IDLE NO MORE! - One Heartbeat!

[Oscar]

IDLE NO MORE! - One Heartbeat!

Share this around the world!

So it's happening. :)

The world is waking up. We are seeing the glory of Creation. We are honoring each other and our future generations. We are opening our eyes and rather than fight, we sing.

We dance.

We drum.

One heartbeat across the planet.

Canada's Indigenous people, spurred by recent actions of the government (including dropping protection of over a million waterways to a hundred overnight), are standing up.

Standing up for your children and ours, for your water and ours, for your Mother Earth and ours.

We are respecting this land the Creator made for all of us.

We are Idle No More.

And we are happy.

- - - -

December 21, 2012
We invite you to join us.

Find out what's happening in your city or town. If there is nothing, start something!

This is peaceful demonstration, in other words: Demonstrating Peace.

Demonstrating Love, acceptance and the voice of change.

A true warrior is one who stands for their people, for the elders and the young, for the community and the land.

The Truest Warrior is the Peacemaker.

You can't fight anger with anger, disdain for disdain.

You can only fill empty places with love.

You can only fill empty hearts with compassion.

You can only fill empty lives with meaning.

You can only fill the emptiness of greed with an overflowing abundance and generosity of spirit.

And it's time.

hiy hiy

- - - - -

"Over 70 busloads of First Nations supporters from throughout Canada are heading to Ottawa to take part in a noon ceremony on Friday to show support of Chief Spence.

It is reported there have been closings at borders so that American Indians attempting to enter Canada from the United States to lend support of the First Nation people cannot do so."


Chief Theresa Spence Now in 9th Day of Hunger Strike

http://www.firstperspective.ca/news/
2673-chief-theresa-spence-now-in-9th-day-of-hunger-strike

Category: NEWS
Created on Wednesday, 19 December 2012 19:25
Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
Published Date

"Not Well and is Weak"

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges

Native News Network

OTTAWA, CANADA – A source close to Chief Theresa Spence tell the Native News Network report that "she is not well and is weak" from the hunger strike she began on December 11.

Today marks the ninth day of her hunger strike.

Chief Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation, based in northern Ontario, has vowed to die unless the government begins to show more respect for aboriginal treaties.

At issue is Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harpers push for sweeping legislation that in essence terminates many of the First Nations treaty rights throughout Canada. First Nations people have come out in strong opposition to Harper's legislation known as Bill C-45.

Chief Spence is only drinking water twice a day - in the morning and evening. She spends most of her day in prayer. She has been living inside a teepee on Victoria Island on the Ottawa River, near Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada's capital city.

Access by the media has been limited due to the wishes of the elders surrounding Chief Spence who view her prolonged fasting sacred.

Others in Canada have begun hunger strikes in an effort to display solidarity with Chief Spence. 51-year old Raymond Robinson of Cross Lake First Nation and 72-year old Emil Bell of Cole Bay First Nation began hunger strikes earlier this week.

Protests have been going on in various locations in Canada to oppose Bill C-45 for the past two weeks.

Over 70 busloads of First Nations supporters from throughout Canada are heading to Ottawa to take part in a noon ceremony on Friday to show support of Chief Spence.

It is reported there have been closings at borders so that American Indians attempting to enter Canada from the United States to lend support of the First Nation people cannot do so.

- - - -

Emelie Jeffries contributed to this story from New York.


http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/wab-kinew/
idle-no-more-canada_b_2316098.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

also see message below from Crystal Lameman, member of the Beaver Lake Cree First Nation who also quoted Al Lameman in her quote.

'Well Canada, we officially have no Environmental protection laws (Harper withdrew those earlier this year), we've officially signed the dotted line to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol (the only country to do so), Bill C-45 has passed which leaves the vast majority of our water unprotected... Is it really just another, "Indian Problem"? We are in a global crisis, the shift to Environmental Justice must happen now! The last thing protecting us is the Treaty's 1-11 which are enshrined in the Constitution; '

we don't react now as the human species, "we'll all be dead, you may as well say." (Al Lameman, former retired Chief of the BLCN).

- - - - -

For Immediate Release

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY

Mikisew Cree First Nation Challenges Bill C-45

Fort Chipewyan, Alberta (December 14, 2012) – Chief Steve Courtoreille and the Council of Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN) are proud to announce their unwavering opposition to Bill C-45 (Jobs and Growth Act 2012). “We will never recognize any law which is passed by the Government of Canada which does not have our consent and any such law will not apply on our reserve lands and traditional territories”, says Chief Courtoreille. “We have not been consulted and have no option but to reject this arbitrary action on the part of Prime Minister Harper and his government.”

“Bill-C-45 will trample on the rights that accrue to us as members of our First Nation.” The leadership of MCFN, like other First Nations across Canada are concerned that the Government’s omnibus budget bill includes new legislation regarding the leasing of reserve lands, First Nations education, on-reserve voting rights, and the abolishment of the Navigable Waters Protection Act, among others. “We will not sit idly by while the Prime Minister Harper and his government run rough shod over our rights” says Chief Courtoreille.

In 2005, Mikisew Cree First Nation successfully argued in front of the
Supreme Court of Canada that the Canadian Government had failed to consult with MCFN when it attempted to take up lands in Wood Buffalo National Park. That case, one of an important trilogy of First Nations consultation cases in Canadian jurisprudence, firmly established that the Government must consult with First Nations when it contemplates any action, which may impact on unproven or established First Nations rights.

MCFN expects that the Government of Canada will consult the First Nation regarding any proposed changes to the Indian Act or associated legislation. “We would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Government of Canada through an open, transparent, and mutually respectful process” says the Chief. Chief Coutorielle will be attending the protest against Bill C-45 in Edmonton, Alberta on December 21. He encourages every citizen of MCFN to join him, “Bring the flags. We want every Mikisew member there.”

Contact
Steve Courtoreille Chief
(780) 838-0893 chief@mikisewcree.ca

George Poitras
Chief Executive Officer (587) 985-4954 ceo@mikisewcree.ca
--
George J. Poitras
Mikisew Cree First Nation
tel. 587.985.4954

"It would be easier just to fold our hands and not make this fight..., to say, I, one man, can do nothing. I grow afraid only when I see people thinking and acting like this. We all know the story about the man who sat beside the trail too long, and then it grew over and he could never find his way again. We can never forget what has happened, but we cannot go back, nor can we just sit beside the trail." - Poundmaker, Cree Chief

- - - -

Treaty 6 rejects Bill C-45

The Chiefs are alarmed that the Government of Canada has greatly diminished the need to consider environmental impacts on First Nations water resources through changes to the Navigable Waters legislation within Bill C-45. Pipelines will now be able proceed across hundreds, even thousands of water course crossings without the necessary environmental scrutiny. These changes will increase the impact of development on First Nations Reserve lands, many of which rely on rivers and lakes to practice their Treaty rights to hunt, fish, trap and continue a traditional way of life. “How many rivers and lakes have to be spoiled before Canadians start to care?” continued Makinaw.

- - - - - -

Chiefs and supporters arriving at Prime Minister Stephen Harper's home at 24 Sussex in Ottawa Monday to hand deliver a letter from the AFN requesting a meeting with Harper, the Governor General and First Nation leaders. They taped it to the iron gates with RCMP watching.

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/

- - - -

Flash Mob Round dance in West Edm Mall - part of the Idle No More Movement, First Nations and allies are now gathering in public places and having sudden round dances, for all the world to see, the beauty of thier ways.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qz-qmAph04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Nx4jUEZfc

[Oscar]

IS “IDLE NO MORE” A HISTORIC TIPPING POINT FOR CANADA?

BY Jim Harding

For publication in R-Town News on Jan. 18, 2013

Harper’s two Budget Omnibus Bills fundamentally undercut our environmental protection. The 450-page Bill C-38 changes 70 federal Acts in one fell swoop, including reducing water, fish and other environment protection. The longer Bill C-45 changes 44 laws, including removing fish habitat protections, making huge changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, and reducing the federal role in environmental assessments “from 32,000 to just 97 lakes and from 2.25 million to just 62 rivers”. As OKT solicitors who have analyzed the Bill said, “This means that a shocking 99% of Canada’s waterways lost their protection…”

Opposition parties criticized these Bills as anti-democratic but Harper used his Conservative majority to force them through. Harper ignores the democratic procedures of parliament, where legislative changes are carefully examined in an informed way. Since taking power in 2006 Harper has restricted freedom of information, muzzled scientists and steadily increased his “rule by law” rather than governing by the “the rule of law”. The newest member of our Supreme Court issued us all a warning in the Dec. 29, 2012 Globe and Mail about the importance of the rule of law, saying “We are lucky here in Canada, but we should not treat that lightly. It could go away easily.”

The checks and balances against authoritarianism aren’t that strong in our first-past-the-post electoral system; a majority government can gut environmental protection with only minority support among the electorate. Opposition parties used parliamentary tactics to slow down the passage of these bills, and environmental and scientific groups warned of deleterious consequences for the environment. But without broad-based political mobilization within mainstream Canada, there’s been no way to stop Harper’s actions.

Facing this dilemma many were starting to think that the majority voice would not be heard until the 2015 election. Then the Idle No More grass roots movement emerged and opposition to Harper’s corporate agenda began to spread like wild fire across the country.

TREATY RIGHTS

While Harper has been to able end-run parliamentary democracy and the rule of law, he has not so easily been able to end-run constitutionally-embedded treaty rights. Indigenous grass-roots, mostly youth and women, have come out into the streets to say “no!” to the erosion of environmental protection. We are all deeply indebted to them

Perhaps Harper hoped a simple apology for the residential schools and finances for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission would brush aboriginal concerns aside. In its Dec. 29th editorial, “Talk Don’t Starve” the Globe and Mail stated there was no need for Chief Spence to risk her health with her hunger strike because Mr. Harper “has already shown he is a friend of aboriginal people.”

What balderdash! The Globe editorialists, like Harper, misread the meaning of “truth and reconciliation”. Harper has made sweeping legislative changes and in the process moved Canada closer to becoming a corporate state. Simultaneously he has not fulfilled the government’s constitutional “duty to consult” with aboriginal people. Meanwhile Idle No More has brought more attention to Harper’s steady imposition of legislation to further weaken aboriginal rights, such as Bill C-27 which imposes a double standard, forcing aboriginal businesses to make public financial reports not required by other businesses. It includes other Bills, S-2, S-6, S-8, C-428, S-207 and S-212, all of which can be used to undercut treaty and aboriginal rights in the guise of addressing matrimonial issues, elections, safe water, the Indian Act and self-government.

THE “NATIVE WINTER”

The politics of course is complex and the divisions among Chiefs are not inconsequential. Some Chiefs still talk of treaty rights narrowly in terms of getting revenue sharing from existing resource extraction. This is how the Harper government wants it to be viewed; linking treaty rights to business as usual. Meanwhile the environment protection required as part of the treaties is being deregulated to accelerate resource extraction. Water will become more available to industry under provincial jurisdiction, in disregard for the treaty relationship between aboriginal people and the Crown. It took the media a while to understand why Chief Spence and other Chiefs refused to meet with Harper without the Governor General; the crown is symbolic of the nation-to-nation defence of the treaties and the land.

After the Jan. 11, 2013 meeting with AFN Chief Atleo and other Chiefs, Harper did what he does best – manage perception. While past AFN Chief Coon Come was pleased that Harper recommitted to “high-level discussions”, Harper’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Duncan was saying that the government had already met all its constitutional obligations to consult over the Omnibus Bills. Harper had already dismissed the main demand of the grass-roots Idle No More movement, to rescind the Omnibus Bills.

Appearing responsive to the pressing human needs highlighted at the meeting, Harper announced a $330 million expenditure on safe drinking water, which, upon examination, turned out to already be in the last budget. And this is far below what the federal government knows will be required. Remember, too, that soon after Harper met with 180 Chiefs a year ago, on Jan. 24, 2012, and promised to continue talks, his government introduced Bill C-45 which undermines both environmental protection and treaty rights. Without Idle No More and Chief Spence’s hunger strike Harper wouldn’t have bothered to meet with the AFN. The smoke and mirrors will continue.

SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT

The unity of aboriginal, environmental and scientific groups in opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline has already changed the political landscape. Then the convergence of Idle No More with the actions of Chief Spence sparked a pan-Canadian grass roots outpouring of dissent, participatory democracy at its best. Perhaps it is the start of a much needed “civil rights” movement here. Canada’s environmental and other popular movements should now step up and show unrelenting solidarity with aboriginal people.

Idle No More started as a “chat room” between four Saskatchewan women – Sylvia McAdam, Nina Wilson, Sheelah McLean and Jessica Gordon, about what might be done to educate and organize around this matter. Various Teach-Ins were held and within weeks the grass-roots movement had gone viral and there were round dances and flash mobs in shopping malls, on highways and bridges across the country. Acts of solidarity started abroad and these continue! When AFN leaders met with Harper on Jan. 11th, there were hundreds of actions from coast to coast to coast. Our own winter of discontent and awakening, like the “Arab Spring”!

At each event there’s been a call for solidarity among aboriginal and settler Canadians. Polls show majority sympathy for overcoming degrading living conditions and poverty commonplace in many aboriginal communities; solidarity over protecting the treaties may be harder to come by. Until Canadians better understand how environmental protection and treaty rights are interwoven, and how “we are all treaty people”, Harper will continue to play one group off against another.

The AFN is caught in the middle. What will happen if more Chiefs shift their attention towards the grass-roots? Will there be more serious acts of civil disobedience? The stakes are high for Canada and we can’t succumb to the politics of fear or racialized scape-goating. There is only “one biosphere”, whether we are aboriginal or not. Genetic mapping has shown that we all come from common ancestors. Defending treaty rights along with democratic rights can be a powerful means to bring the human race closer together and push us all towards sustainability.

It’s time we all stood up for the protection of the land and waters; “we stand on guard for thee”. This is the vision that needs to be nurtured as this tremendous historical moment continues into the spring and summer.

Next week I’ll begin the series on “Evolution and Sustainability”