A powerful new force generated by aboriginal people has sparked rallies and demonstrations in numerous locations across Canada, including Powell River. Idle No More is a grassroots movement designed to educate Canadians about indigenous sovereignty and treaty rights.
It began during a discussion through social media among four women— Sylvia McAdam, Nina Wilson, Sheelah McLean and Jessica Gordon—about Bill C-45, the federal government’s omnibus budget bill. There are provisions in the legislation that reduced the number of federally protected waterways, brought in changes to the Indian Act on land designation, changed the definition of aboriginal fishery, and applied a new environmental assessment process to projects that would have been under old regulations.
The women were concerned about the bill and decided they should get off the couch and not be idle any more. They decided to call what they were doing Idle No More, which not only stuck, but grew through social media. It attracted wider attention in late November and early December with flash-mob-style round dances.
According to McAdam, the movement is about the need for the federal government to clarify issues with indigenous people, such as how it is going to extract resources without damaging the land or contaminating water, and creating a nation-to-nation relationship with first nations.
Overlapping the rise of Idle No More is a hunger strike by Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat, a northern Ontario community that was in the national spotlight in 2011 for a housing crisis. Spence started her hunger strike on December 10, 2012 in an effort to gain a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston.
While many participants in Idle No More events say Spence is an inspiration to them, she is not a leader of the movement. The founders say it is a grassroots movement with no leaders, but they do provide guidance.
While some first nations are planning blockades at border crossings and rail lines, the movement organizes peaceful events that are designed to educate Canadians. There is an international call to action planned with a protest at Parliament Hill as MPs return to Ottawa at the end of January.
Idle No More has brought many issues involving first nations communities to light and is generating discussions at all levels, among individuals as well as governments. With more rallies, demonstrations and other actions planned for this month, it’s up to individuals to learn more about the movement and understand the issues in order to make informed opinions.
