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#IdleNoMore: First Nations Rally Against Attacks on Indigenous Rights in Canada

Posted 11 years ago on Dec. 10, 2012, 3:07 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Tags: first nations, #idlenomore, canada, treaty rights, environment, international

Poster Art by Dwayne Bird - twitter: @DwayneBird

via idlenomore.ca

Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 (Edmonton) Under what is being called a national day of action and solidarity, First Nations and their supporters have organized more than 13 nation-wide rallies for Monday (December 10) to express opposition the legislation the Harper Government has put forward in Bill C-45 and other bills.

The movement, under the banner “Idle No More” (#IdleNoMore) emerged within the grassroots less than four weeks ago in Saskatchewan. It began as an effort to educate First Nations people on the multitude of legislation being put forward by the Harper government that they feel is a direct attack on the rights of First Nations. The organizers Sylvia McAdam, Jess Gordon, Nina Wilson and Sheelah Mclean began by organizing “teach-ins” to inform people.

On Dec. 2, when another Idle No More session was called in Alberta, more than 150 people drove into Louis Bull First Nation on a Sunday to hear what the presenters had to say. The organizer for that event, Tanya Kappo, took to Twitter and Facebook to help generate awareness on the matter as the passage of Bill C45 was imminent. Says Kappo, “the people in our communities had absolutely no idea what we were facing, no idea what plans Stephen Harper had in store for us.”

Sylvia McAdam, one of the organizers of the original Saskatchewan events stated, “We are not really surprised by the amount of support coming spontaneously from the grassroots and from the Chiefs, because we knew we could no longer stay silent in the face of what is a legislative attack on First Nation people and the lands and waters across the country.” McAdam said, ““Bill C 45 is not just about a budget, it is a direct attack on First Nations lands and on the bodies of water we all share from across this country.”

Opposition by First Nations to Bill C-45 garnered national attention last week during when 300 First Nations Chiefs marched on Parliament hill, and several Chiefs, led by Chief Fox, went inside Parliament to deliver a message to the government. This refusal to allow First Nations leadership to respectfully enter the House of Commons triggered an even greater mobilization of First Nation people across the country.

Rallies will be held on Monday, December 10 in Vancouver, Whitehorse, Calgary, Edmonton, Stand Off, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay, Toronto and Goose Bay-Happy Valley. More information can be found at www.idlenomore.com and also on our Event Pages

#IdleNoMore

Facebook Pages:

Idle No More Community

Idle No More

See below for list of event pages for cities across Canada.

Events:

December, 10th

Calgary, AB

Edmonton, AB

Marriott, BC

Piikani, AB

Prince Albert, SK

Regina, SK

Saddle Lake Cree Nation, TR # 6 Territory

Saskatoon, SK

Toronto, ON

Vancouver, BC

Merritt, BC

Whitehorse, Yukon

Winnipeg, MB

December, 18th

Meadow Lake, SK

December, 21st

Ottawa, ON

December, 23rd

Vancouver, BC

33 Comments

33 Comments


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[-] 6 points by LeoYo (5909) 11 years ago

Canadian author tackles Indigenous genocide

Churches at center of `crimes against humanity' claim

By Evelyn Red Lodge

Native Sun News Correspondent

3 Oct 2012

Ref: http://www.indianz.com/News/2012/007286.asp

NANAIMO, British Columbia — A non-indigenous Canadian minister is working tirelessly to expose crimes against First Peoples and humanity worldwide.

Kevin Annett announced Sept. 15 that a new court based in Canada has convened to possibly charge institutions, states, companies, churches and individuals complicit in what he calls "a shocking conspiracy."

In an email to Native Sun News, Annett wrote, "The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State is the first time a legal forum has been created specifically to bring charges against entire church institutions for crimes against humanity. We aren't at the stage of setting down sentencing yet, but among the aims will be to restore stolen lands and resources rather than monetary claims, expelling church corporations from territories and expropriating church wealth to bring real restitution to victims."

On the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State website, www.itccs.org, Annett claims, "Under the authority of that Tribunal as well as Common Law and the Natural Land Law Jurisdiction of Sovereign Nations" this "Public International Court of Justice is hereby convened." He also said summonses have been sent to seven countries, including the United States.

As much of Canadian history involving indigenous, or aboriginal, peoples mirrors that of the United States, Annett said in the email, "We are very aware of the attacks on Lakota people by the uranium industry and would like to document this and the destruction of Lakota families at our International Court."

Recent exposure of American foster care revealed very high rates of Native children taken from their families presumably for profit, according to www.npr.org, which is also a concern for Canadian Aboriginal peoples.

Annett said, "Canadian `child welfare' agencies continually target aboriginal families and women for separation from their kids, and follow an informal policy of encouraging cultural extinguishment through farming out native kids to non-native families. The number of west coast Canadian Native children in White foster homes has increased five-fold in the past 20 years.

"I dealt with a case earlier this spring in Vancouver of a Native mother who has had all five of her children seized by the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Families, and she hasn't seen them since – a review was never done and she's been told she can't see them. This is common."

Annett recently released his book "Hidden No Longer: Genocide in Canada, Past and Present." The book chronicles centuries of shocking tales of murders, rapes, torture, land theft and human experiments by hospitals, churches, Aboriginal residential schools, corporations and individuals – much of which Annett says still happens to this day.

What is more, Annett says in his book that "the stories, documentation and other evidence in this book are based in part on the living testimonies of nearly three hundred survivors of thirty eight separate Indian residential or hospitals across Canada."

The book also memorializes 11 chiefs, elders and others he suspects have died of "foul play after publicly confronting Catholic and Protestant churches for their Crimes against Humanity."

"The abuse, trafficking, torture and murder of children appears endemic to European culture and continues to be actively practiced, and condoned and protected, by church, state, judicial and police forces around the globe," the tribunal's website says in its background and rationale section. These same institutions are equally responsible for the historic genocide of indigenous peoples at the hands of European Christendom: an enormous crime against humanity which has never stopped, and continues to ravage and destroy the innocent and the earth."

Annett cites this chilling Bible passage from Deuteronomy in his book: "When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations … and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not allow any of them to live … This is what you are to do to them: break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their trees and burn them in the fire. For you are a people chosen by the Lord over all others on the face of the earth."

"I'd like to encourage people to see our websites, www.itccs.org and www.hiddennolonger.com, and get involved in our tribunals to document how the crimes of genocide continue to the present day," Annett told Native Sun News. "I am also available to come to (Lakota) territory to meet with people. My email (address) is hiddenfromhistory1@...."

(Contact Evelyn Red Lodge at welakota@...)

[-] 4 points by Renneye (3874) 11 years ago

I cannot thank you enough LeoYo. Kevin Annett is a modern day hero.

I visit his site quite often. Of all the reprehensible & despicable things the .01% do...the global elite paedophile rings, human trafficking and child genocide are the ones that affect me the most. Unfortunately, it is a subject that most people here don't want to talk about. It is rampant and widespread. I am beside myself with horror and grief at the loss of human life and the magnitude of the problem and the cover-ups that go all the way to the top echelons of society.

These bastards need to hang.

Thanks so much for your post. I was pleasantly surprised that someone other than myself knew of Kevin Annett and the tireless effort he puts into exposing this deeply hidden and sad part of society.

[-] 3 points by Builder (4202) 11 years ago

Power corrupts. Ultimate power corrupts completely.

Look at how the Vatican (richest nation-state on the planet) fobs off paedophilia.

[-] 3 points by Shaaman (3) 11 years ago

What we need, brothers and sisters, is for our now almost destroyed nations to come together as separate tribes within one nation. We need our people to concentrate themselves in a sacred area and claim it as their own, formally, physically and spiritually declaring the independence of the native people of Turtle Island for the first time in 200 years.

[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

In Compliment : From The Sierra Club

As I write this email, it's fifty degrees below zero in Russia. It's so bitterly cold that the traffic lights in the city of Yakutsk aren't working anymore. [1]

That's pretty damn cold -- yet it comes the same week that scientists announced 2012 was the hottest year on record. You probably already knew that, though, just from walking out your own front door this summer.

The climate crisis is creating weather patterns that aren't just extreme -- they're downright freaky. Our leaders can't sit around and twiddle their thumbs anymore, and it's up to activists like you to make sure they get the memo.

Over 10,000 activists have already signed up to attend the Forward on Climate Rally in Washington on February 17 at noon. But this will only be the largest climate rally in history -- and generate enough pressure on our leaders -- if all of us turn out. Will you RSVP today?

(If you can't make it to D.C. but want to help out, see the PS below for other important ways to pitch in!)

The North American heat wave of 2012 killed 104 people and cut off power to millions, and then superstorm Sandy took 253 lives and disrupted the entire Northeastern US. While it's true that we can't point to any one storm and say, "That's climate," we can point to the pattern -- and that's what's happening now. A deadly, man-made pattern that our leaders must address with bold climate leadership.

The first step President Obama can take is to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. So at the Forward on Climate Rally, we'll engage in several critical actions that push him to lead on climate, as well as hear from inspiring speakers like Bill McKibben, Mike Brune, and surprise celebrity guests. Together, we will make it clear to the president that climate's time is now.

You can make this a Presidents Day weekend that President Obama won't forget -- sign up to join the biggest climate rally in history, stop the toxic Keystone XL pipeline, and create tangible momentum for further climate action.

See you in February,

Michael Marx Sierra Club Beyond Oil Campaign Director

PS -- Traveling to Washington, D.C., is not always an easy task, and we wouldn't ask you to do it if it wasn't important. But if you can't make it to Washington, there are two other important ways you can help prepare for the rally -- sign up to phone bank and recruit attendees from home, or chip in $10 to help make sure we can pay for expenses like buses, stage equipment, spreading the word, and more!

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References

[1] Lyall, Sarah. "Heat, Flood or Icy Cold, Extreme Weather Rages Worldwide." New York Times. Web. 10 January 2013.

[-] 2 points by TrevorMnemonic (5827) 11 years ago

Dene chief: 'My nation will stop the pipeline'

The Berger Inquiry crosses Northern Canada, hearing testimony from hundreds of natives, Metis and white residents in every community it can reach. The most dramatic moment of the inquiry comes when Fort Good Hope Chief Frank T'Seleie gives an impassioned speech against the pipeline. He tells Foothills Pipelines president Bob Blair, "You are the 20th century General Custer. You are coming with your troops to slaughter us and steal land that is rightfully ours."

Great video in the link - please watch for real inspiration -

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/rights-freedoms/the-berger-pipeline-inquiry/my-nation-will-stop-the-pipeline.html

The capitalist's war against Native Americans continues to this day.

[-] 2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

The Great White North learns to fly........:)

The First Nation will not be denied.

http://rabble.ca/news/2013/01/importance-idle-no-more-and-power-collective-action

[-] 2 points by frovikleka (2563) from Island Heights, NJ 11 years ago

Perhaps the GWN will teach the rest of us down here how to "fly."

~Odin~

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

Still a growing movement.

As natural resources become scarcer worldwide, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is rushing to sell off the country’s pristine waterways and forests to multinational corporations abroad. As their lands are devastated by industrial projects, First Nations indigenous communities in remote reservations across Canada often suffer most from these efforts. The Canadian economy has long been propelled by resource extraction industries such as mining and logging (with the US being a major trading partner), while plans to build pipelines from the Alberta tar sands to the USA and overseas form the latest battleground.

http://truth-out.org/news/item/13886-oldest-native-american-logging-blockade-passes-10th-year-at-grassy-narrows

[-] 1 points by frovikleka (2563) from Island Heights, NJ 11 years ago

Catholic Church child sex abuse took place in Alaskan villages for decades.

http://www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/Breaking--The-Silence-of-Catholic-Sex-Abuse-in-Alaska-Villages--120885319.html

And Frontline has a good doucumentary on it

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/the-silence/

~Odin~

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

Some photos to enjoy.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Photos+Idle+More+Ottawa+protest+march/7809294/story.html

The Canadian press treats them well.

Could we get some of that here?

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

Harper reacts!!!

"OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government promised a new focus on First Nations grievances after aboriginal leaders voiced their demands in a day of pleas, protests, warnings and high-level meetings around Parliament Hill.

After four hours of talks Friday, First Nations leaders came out of the meeting with a pledge from Harper for talks on treaty relationships and comprehensive claims."

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government promised a new focus on First Nations grievances after aboriginal leaders voiced their demands in a day of pleas, protests, warnings and high-level meetings around Parliament Hill.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1313686--attawapiskat-chief-spence-won-t-attend-meeting-with-prime-minister-harper

"“We have achieved some movement today,” Atleo said in a statement. “The Prime Minister listened respectfully to the Chiefs and responded to all they brought forward and for the first time, provided a clear mandate for high-level talks on treaty implementation. Prime Minister Harper also committed to high-level discussions on comprehensive claims.”"

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Now lets see if the primeminister is worth anything more then a msm sound bite saying we will respect ( not listen to ) tribal concerns.

Or - was that - we will listen to ( and not respect ) tribal concerns.

[-] 2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

I'll try and keep an eye on things........:)

Canadian politics tends to be a bit more civilized than ours, but Harper has made changes not unlike American "rightwing" policies.

[-] 2 points by frovikleka (2563) from Island Heights, NJ 11 years ago

Canadian politics might be more civil shooz, but the people seem more ready to get out in the streets when confronted with injustices.

~Odin~

[-] 2 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

The First Nations, certainly are, and Ms. Spense is still on her hunger strike in a teepee in Ottawa, in full view of the government building there.

[-] 2 points by frovikleka (2563) from Island Heights, NJ 11 years ago

Agreed, and the anger surfacing now is long over-due, and easily understandable to any compassionate person. While Occupy does have a link with Idle No More in the fact we have the same plutocrat oppressors, I realize that their suffering has been going on for oh so much longer than ours, and to a much deeper degree. There is a parallel between Occupy and Idle No More...that is similar to Occupy and Occupy the Hood. It begs the question: Where were you when it was only me being oppressed? I hope all these divisions can be healed, and we can move forward.

~Odin~

As you know there are some divisions between Occupy The Hood, and the rest of the Occupy movement which I can understand, as once again they, people of color have been suffering injustices for far longer than people like most of Occupy have. Where were we?

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

The government used (?) to be all about the environment. What happened? Not enough south of the border neredowells (USA tourists ) coming up to visit and spend money? Oh - hell - ya - - - right..... almost forgot about that whole economic send jobs offshore steal um abscond eh fraudulently ( yeah OK that one works ) screw the USA and world in a major meltdown. SO - another crime perpetrated by WallStreet - the end of Canadian environment due to loss of tourist dollars...... HUH....

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

Don't forget, Bush made it a bitch to cross the border.

People seem to have forgotten a lot of things he did.

That was the Toronto Star, and there was a lot of interesting things on the front page too.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Yeah Bush ( bastard ) probably presidential guilt over having once smoked the herbal or somethin - don't let your countrymen visit Canada on the cheap ( or trouble free ) to much available herbage - make us all tooo layed back..... no gota keep em ready to fight alkidya and secure our resources.......um........safety.

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

It was about tyranny and nationalism. Plus employment for DHS............:)

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Yep - yep - just what we need - more secretive police . . .

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

I'd imagine plenty of drone flights along the border these days as well.

Gotta keep a lookout for underwear bombers, doncha know.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Sorry bout ur drone thingy . . . I thought it was a goose............. u fellas are insured for accidental loss . . . ain't cha?

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Could indigenous populations save us from corpoRAT death by fossil fuel pollution?

[-] 1 points by LeoYo (5909) 11 years ago

The US Coal Industry Wants to Boost Exports to Asia - Native American Tribes Stand in the Way

Saturday, 12 January 2013 09:31 By Kari Lydersen, Earth Island Journal | Report

http://truth-out.org/news/item/13869-the-us-coal-industry-wants-to-boost-exports-to-asia-native-american-tribes-stand-in-the-way

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

Let us all support Native Americans in their effort to save us ALL from fossil fuel pollution/poison/destruction/death.

Perhaps the rest of the population can do what it has never really done before in this country's history - stand up for the indigenous population in protecting their lives from greed of business's and broken treaties to satisfy those business's.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

In compliment : PLEASE SHARE CIRCULATE FORWARD

Exxon is afraid, and here's why: our first ever national TV ad, Exxon Hates Your Children, is finally hitting the air, starting tonight. It's one of the very first ever truly crowdfunded, truly national political TV ads, with over 125,000 views online already - and Exxon knows that it's because people have had it with Big Oil, Gas & Coal's destruction of our children's future.

Now we need to prove their fears correct - we need to make the ad such a big hit that it sends a shockwave through our politics. Here's how you can make Exxon Hates Your Children a national gamechanger:

Let all your friends know they should watch it, on TV or online, by tweeting it out and sharing it on Facebook.

Sign our public petition to Congress and Exxon, telling them that the first thing thrown out of our budget ought to be corporate welfare for Big Oil.

Pledge to watch the ad, then let all your friends know to do the same.

Help us get Exxon Hates Your Children on the air where you live.

Thanks for all you do to make this movement real.

Sincerely,

John Sellers, The Other 98%

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 11 years ago

In compliment :

Great video in the link - please watch for real inspiration -

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/rights-freedoms/the-berger-pipeline-inquiry/my-nation-will-stop-the-pipeline.html

1st shared here by TrevorMnemonic

May it go viral.

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 11 years ago

The success of Idle No More has gained international notice.

I wish the First Nations well in this and all things.................:)

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/12/24/Canadas-Indian-movement-gains-momentum/UPI-55581356381228/?spt=hs&or=tn

[-] 1 points by intentratia (1) from Middlebury, VT 11 years ago

Take Action. Support the Rights of the First Nations and all Indigenous Peoples. Sign the Petition against Bill C-45:

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-house-of-commons-in-parliament-assembled-do-not-pass-the-budget-implementation-bill-c-45-3

Also... Photos from the recent Halifax #IdleNoMore protest agnst Bill C-45. Please publicize, just tell me where. No costs.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200116449532162.2195387.1178126551&type=1&l=bf7ce63b8b