to our lands.
We're not going anywhere, we're not going to be silent, we're #IdleNoMore !
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A native dancer looks on during an 'Idle No More' gathering on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Native dancers rally during an 'Idle No More' gathering on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Idle No More Mall Protest
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/LJ_Henshell"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/630755180/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/LJ_Henshell">LJ Henshell</a>:<br />A First Nations Drummer plays during a protest at Intercity Shopping Center in Thunder Bay, Ontario
It's about the future
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/LJ_Henshell"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/630755180/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/LJ_Henshell">LJ Henshell</a>:<br />A child protests in Thunder Bay, Ontario
United we stand
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Doug_Cleverley"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/805699678/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Doug_Cleverley">Doug Cleverley</a>:<br />At the #IdleNoMore rally in Owen Sound (Saugeen Ojibway Nation territory), during a spontaneous round dance at the main downtown intersection.
Killer Whale Dance
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/4441016.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop">Courtney Harrop</a>:<br />Idle No More actions, Coast Salish Territories, Powell River, BC
Idle No More #J11
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/4441016.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop">Courtney Harrop</a>:<br />Coast Salish Territories, Powell River, BC
Idle No More #J11 March
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/4441016.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop">Courtney Harrop</a>:<br />Coast Salish Territories, Powell River, BC
Tla'Amin Prayer Song #J11 Idle No More
Tla'Amin Prayer song on #J11 2013 Idle No More, Coast Salish Territories, Powell River BC
Tla'Amin Killer Whale Dance, #J11 #IdleNoMore
Tla'Amin Killer Whale Dance, #J11 #IdleNoMore, Coast Salish Territories, Powell River, BC
C45 affects all Canadians! Join the fight.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Eleanor_Kure"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/840875359/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Eleanor_Kure">Eleanor Kure</a>:<br />At the Idle No More protest in Halifax Nova Scotia. with an eco-justice article in pocket, spreading the word that Bill C45 affects every Canadian, not only First Nations. Thank you FN, for beginning this movement.
Piyesiw Awasis
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/mizzren"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/3183681.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/mizzren">mizzren</a>:<br />Thunderchild First Nation @ Lloydminster Flash Mob. January 16, 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/16/idle-no-more-queen-elizabeth-2-highway-blockade-alberta_n_2490009.html">Idle No More supporters jump onto a truck</a> as they are pushed by a driver trying to pass, as the protesters block Highway 2 as part of a planned national day of action, in Edmonton, Alberta on Wedneday January 16, 2013.
Aboriginal protesters march down Huron Church Road towards the Ambassador bridge in Windsor Ontario, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. About 1000 demonstrators disrupted traffic to the country's busiest border crossing for several hours.
Aboriginal protestors pray at the end of their blockade of a CN railroad track just west of Portage La Prairie, Man., on Wednesday, January 16, 2016. They ended their protest without incident.
Aboriginal protesters demonstrate at the base of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor Ontario, Wednesday, January 16, 2013. About 1000 demonstrators disrupted traffic to the country's busiest border crossing for several hours.
Idle No More demonstrators block a CN east-west track just west of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba Wednesday, January 16, 2016.
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Caillum"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Caillum">Caillum</a>:<br />Thousands of people, both Native and Canadian, show their support at an Idle No More protest in Montreal on January 11th, 2013.
Video of the Global Day of Action rally in downtown Somba K’e (Yellowknife)on the Akaitcho territory of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in Denendeh (Northwest Territories).
#IdleNoMore March and Round Dance in Yellowknife Denendeh NWT
"Today (Friday, December 21, 2012) in Denendeh and across the globe, we made an impact, a statement for true justice to be brought forward and acknowledged. But it will not stop, for the 8th fire has been lit and will only grow. Mahsi for all who showed up and united, we felt the support....we felt the fire!! And there's more to come in the new year."
On Facebook By Lawrence Nayally, Melaw Nakehk'o and Eugene Boulanger
https://www.facebook.com/events/112403725595655/
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, wearing a headdress, takes part in a drum ceremony before departing a Ottawa hotel to attend a ceremonial meeting at Rideau Hall with Gov. Gen. David Johnston in Ottawa, Friday January 11, 2013.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, centre, departs a Ottawa hotel to attend a ceremonial meeting at Rideau Hall with Gov. Gen. David Johnston in Ottawa, Friday January 11, 2013.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with First Nations leaders in Ottawa on January 11, 2013.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with First Nations leaders in Ottawa on January 11, 2013.
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence makes a brief statement on Victoria Island near Parliament Hill Friday January 11, 2013 in Ottawa. Spence is speaking out for the first time about how her reserve spends government money, saying most of what flows to her isolated James Bay reserve actually gets spent outside the community.
Aboriginal Chiefs stand at the main gate to Parliament Hill during a protest Friday January 11, 2013 in Ottawa.
Idle No More protesters listen to speakers during a rally on Parliament Hill Friday January 11, 2013 in Ottawa.
Gordie Odjig of Wikwemikong stands at the west gate to the Langevin Block during the aboriginal meeting in Ottawa on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Los Angeles Rally In Solidarity with First nations
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/hp_blogger_Melinda Gopher"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/contributors/melinda-gopher/headshot.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/hp_blogger_Melinda Gopher">HuffPost Blogger Melinda Gopher</a>:<br />Brock Conway, Blackfeet activist,
with Saulteaux Actor Adam Beach and companion. Photo: Morning Star Gopher
Native protesters march up Wellington Street in Ottawa on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Four-year-old Phoenix Sky Cottrelle,from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, holds a sign as aboriginal protestors gather on Victoria Island before they march to Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Aboriginal protestors hold signs as they march from Victoria Island to Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Gordie Odjig, an aboriginal protestor from Wikwemikong, shouts as he marches from Victoria Island to Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Woman's Voices
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/4441016.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Courtney_Harrop">Courtney Harrop</a>:<br />Idle No More event Dec 30th,2012. Tla'Amin Nation Coast Salish Territories Powell River, British Columbia.
Idle No More Edmonton
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/AUPELOCAL6CHAIR"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/twitter_profile_img/4411530.png" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/AUPELOCAL6CHAIR">AUPELOCAL6CHAIR</a>:<br />Planned overnight and what a turn out!
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Jolene_Aleck"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://graph.facebook.com/644015258/picture?type=square" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Jolene_Aleck">Jolene Aleck</a>:<br />Chicago's Idle No More 1.5.2012 rally @ the Canadian Consulate
VancouverC Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC
A man waves a flags as aboriginal protesters and supporters in the Idle No More movement block the Blue Water Bridge border crossing to the United States in Sarnia, Ont. on Saturday, January 5, 2013.
VancouverA Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC
VancouverB Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC
VancouverD Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC
VancouverH Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC, January 2, 2013.
VancouverF Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC
VancouverE Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC
VancouverG Jan 2 2013
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gerrybates">gerrybates</a>:<br />Idle No More at Waterfront Station, Vancouver, BC
Flag Planting
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/seawaytoday"><img style="float:left;padding-right:6px !important;" src="http://s.huffpost.com/images/profile/user_placeholder.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/seawaytoday">seawaytoday</a>:<br />Akwesasne Idle No More att Cornwall, ON
It's About: PROTECTING WOMEN. Similar to the sustained, capitalistic effort to exploit and pillage the Earth, the carnivorous, capitalistic nature has also exploited and abused women since the founding of both America & Canada. That is something else that Indigenous people have vowed to be #IdleNoMore about. America's first marriage and property laws, or 'coverture,' stipulated that married women did not have separate legal existences from their husbands. Indeed, a married woman was a dependent and could not generally own her own property or control her own earnings. "...Once she married she became a legal nonentity. Her husband not only assumed her legal privileges and duties but certain rights to her property as well." (Women, Family, and Community in Colonial America: Two Perspectives, Linda E. Speth, Alison Duncan Hirsch, Pg. 8.)
And that was for privileged white women. Obviously Native women, black women and any women of any other colour that were unfortunate enough to live in the United States, it was much worse.
That pattern of condescension and indeed hatred for women has continued until the present. From the case Bradley v. State which affirmed a man's "right" to "moderately" beat his wife to the Indian Health Service's pattern of forced tubal ligations of Native women, the United States has shown a consistent trajectory of hatred and destruction for Native women.
Congress's recent failure to pass the Violence Against Women Act -- specifically because Republicans did not want tribal law enforcement to be able to prosecute non-Native sexual deviants -- is a continuation of that exploitation of our women. Similar to the "clean water" discussion, above, the protections afforded by the Violence Against Women Act protected women of all colours -- not just Native women. Conversely, Congress's failure to act on the Violence Against Women Act hurts all women. Strong Native women leaders like Deborah Parker and others are advocating for safety and reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act for all women, not just a few.
It's not a Native thing.
It's a "NO women, of ANY colour, should have to worry about getting raped" thing.
It's a "NO women, of ANY colour, should get beaten and battered" thing.
Those who are transfixed by race, again, are missing the point.
And we will continue to organize and be #IdleNoMore about this attack on the women within our communities, as well as all communities. That is not new and it's also not just about Native people.
We're not going anywhere, we're not going to be silent, we're #IdleNoMore !
It's Not an OCCUPY MOVEMENT. The Occupy Movement was powerful and necessary -- yet the foundation was frankly not strong enough to sustain. Occupy was about a slowed-down economy and a lot of folks that were, unfortunately, out of work from that slow down. As the economy began to improve in 2012 and also, significantly, the weather got colder, the Occupy Movement got noticeably weaker. Now, it is a hollow shell of itself, with many of the middle-class supporters returning to middle-class jobs.
The Primary Reason #IdleNoMore is Not Occupy: Native economies are NOT getting any better. In many of our communities, there is 70+ per cent unemployment -- more than a simple "boom and bust" economic upturn can fix. There are structural problems that will prevent a quick-fix, and therefore most Indigenous #IdleNoMore will not have an economic incentive to stop their activism.
The Second Reason #IdleNoMore is Not Occupy -- We're Native... hello? You're not going to scare us off with the cold weather. My friends have literally texted me pictures of sisters and brothers in Alberta and Saskatchewan standing outside with #IdleNoMore signs in -35 degree weather; I have spoken at events where it is freezing and brothers and sisters are outside in T-shirts.
If we're mobilizing 2,000, 2,500 people at an event in the freezing cold in January, just imagine how that number is going to multiply when it's 35 degrees outside.
The Final Reason #IdleNoMore is not Occupy -- Occupy was snapshot response to a three-year economic downturn. #IdleNoMore is a continued response to more than 500 years of destroying the Earth and exploiting women. Our foundation literally has centuries on which our resistance is built.
Finally, it's not Occupy because we are surrounding our advocacy around the specific substantive areas that were discussed earlier -- protecting the environment and protecting Native women via the Violence Against Women Act. Yes, like Occupy, this is grassroots, the people are fluid and definitely can change. Indeed, the specific subjects that we choose to organize around certainly could change in the future, whatever we need to be #IdleNoMore about. Still, for now fighting against gratuitous exploitation of our lands and fighting against violence against women are areas where good organization can make a difference.
CONCLUSION
This has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. Native people did begin this movement -- energized by Chief Spence's sacrifice and sparked by the Four Founders' initiative. Yet, this is anybody's movement who wants to stand up for the Earth and women and also make a positive change in the community. That means that non-Natives are certainly welcome. We need non-Natives involved to save this Earth, to give our children and grandchildren the same quality of life that we have enjoyed. It's about clean water. It's about clean air. It's about safety for all women. It's about making a positive change in our communities. Critics seem to be so caught up on race; yet even racists want their children to have clean water just like non-racists. Right? Well, we want racists (and NON-racists, of course) to have kids with clean water too. Oh, and we don't want them to get raped or beaten either.
Not too unreasonable, is it?
Here's a little music and video to close this piece. It's a project that we (Rock Paper Jet Productions, LLC) did with rapper and producer, Brother Ali. Coincidentally, it doesn't mention race -- it mentions wanting to make the world slightly better. And when it comes down to it, that all that the #IdleNoMore movement is about.
"I want to pass this planet to my son
A little better than it was when they handed it to me..."
What a great page for explaining 'Idle No More'! At the start I thought "Yeah, it is time to get important environmental issues changed in BC.". Then it seemed to be a Native People only thing. After reading this, I am totally on board. Mother Earth is so important the world over. What are we leaving our future generations? I am so embarrassed and angered for what we have allowed, and for believing big corporations that vowed they will "Protect The Environment". BS on that one for the last forty years! And condemnation to our parents generation who had a "rape and pillage the land" attitude. Can't wait until they are all deceased and their mentality dies. It is time to be 'IDLE NO MORE'.
Women's Issues - ALWAYS "NO IDLE NO MORE"! Antiquated Laws MUST change - what are our MP's doing about this? They shouldn't be allowed their pensions until they have done something significant for Women's Rights!
Is a retraction of BILL C-45 in the works? - How the Hell did that ever happen without our input?!?!?! Was I asleep during this process? If so, I am sorry, and I really can't believe the government got away with this one. Shame on YOU! You are turning us (Canada) into a third world country. Take a look at how third world countries respect and value their natural environments. Kudos to them for keeping the greedy international corporations at bey from raping and pillaging their lands!
Karen_Griffiths: What a great page for explaining 'Idle No More'! At
Thanks Karen. You saved me the effort and time of writing down all the points you just made.
And thank you too the native peoples who started this movement! One day we will all be grateful.
DebbyM: Thanks Karen. You saved me the effort and time of
Thanks to all Native peoples for standing up for Mother Earth. It's refreshing and demonstrates a high level of morality on the Kohlberg Morality Scale in an age where corporate ethics is an oxymoron of epic proportions. When I worked in a Young Offender Unit, I remember dialogues with these youth about what constituted a man. My response was that a real man protected women, children, animals & mother earth.
sordo44: Thanks to all Native peoples for standing up for Mother
I like how this article points out the important issues, but don't let that draw you to protest the issues like many others in this movement. by blocking traffic and trains like they have been.
when Mother nature interupts traffic aka as storms and costs billions of dollars should we blame her to? It is just the beginning of Mother nature defending herself, are you going to tell her the ends to not justify the means?
bpavich: when Mother nature interupts traffic aka as storms and costs
Why does it all have to be up to the government to fix these things? ( This government we speak of that "we" voted into place) why cant everyone bann together and just move forward with change? "Demanding" anything has never came out well for anyone. Step up, as a person, family, race, or population and do what you have to do. You cant depend on someone else to do what you want done. Action speaks better than words, roadblocks, threats, or blackmail through hunger strikes.
Some of the specific things (bill C-45) that are being protested ARE the responsibilty of government. When you disagree with legislation you go to the legislators. I like your attitude of let's get out there and just do it though.
west_canuckistan: Some of the specific things (bill C-45) that are being
Lisa, the government is a big part of the problem. Dumbing down the educational system, cutting federal transfer payment to provinces to balance the federal budget at the cost of provincial budgets (much of the issue here is allowing corporations to offshore profits and allowing the selling of unprocessed/refined or higher value natural resources). The deliberate destruction of the environment to allow greater economic advantage to corporations. Instead of insisting that corporations operating in under developed nations operate at a first world level of environmental control our government, the harper regime, is bring our environmental controls down to underdeveloped country levels. What is the harper regimes goal? It's not jobs for Canadians. It appears to be to fill the coffers of wealthy corporations with more. To illustrate, corporatons, since the 1980s, have increased in wealth greatly while working class peoples wages, me, have been mostly stagnant.
John_D_Jensen: Lisa, the government is a big part of the problem.
They can really do better for their generations now and in the future if they also educate their people. Rather than sitting around generation after generation with their hands out they need to become productive members of society and it starts with them. We can overcome anything in life if we have goals and the drive to achieve them. So get IdleNoMore and carve out a future for generations to come.
Wendy_Stewart: They can really do better for their generations now and
Like it or not, we're educated, we're employed, we're in the cities right next to you, and growing in numbers. Up the street. In the cubicle right next to you. In the line up at the gas station, paying taxes just like you. You have no idea, do you? You have this preconceived notion that Aboriginal People are all lazy, poor and uneducated. So take another look at your advice, Wendy. Educate yourself. It's nice that you read this article (or did you? Really?) and felt the need to participate in the conversation. We're not talking about hand-outs. We're talking about an agreement we made 400 years ago with you. Honour it, and read the article again. Yes, we can overcome. I've heard that before. And it's true, right?
Fireweeds: Like it or not, we're educated, we're employed, we're in
What makes you think everybody came from wonderful backgrounds. I had to struggle my entire childhood because of a crappy home life. Had I not set goals and attempted to achieve them I may be dead or sticking a needle in my arm everyday just to survive. It is not about what you are entitled to it is how you go about empowering yourselves. Living on a reservation is not your only choice in life. Sometimes we just have to want more for ourselves. RIGHT!!!!
Wendy_Stewart: What makes you think everybody came from wonderful backgrounds. I
You speak as if natives are a success story. Claiming you are educated and employed. Yet we know that single parents, recent immigrants and the disabled all have lower unemployment rates, while natives have the lowest graduation rate of any demographic in Canada
You can't have it both ways, either you are a success story any criticism is unwarranted. Or the natives are wallowing in poverty and unemployment and it needs to be fixed.
bruce_mcgoose: You speak as if natives are a success story. Claiming
I hope this movement continues far beyond the life of the Occupy Movement. I think the government should be held responsible for their actions toward the Natives of both Canada and U.S. as far as keeping their word with the treaties. Not even consulting the tribes is a big mistake because their actions will have an effect on our future and our children's and grandchildren's future to have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.
I remember back in the 70s when my grandmother was still alive, she said that some day we're going to have to pay for water. I didn't believe her at the time but now some of us HAVE to drink bottled water because of the contaminated water from oil/gas pipelines. I know when I go back home I don't drink the water, even though they say it's safe. Too many people are getting cancer there and I just don't trust the water because I don't know what the gas companies are putting into the ground with all the wells you see around there.
For all the people who are commenting on us about how we live on the reservation, you don't know how we live in our homes so please don't judge us by what you see on the outside.
mtntvam: I hope this movement continues far beyond the life of
C-38 and C-45 were prepared through consultation with Native groups, just not the ones interested in preserving their own power by perpetuating traditional lifestyle of hunting and fishing. Those days are gone, unless dying of parasitic diseases at age 32 represents some kind of value. The Conservative government consulted with Native leaders interested in resource development through partnership with Canadian companies. That's the future.
Idle No More represents disillusionment by average people in the lack of solutions to their compromised standards of living. Solutions will not come through demands that the federal government save them. The treaties are of limited usefulness on that score and have been superceded in any case by the Indian Act and other programs. But the real solution will come when Native Canadians abandon traditions that derive from the neolithic period of human development in favor of contemporary solutions within a capitalist economy.
bluebeyond: C-38 and C-45 were prepared through consultation with Native groups,
Have you ever read the treaties? $5 per year for each and every native person; no cost of living clause; $12 for a minor chief; $20 for a major chief...and a new suit every three years.
bluebeyond: Read Ken Coates in today's Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/chief-atleos-new-model-of-aboriginal-politics/article7460229/ Have
They could state that one of their goals is to rescue puppies in Africa, and it would mean jacksquat until they actually work towards that goal.
So far, the INM movement has been completely focused on aboriginal sovereignty and aboriginal rights. Protecting the environment on Reserve land can definitely be considered part of that, but protecting the Earth in general? I don't think so. In fact, I wonder how much extra Co2 their blockades have put into the atmosphere?
TwoZeroOZ: "It's About: PROTECTING THE EARTH" Actions speak louder than words.
Who made you the Idle no More spokes person?
No one, right? But thanks for your uninformed opinion.
If you want to protest womens rights, why not start in Saudi Arabia and work your way down to Canada. I'm sure they will have no problem with their roads being blockaded and their economy attacked.
This protest is about the delusional; concept that the indians represent a nation. Which they don't. They gave that up long ago and are now free loading canadian citizens.
The FN could be the riches people in our country.
they just have to stop belly aching abouit what happened 140 years ago and move into the future.
bitesofreality: Who made you the Idle no More spokes person? No
Is your grand Canadian future that ugly, toxic tar sandscape? Is that what you've come to represent? It sounds to me like your criminal government has worked to void all protections from lands that have by treaty belonged to First Nations in order for Canadian monstrosities to exploit, like the ever appropriate name "Anglo American." If that is what you consider to be progress then you have clearly lost your ever loving mind.
Lauramae: Is your grand Canadian future that ugly, toxic tar sandscape?
when did I say anything about the oil sands?
My point is, there is no message that comes across clearly from Idle no More.
Terry Nelson in BC complains that the lands are stolen, and I believe he is probably talking about the entire continent.
Some signs about bill 45, with absolutely zero details about what they do not like about it.
Another chief in Alberta claiming the hwy belonged to his tribe when the supreme court had already ruled against the claim.
Cheif Spence...who cares.
The 8 points brought up by the FN leaders with Priminister Harper, not consistent with any other demands that are being made elsewhere.
And now, another voice who claims he has "the message" from the movement.
The only message I have heard, and the name of the movement should be called "We Want More!"
bitesofreality: when did I say anything about the oil sands? My
The only people who have a problem with this movement are the ones who either have been miss informed by the media or they are protecting their pocketbook, and at times both of those are the problem.
Maureen_Hannah: The only people who have a problem with this movement
To me, it hardly matters what the movement is saying. when they perform acts of aggression against innocent people, I can't support them.
My roomate had a friend coming to town by train, who couldn't come any more and had to come at a later date by plane, costing more money - all because this movement was protesting by blocking train tracks. I've read articles about them blocking bridges... what did the people who are trying to cross the bridge do wrong?
I can't support anyone, even they are trying to protect a group, when they do it by hurting another innocent group. It makes them Hippocrates - the fact that they're group is harmed more than someone not being able to cross a bridge doesn't change that fact.
Lee_Weishar: To me, it hardly matters what the movement is saying.
"My roomate had a friend coming to town by train, who couldn't come any more and had to come at a later date by plane, costing more money - all because this movement was protesting by blocking train tracks. I've read articles about them blocking bridges... what did the people who are trying to cross the bridge do wrong?"
---
Bet you never said that about a postal strike, or a bus strike or teacher strike.. why is that? Ever try crossing a picket line there? Meanest sob's I've run into.. but they had reason to be mean and angry and along comes self-important me and doesn't care about how the services I used are run or employees treated and tries to just ignore the situation and do my personal business.
Fortunately for me they were willing to talk, and once I understood their anger I didn't have a problem waiting or finding a more expensive alternative.
Guess what I'm saying is; sorry you and your friend were inconvenienced, but I'm more concerned about how the rest of us are getting treated by this government, and how the government is fracking everything up to benefit a few while the majority suffer. Not a good economic plan.. unless you live in Asia.
Btw, Hippocrates is dead. I think you meant hypocrites.
JrTokin: "My roomate had a friend coming to town by train,
I'm defending the government - and I'm not taking their side in this. but it would be nice if the protesters remembered who they were protesting against
This "1,000 words or so" is neither brilliant nor helpful. Aboriginals are currently ill-equipped to protect the earth, frequently flaunting their hunter gatherer rites by over-fishing & over-hunting. Protecting the planet takes science & the discipline to work through the legal system of civil society. Instead, its tribal oligarchies steal the money for clean good water & education from its own people.
Ross is a hypocrit in claiming to protect women & children. Stats Canada shows rates of assault, sexual abuse, & fetal alcolhol syndrome are rampant on reserves. Isolated reserves are economic dead zones, surviving only by extorting cash from productive Canadians & from resources on their reserves which their own pre-agricultural society has no capacity to develop. The next time Ross tweets someone, maybe he could consider how the cell was invented & what keeps it running.
This aboriginal morasse could end provided they vacate the preposterous proposition that a stone age culture holds the keys a sustainable future. Fortunately, there are aboriginal bands who get this. They prosper by exploiting their lopsided list of rights they, & engaging successfully in mainstream economies. They avoid the structural dependency advocated by a scourge of aboriginal consultants & lawyers living off aboriginal funding ( Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry: The Deception Behind Indigenous Cultural Preservation). So Gyasi Ross, catch up with the 21st century. Address the corrupt, nepotistic & social disaster in your own back yard. Do not dare to exalt the abysmal ineffectiveness of aboriginal practices over real progress in
still_out_there: This "1,000 words or so" is neither brilliant nor helpful.
You can really tell how important this has become when Oprah and Lance get over 200 comments and this one is at about ? 15 - yup - time to move on - we have had our day in the streets - now get to work.
whatliesbeneath: You can really tell how important this has become when
Maybe because you have to search for it in Huffington Post. I found this article on Indianz.com which I read every day to keep up on news going on in Indian Country.
mtntvam: Maybe because you have to search for it in Huffington
If you have to search for it according the previous comment - it is no longer news - that is the way it usually is - nothing to do with my personal opinion.
whatliesbeneath: If you have to search for it according the previous
Women's Issues - ALWAYS "NO IDLE NO MORE"! Antiquated Laws MUST change - what are our MP's doing about this? They shouldn't be allowed their pensions until they have done something significant for Women's Rights!
Is a retraction of BILL C-45 in the works? - How the Hell did that ever happen without our input?!?!?! Was I asleep during this process? If so, I am sorry, and I really can't believe the government got away with this one. Shame on YOU! You are turning us (Canada) into a third world country. Take a look at how third world countries respect and value their natural environments. Kudos to them for keeping the greedy international corporations at bey from raping and pillaging their lands!
And thank you too the native peoples who started this movement! One day we will all be grateful.
I give my opinion more fully in http://leadershiptofreedom.com/2013/01/17/the-ends-dont-justify-the-means/
but basically - the ends don't justify the means.
You can't have it both ways, either you are a success story any criticism is unwarranted. Or the natives are wallowing in poverty and unemployment and it needs to be fixed.
I remember back in the 70s when my grandmother was still alive, she said that some day we're going to have to pay for water. I didn't believe her at the time but now some of us HAVE to drink bottled water because of the contaminated water from oil/gas pipelines. I know when I go back home I don't drink the water, even though they say it's safe. Too many people are getting cancer there and I just don't trust the water because I don't know what the gas companies are putting into the ground with all the wells you see around there.
For all the people who are commenting on us about how we live on the reservation, you don't know how we live in our homes so please don't judge us by what you see on the outside.
Idle No More represents disillusionment by average people in the lack of solutions to their compromised standards of living. Solutions will not come through demands that the federal government save them. The treaties are of limited usefulness on that score and have been superceded in any case by the Indian Act and other programs. But the real solution will come when Native Canadians abandon traditions that derive from the neolithic period of human development in favor of contemporary solutions within a capitalist economy.
Your comment is quite sad
Have you ever read the treaties? $5 per year for each and every native person; no cost of living clause; $12 for a minor chief; $20 for a major chief...and a new suit every three years.
Please -1 favourite my'bad
Actions speak louder than words.
They could state that one of their goals is to rescue puppies in Africa, and it would mean jacksquat until they actually work towards that goal.
So far, the INM movement has been completely focused on aboriginal sovereignty and aboriginal rights. Protecting the environment on Reserve land can definitely be considered part of that, but protecting the Earth in general? I don't think so. In fact, I wonder how much extra Co2 their blockades have put into the atmosphere?
No one, right? But thanks for your uninformed opinion.
If you want to protest womens rights, why not start in Saudi Arabia and work your way down to Canada. I'm sure they will have no problem with their roads being blockaded and their economy attacked.
This protest is about the delusional; concept that the indians represent a nation. Which they don't. They gave that up long ago and are now free loading canadian citizens.
The FN could be the riches people in our country.
they just have to stop belly aching abouit what happened 140 years ago and move into the future.
My point is, there is no message that comes across clearly from Idle no More.
Terry Nelson in BC complains that the lands are stolen, and I believe he is probably talking about the entire continent.
Some signs about bill 45, with absolutely zero details about what they do not like about it.
Another chief in Alberta claiming the hwy belonged to his tribe when the supreme court had already ruled against the claim.
Cheif Spence...who cares.
The 8 points brought up by the FN leaders with Priminister Harper, not consistent with any other demands that are being made elsewhere.
And now, another voice who claims he has "the message" from the movement.
The only message I have heard, and the name of the movement should be called "We Want More!"
My roomate had a friend coming to town by train, who couldn't come any more and had to come at a later date by plane, costing more money - all because this movement was protesting by blocking train tracks. I've read articles about them blocking bridges... what did the people who are trying to cross the bridge do wrong?
I can't support anyone, even they are trying to protect a group, when they do it by hurting another innocent group. It makes them Hippocrates - the fact that they're group is harmed more than someone not being able to cross a bridge doesn't change that fact.
---
Bet you never said that about a postal strike, or a bus strike or teacher strike.. why is that? Ever try crossing a picket line there? Meanest sob's I've run into.. but they had reason to be mean and angry and along comes self-important me and doesn't care about how the services I used are run or employees treated and tries to just ignore the situation and do my personal business.
Fortunately for me they were willing to talk, and once I understood their anger I didn't have a problem waiting or finding a more expensive alternative.
Guess what I'm saying is; sorry you and your friend were inconvenienced, but I'm more concerned about how the rest of us are getting treated by this government, and how the government is fracking everything up to benefit a few while the majority suffer. Not a good economic plan.. unless you live in Asia.
Btw, Hippocrates is dead. I think you meant hypocrites.
I'm defending the government - and I'm not taking their side in this. but it would be nice if the protesters remembered who they were protesting against
and I do say the same things about other strikes.
here is my full opinion on my comments above: http://leadershiptofreedom.com/2012/01/14/unions-from-the-point-of-view-of-freedom/
and here is what I had to say about union strikes: http://leadershiptofreedom.com/2012/01/14/unions-from-the-point-of-view-of-freedom/
here is the link about IdleNoMore: http://leadershiptofreedom.com/2013/01/17/the-ends-dont-justify-the-means/
Ross is a hypocrit in claiming to protect women & children. Stats Canada shows rates of assault, sexual abuse, & fetal alcolhol syndrome are rampant on reserves. Isolated reserves are economic dead zones, surviving only by extorting cash from productive Canadians & from resources on their reserves which their own pre-agricultural society has no capacity to develop. The next time Ross tweets someone, maybe he could consider how the cell was invented & what keeps it running.
This aboriginal morasse could end provided they vacate the preposterous proposition that a stone age culture holds the keys a sustainable future. Fortunately, there are aboriginal bands who get this. They prosper by exploiting their lopsided list of rights they, & engaging successfully in mainstream economies. They avoid the structural dependency advocated by a scourge of aboriginal consultants & lawyers living off aboriginal funding ( Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry: The Deception Behind Indigenous Cultural Preservation). So Gyasi Ross, catch up with the 21st century. Address the corrupt, nepotistic & social disaster in your own back yard. Do not dare to exalt the abysmal ineffectiveness of aboriginal practices over real progress in