What is "Idle No More"?
It is a loosely knit political movement encompassing rallies drawing thousands of people across dozens of cities, road blocks, a shoving match on Parliament Hill between chiefs and mounties and one high profile hunger strike.
It is also a meme tweeted and shared about thousands of times a day, for messages about indigenous rights, indigenous culture and cheap indigenous jokes ("Turn off your ignition #idlenomore").
The name Idle No More comes from a recent meeting in Saskatchewan. Sylvia McAdam and three others were mad about Bill C-45, the omnibus budget bill. Their biggest frustration was that nobody seemed to be talking about it. Two provisions in particular upset them: the reduction in the amount of federally protected waterways and a fast tracked process to surrender reserve lands. In McAdam's view, if Aboriginal people did not speak out it would mean they "comply with [their] silence." So she and her friends decided to speak out. They would be "Idle No More." They held an information session under the same name. Co-organizer Tanya Kappo fired off a tweet with the hashtag "#IdleNoMore."
#IdleNoMore struck a nerve. Though bill C-45 has become law, many of Aboriginal people have voiced their opposition to it. Many of the other tensions in the indigenous community has started to bubble up to the surface and "Idle No More" now encompasses a broad conversation calling for recognition of treaty rights, revitalization of indigenous cultures and an end to legislation imposed without meaningful consultation.
To me this conversation is more than just an "Indian Thing." It is one that Canadians of all backgrounds should pay attention to, if not participate in. The ideals that are underlying this action are ones to which we all aspire, even if we may disagree on how exactly to pursue them.
5. #IdleNoMore is about Engaging Youth
When Grand Chief Derek Nepinak went on national television after he and some other leaders got into that shoving match outside the chamber, he acknowledged the Chiefs were responding to young people calling for action via social media. At the rallies held in cities like Winnipeg, Windsor and Edmonton, it has been the youth who have done the organizing, and it has been the youth who have made up the majority of attendees. Scanning Facebook and Twitter, "#IdleNoMore" has popped up in the timelines of people who typically discuss Snookie or the Kardashians. Agree or disagree with the message, Idle No More has accomplished something all Canadians want: it has young people paying attention to politics.
4. #IdleNoMore is about Finding Meaning
Much of the talk around Idle No More is about preserving indigenous culture, either by revitalizing spiritual practices, or by keeping intact what little land base we have left. The reason culture is so important is that it provides a way to grapple with the big questions in life: "Who am I?," "What am I doing here?" and "What happens after I die?" Some of the answers have been handed down as words of wisdom. Other times, you are told to go out on to the land and discover them for yourself through fasting or prayer. We need these ways. As I look around and see many fellow Canadians searching for meaning in their own lives, I think to myself perhaps they could use these ways as well.
3. #IdleNoMore is about Rights
What almost everyone carrying the Idle No More banner is calling for is meaningful consultation between the federal government and First Nations people. This is what section 35 of our constitution is all about: Aboriginal and treaty rights are recognized and affirmed, and that means we have to talk. If there is no meaningful conversation happening, it is troublesome. Aboriginal people may be the canary in the coal mine. If we overlook one section of the constitution does that mean others are in similar jeopardy?
2. #IdleNoMore is about the Environment
Idle No More started in part because of outrage that Bill C-45 reduced the number of federally protected waterways. The environment continues to be a regular topic at Idle No More protests. Dr. Pam Palmater, one of the leading voices in the Idle No More conversation, argues this is indigenous environmentalism is significant since the crown has a duty to consult with Aboriginal people before natural resource projects proceed. She says, "First Nations are Canadians' last, best hope of protecting the land, water, sky and plants and animals for their future generations as well."
1. #IdleNoMore is about Democracy
Democracy thrives when well-informed people are engaged and make their voices heard. Idle No More started with four young lawyers trying to inform the people in their communities about an issue they were passionate about. Now many people are engaged. Even more information is being shared, and even more voices are being heard. There is no one leader or "list of demands" attributable to Idle No More. While this may seem chaotic, this is what democracy is all about. Democracy is messy. Democracy is loud. Democracy is about hearing a wide ranges of voices and trying to build a path forward among them. It is not about shutting off debate or trying to rush things in through the back door.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this blog stated "Idle No More" started as an event in Alberta during a meeting with four female lawyers.
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Is it because of the Pipeline? And does Canada have a racist issue with Native Canadians? I understand Canada isn't nearly as diverse as the USA so understandably I didn't expect racial issues here, but is because of the pipeline? Are the First-World families not funded enough?
Idle No More California State Rally
https://www.facebook.com/events/401237959953883/
Our government leases their land to corporations who do reach some agreements with them and they get some financial relief, but the bulk of benefits from the presence of those corp. goes to our Federal government even though it's 'reserve' land.
The early treaties called for consultation with the natives on anything that might impact their land and most recently, Bill C45 pulled environmental protections from the majority of northern lakes and rivers (which is where lots of the reserves are) and was done without consultation. This is the straw that has broken the camels back. I think that's it in a nutshell.
"The accounting firm hired to audit the finances of the troubled Attawapiskat First Nation reserve in northern Ontario says there is little or no documentation for millions of dollars spent by the band, CBC News has learned.
The unreleased audit was intended to ensure that more than $100 million provided by the federal government to Attawapiskat between April 2005 and November 2011 was spent as it should have been.
CBC News has obtained a copy of the audit. The funding was intended for housing, sewage, education and other services.
In a letter dated Sept. 20, 2012, that was written by Deloitte to Chief Theresa Spence and copied to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, that auditing firm says that of 505 transactions reviewed, more than 400 lacked proper documentation."
In the reserve I lived on, the Maracle family - the chiefs family - had all new houses with nice cars. My family lived in a trailer that was rotten.
We have since moved off-reserve and joined Canadian society, where we have been welcomed.
Don't be fooled, this is all grandstanding on the part of the chiefs who do not want to have to open their books for a forensic audit - they know if the band members knew of the massive scale of the corruption, they would be facing criminal charges.
Perhaps HuffPost can do a little more fact checking, before hopping on every bandwagon. This is a smokescreen to divert attention away from the Transparency Act which intends to clear up the corruption in reserve finances.
I also think too that if the Harper government want others to open their books, THEY should do so FIRST, and be an example of openness and transparency. Otherwise, don't ask others to do what you are unwilling to do so yourself.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4414815256783&set=oa.126805864151133&type=1&theater
It is an international religious reformation.
It is a global transformation of religion in order to save the world. If you are really interested in it I recommend reading the book, "Black Elk Speaks."
This is a lot more critical politically than most people realize. The Doctrine of Discovery is the keystone to repression and habitat destruction globally. We really have to get rid of it if we want to save the earth, something a lot of white people do not want to do as it is also the basis of their idea of their Manifest Destiny. The people who benefit from that will fight to keep it.
the Occupy movement did the same, they started on Wall St and slowly dwindled into oblivion by trying to be the everything to the everyone.
pick your battles carefully
Do you know what happens to people with ideas like that if they try to implement them? Well usually they get arrested, murdered, die in suspicious accidents, commit suicide in improbable ways like shooting themselves twice in the head, or they get locked up in mental institutions. They tried to do that to me, they haven't succeeded yet.
So, since these movements are all something I nurture carefully, it looks to me like I already took into account your very good advice. My movements do not dwindle into oblivion, they are leadership training exercises. I was a Girl Scout leader for many years before I started this project, so that is what it is modeled on - Girl Scouting.
It is not dwindling, it is growing very fast. Watch RT for more details, especially the show, "Breaking the Set." I think you will enjoy it.
PS, Green Spring.
Yup, I inspired that one too. I know what I doing and I know how to inspire people, so I just keep doing it over and over again.
I also inform the press, but that is actively ignored and even blocked. Duh.
What exactly is under attack here ??
Having never paid much attention to all this, I finally decided to 'get educated' and I'm trying to understand the issues.
Idle can also mean they will be more active for their rights. They will be more active and raise their voice louder.
But Round Dance revolution ? You lost me and 99.9 % of everyone else.
Also, your other point about rebranding the movement in my opinion would cause in fighting and create a rift in a social movement that's found its time. Rather than argue over what to call it, be in the spirit of it, which is to raise awareness of all the issues that the movement is voicing a strong need for change in.
humanity akhbar!
all my relations
However, my friend Karla pointed out to me that while Idle No More is about a myriad of issues, we would do well to focus on the Aboriginal issues. Reasons:
Other Canadians need to recognize, acknowledge and focus on the leadership First Nations have to offer, including the two women who started Idle No More, and Chief Spence's brave action. Your culture has always been about co-existing with the environment and grass roots democracy. We have so much to learn from you. You have so much leadership to give that the whole world needs right now.
First Nations need continued support from other Canadians. Their day-to-day situation is worse than most and has been going on for a long, long time.
Let's strengthen this symbiotic partnership whose time has come. Let's not dissipate the critical message. Let's remember, first and foremost it's about First Nations.
"Throughout history we have traded and adapted commodities, symbols, technologies and narratives from one another. Cultural exchange is a good thing and knowledge is endlessly shifting and changing, but the widespread cultural appropriation of Turtle Island indigenous knowledge (IK) by non-native spiritual seekers perpetuates the racist colonial agenda which moves first to seize the land, then the resources, and finally, specific elements of the indigenous cultural identity that have already been subjected to ethnic cleansing and genocide. Cultural appropriation and identity theft are acts of domination, and when IK is taken indigenous people are disempowered and their dignity denied. They no longer have their own autonomy or any control over how they are represented in the public domain, which is a fundamental human right for all peoples. Cultural appropriation also allows for the domination of knowledge, as the versions of cultural knowledge produced by those with advantage and power then become the valid narratives, fabrications of IK that are sold back to the white majority and even to indigenous peoples themselves. The white privilege of cultural appropriation undermines the efforts of indigenous groups to preserve their specific IK, and 168 Nations around the world have acknowledged these rights by signing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf
- Lyssanda Eyers
They are our leaders on this one. It is their women, their culture, their way of life, that have been under the biggest attack for a longest time. And they have ALWAYS respected the land, water and air, not just since global warming. It has always been their culture.
The rest of us have been lucky the creators of Canada incorporated some of natives' natural democracy, respect for the land and respect for all peoples into their imaginings for our country.
We do have common enemies. However INM is an aboriginal initiative, and it's the aboriginals who have the inherent abilities – who have earned the right by prevailing and surviving despite all – to lead us. Let's stand back, listen and support their leadership – for the first time in history.