Aliza Sam watched on social media as the grassroots Idle No More movement, which began as a First Nations protest of the federal Omnibus Bill C-45, swiftly took shape and spread like wildfire across the country.
When the spark lit in B.C. and First Nations activists began to organize Idle No More events in Vancouver and Victoria for Dec. 21, Sam was prepared to take the long trek from Port Alberni to join others in raising their voices against the legislation.
The bill guts environmental protections without consultation with Aboriginal groups, it brings changes to the Indian Act and impacts treaty rights without any consultation, and it subverts democracy by folding a variety of legislation in a budget implementation bill without so much as a fair airing in the House of Commons on any of them.
Silence on the federal Conservative tactics to push the legislation forward, said the original organizers of the Idle No More movement, was to acquiesce. If you’re silent, you consent, they said.
Sam started talking with some friends about the movement and on the eve of mass rallies planned across the country, including a gathering on the steps of the Parliament buildings, Sam, and Anne Robinson, Nitanis Desjarlais, and Cindy Keitlah, decided to organize a rally of their own. At about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, they shared their plans with others on facebook. Those interested in attending an Idle No More peaceful protest at Harbour Quay at 11 a.m. Dec. 21 were encouraged to bring their drums and their signs. About 60 people honored their invitation.
Photos at: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/idle-no-more-port-alberni-dec-21-11-am-1215-am-harbour-quay
“This is what we needed to do,” said Sam, “to tell [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper that C-45 goes against treaty.” She said people came together to fight for the next generations.
Desjarlais, for her part, had just arrived in Port to pick up firewood for her little cabin in the bush. She and her husband John Rampanen have taken their children to raise them in the remote Seitcher Bay without all the modern conveniences, including access to Internet.
When she checked her facebook page, she saw the waves of Idle No More protests cropping up in communities from coast to coast to coast, and she was inspired. While Desjarlais has lived for many years on the West Coast, she is Cree, originally from Fort McMurray First Nation in Treaty 8 territory. She has seen the damage wrought by big industry such as oil and gas development. She’s afraid for the environment and particularly the waters. She was excited to become involved in the “in your face” movement that dares to fight the erosion of inherent rights. Desjarlais even compared the movement to the Arab Spring, a series of protests that began Dec. 18, 2010 which removed rulers from power in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen.
Desjarlais spoke passionately about the pristine environment of Canada’s West Coast, saying we can still drink the waters here, unlike in her home community smack dab in the middle of the oil sands.
“We are the last stronghold,” she said, of the waters, the oxygen of the world.
The inspiring thing for Anne Robinson is that Idle No More comes from grassroots people, who day-to-day live in difficult conditions. It’s grassroots people who are standing up to protect the land, not only for human children and the children yet unborn, but for the children of the trees, the four legged, and those in the air and the sea.
“This land is ours, and we have to protect it,” she told the gathering between drumming and singing and dancing. “Our agreement to look after our lands is not with any government,” she said. “It’s with the Creator.”
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Cliff Atleo and Vice President Ken Watts were on hand to support the gathering. Atleo had been in Ottawa at the Assembly of First Nations Chiefs Meeting Dec. 4 to 6 when the Idle No More movement erupted.
On Dec. 4, the chiefs spontaneously marched to Parliament Hill where Bill C-45 was swiftly moving through the House, pushed along by the majority Conservatives, despite valiant efforts by opposition parties to slow them down.
A number of chiefs, including Chief Wallace Fox (Saskatchewan), broke off from the main group and had an impromptu exchange outside Chamber doors with Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver. He insisted that government was consulting with First Nations on a wide variety of topics, and that the Conservatives took that obligation to consult very seriously.
Oliver was challenged by Fox, who asked, “Why is government policy and legislation always wanting us to surrender?” Oliver made a hasty retreat into the House, and the chiefs attempted to follow, only to be intercepted by security, with shoving and pushing briefly at chamber doors. The event was dubbed by media the “Scuffle on the Hill.”
It was then that the first Idle No More tweet was sent out on Twitter, and the social media revolution began. Rallies were organized for Dec. 10 in locations across Canada.
Though not a part of the Idle No More movement at the time, it was then that Ontario Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat said enough is enough and made the bold decision to go on a hunger strike until Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Queen, or her representative, took time to meet with her about treaty issues.
She had declared a state of emergency at this time last year when her people were faced with another winter living in teepees and shelters with no heat or running water. She said there were too many other communities suffering such indignities.
“I am willing to die for my people,” she said. As of this writing, Spence is ending her second week without food, living off water and fish broth. Leadership and grassroots citizens alike have urged Harper to respond.
“This is deadly serious,” said AFN National Chief Shawn Atleo.
“He [the Prime Minister] won’t talk to her,” NTC President Cliff Atleo told the group gathered at Harbour Quay. He said the rallies across the country were not going to end on that day.
“This is only the beginning,” he said.
Cliff Atleo said government’s treatment of First Nations is “like a cat playing with a little mouse…and we are not going to take it anymore.” He said this was just a start. There will be more. Another rally is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2013 in Port Alberni. Watch for information on the Ha-Shilth-Sa facebook page.
Indeed, the Idle No More movement gently overtook a meeting that same evening of a group in Port Alberni called Citizens for a Local Economy. Ellen Chambers had planned a solstice event to bring in a New Year and era with peace. She had invited Hupacasath sisters Brenda and Judith Sayers to speak.
Brenda and Chambers had been working together on opposing the Canada/China trade agreement, negotiated unilaterally by the Conservatives with no consultation from any other group; not the Opposition NDP, not the Liberals or the Green parties, and certainly not First Nations, despite the fact that the agreement would impact their territory and resources.
The event, however, soon turned to the Idle No More Movement, with Judith Sayers explaining the concerns of Aboriginal people to a roomful of non-Native citizens. Chambers was happy to host the discussion, she told Ha-Shilth-Sa. It began with a prayer for Chief Spence.
“Any of you who have fasted, you know how hard that is,” said Judith. She was thankful for the inspiration that Spence had sparked, and asked for a long life for the chief. Sayers also asked the Creator to touch the heart of Prime Minister Harper to agree to the meeting Spence is demanding.
“Today is a big day in Indian country,” Judith said, describing the peaceful demonstrations held across Canada and the unique ‘flash mobs’ of round dances that have occurred in shopping malls and on Canada’s streets which have brought greater attention to the movement in non-Aboriginal circles.
“People are taking up their drums. It’s the weapon of choice,” she said of the phenomenon.
Sayers was blunt about the Harper Conservative agenda. “Today we want to talk about peace, but we have an enemy in Ottawa.” She said Prime Minister’s Stephen Harper’s “god is money, and he is willing to run over everybody” to get it. “We as Indian people stood up and said enough is enough.”
“We don’t really want to go to war… we want to sit at the same table,” she said of the obligation of the federal government to consult, a right upheld by Canada’s Supreme Court in many decisions.
She worried, however, if Harper chose to ignore First Nations’ demands and Chief Spence were to die from hunger.
“No one can predict the backlash,” she said.
Sayers was encouraged by the empowerment of youth and women in the movement. She said each person has a role to play.
“Talk to people… spread the word.” People are picking up what they need to do… whatever is your issue, “get involved,” she said. “It’s a peaceful movement and it’s not going to end.”
Photos from the Ucluelet Junction event: http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/idle-no-more-ucluelet-junction-dec-21-photos-melody-charle-ha-shilth-sa
