Idle No More
It has consisted of a number of political actions worldwide, inspired in part by the liquid diet hunger strike of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence[1] and further coordinated via social media.[5] While the NWPA had originally been intended to facilitate actual navigation, the ubiquity of waterways in the Canadian wilderness has given it the effect of strong environmental legislation by presenting a significant barrier to industrial development, especially to projects such as pipelines which crossed many rivers.Numerous attempts to introduce bills have failed due to their low priority for past federal governments, eventually dying on the order paper without being debated or passed.(C) Placing key spokespeople and connecting with experienced experts in different areas; i.e. treaty research, indigenous rights and governance, environmental activism, writers, international spokesperson, national etc.(E) Requesting regular meetings with First Nations leadership to have ongoing discussions regarding third party agreements between the Government of Canada and industry corporations To date the movement has been particularly focused on: (A) The education and the revitalization of indigenous peoples through awareness and empowerment."This pipeline system would virtually assure the destruction of swaths of one of the world's most important forest ecosystems, produce lake-sized reservoirs of toxic waste, import a thick, tarlike fuel that will release vast quantities of toxic chemicals into our air when it is refined in the U.S., and emit significantly more global warming pollutants into the atmosphere than fuels made from conventional oil" (Glick, page 3)."Communities that live near the tar sands are already experiencing health problems linked to the pollution, and dozens of wildlife species are at risk, including millions of migrating cranes, swans, and songbirds" (Glick, page 3).[13] Sylvia McAdam, a co-founder of the movement, has said that she does not condone the rail or road blockade tactics that some demonstrators have used, and has spoken in support of peaceful protest "within the legal boundaries".[14] The movement was initiated by activists Nina Wilson, Sheelah Mclean, Sylvia McAdam Saysewahum, and Jessica Gordon in November 2012, during a teach-in at Station 20 West in Saskatoon called "Idle No More", held in response to the Harper government's introduction of Bill C-45.[20] The protests were timed to coincide with the announcement that Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat was launching a liquid diet to demand a meeting with Prime Minister Harper and the Governor General of Canada to discuss Aboriginal rights.The Assembly of First Nations then issued an open letter December 16 to Governor General David Johnston, calling for a meeting to discuss Spence's demands.Moreover, several First Nations communities, the BC Métis Federation, the Union of British Columbian Municipalities, and several local governments have passed resolutions banning pipelines in B.C.with Idle No More blocked the Canadian National main railway line between the country's two largest cities of Toronto and Montreal at a point near Belleville, Ontario for approximately three hours.[46] The Twin Cities Daily Planet called it a crowd of "over a thousand" and stated that it followed a similar protest a week earlier where Clyde Bellecourt had been arrested, as well as another flash mob at the Paul Bunyan Mall in Bemidji.Former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Joe Clark also met Spence and made a speech afterward saying that Canada and First Nations were on a dangerous path.[56] In solidarity with the movement, Council of Canadians National Chairperson Maude Barlow, author Naomi Klein, and singer Sarah Slean have returned their Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals.[57] Criticism of the Idle No More movement has appeared in Canada's mainstream media, which has covered related high-profile protests such as road blockades and Spence's fast.The parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs stated to media that "With respect to Bill C-45, the changes to property leasing provisions, these changes respond directly to the request of a number of First Nations Chiefs to provide them with more flexibility"."[61] By early January 2013, Shawn Atleo, leader of the Assembly of First Nations, and other Chiefs, were beginning to "use the protests' momentum to press Ottawa on treaty rights and improved living standards.
Idle No More (album)Grassrootsindigenous rightsenvironmental degradationeconomicsocial inequalityFirst NationsCivil disobedienceDemonstrationsHunger strikesInternet activismNonviolent resistancePicketingTransportation blocksprotestmovementIndigenous peoples in CanadaMétisliquid diethunger strikeAttawapiskatTheresa Spencesocial mediatreaty rightsStephen HarperConservativeomnibus billBill C-45round dancesblockadesrail linesMay 2, 2011 Canadian Federal electionomnibusNavigable Waters Protection ActEnbridge Northern Gateway PipelinesbitumenAthabasca tar sandsorder paperIn 1996In 2002In 2008Kelowna AccordMartin governmentHarper governmentTurtle Islandthe Statestar sandsindigenismPamela PalmaterNipissing First NationOttawaSylvia McAdam Saysewahumteach-inSaskatoonNehiyaw (Cree) Nationenvironmental protection lawsNorthern GatewayAssembly of First Nationsopen letterDavid JohnstonConfederacy of Treaty No. 6 First NationsIndian Actenvironmental sustainabilityAlgonquin peopleHeiltsuk First NationSiksika Nationflash mobsshopping mallsflash mobround danceCornwall CentreWest Edmonton MallRideau CentreSt. Vital CentreMall of AmericaSandy Bay First NationTrans-Canada HighwayDriftpile First NationMidtown PlazaCanadian Nationalmain railway lineBelleville, OntarioVancouverToronto's Eaton CentreAkwesasneOklahoma City, OklahomaSan Francisco BayBay Area Air Quality Management DistrictWalpole IslandAlgonac, MichiganClyde BellecourtPaul Bunyan MallBemidjiMohawkLiberalPaul MartinKelowna AccordsProgressive ConservativeJoe ClarkCouncil of CanadiansMaude BarlowNaomi KleinSarah SleanQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee MedalsPatrick BrazeauShawn AtleoParliament HillGreg RickfordTony ClementLeona AglukkaqMatthew Coon ComeGreat Peace of MontrealJay TreatyList of protests in the 21st centuryThe Journey of NishiyuuNumbered TreatiesStatus of First Nations treaties in B.C.Two Row Wampum TreatyThe People of the Kattawapiskak RiverTrick or Treaty?Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs CanadaCanadian Press, TheNews, CBCWayback MachineCanadian identityCulture of Canada