Hundreds of Natives Across Canada Attend ‘Idle No More’ Rallies

Hundreds of First Nations, Métis, rally against Bill C-45

Natives rally at Vancouver Art Gallery as part of “Idle No More” protests, Dec. 10, 2012.

Linda Hoang, CTV Edmonton, Monday, Dec. 10, 2012

Hundreds of people in Edmonton joined countless more across the country on Monday for a rally in opposition of the federal government’s Bill C-45.

First Nations, Métis and supporters in Edmonton came together for an ‘Idle No More’ demonstration downtown Monday afternoon.

Police estimate more than 1,500 people attended the demonstration, which coincides with International Day for Human Rights.

Protesters say First Nations lands and treaty rights are being infringed upon through the government’s contentious omnibus budget bill.

“The reason we’re gathering as one nation is because the Government of Canada, Stephen Harper, has put through an omnibus bill that will affect the treaties and the ability for the people on the treaty territories to make decisions in regards to land, resources and minerals,” said Elder Taz Bouchier.

Bill C-45 was more than 400 pages long and, like its predecessors, made changes to a myriad of rules and regulations.

First Nations groups are concerned over changes to the Indian Act, some of which may affect the leasing of reserve lands and how decisions involving band territories are made. First Nations are also opposed to amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, which removed thousands of lakes and streams from federal protection under that law, something the Conservatives said would help remove red tape that held up projects along waterways.

Opposition parties argue that it removes environmental oversight of some of Canada’s most valued lakes and rivers.

“Bill C-45 specifically attacks the treaty statuses and treaty rights around lands in Canada and therefore we as a people have decided there needs to be mass movements across the nation, helping this government understand we are still here, the treaties are still alive and they need to be abided by,” Bouchier said.

Calgary, Alberta, Dec. 10, 2012.

A group of First Nations chiefs frustrated with what they say is a lack of consultation over measures in the bill attempted to get in the chamber of the House of Commons last week and had a brief confrontation with security staff.

Pam Palmater, chair of indigenous governance of Toronto’s Ryerson University told CTV’s Power Play last week that Prime Minister Stephen Harper specifically promised First Nations leaders that his government would not approve any unilateral changes to the Indian Act, but “he has broken that promise with at least eight pieces of legislation since.”

Palmater said aboriginal groups are considering “all options,” including seeking a court injunction.

Locally, protesters also voiced concerns over the way the amendments to the bill were presented, saying First Nations members were not properly consulted.

“He has had no consultation with the aboriginal community and that’s part of the discussion he needs to have with us as a people, with chiefs and treaty status people,” Bouchier said.

“For too long in this country there has been no consultation with the aboriginal community. We need to be consulted in every level of government.”

Monday’s rally and march in Edmonton included a pipe ceremony, singers and speakers.

Many of the demonstrators came from all across northern Alberta, and many included youth.

“I’m glad to see we have a lot of participation especially from the youth,” said demonstrator Orlando Alexis.

“They realize through talking to their families, the implications associated with what they’re (the government is) trying to do will affect not only them but their children and their children in the future.”

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dec. 10, 2012.

David Janvier came down from Cold Lake to participate in the rally.

“The omnibus bill they have is going to hurt our future generations,” Janiver said.

“We’ve always been sovereign to our land we will be sovereign to the end. We will continue to fight.”

In Calgary, hundreds gathered outside Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s constituency office to protest the bill.

Both Edmonton and Calgary’s rallies coincided with 13 others taking place across Canada.

First Nations members tell CTV News Monday’s rallies across the country were just the beginning.

“This is the first of many other gatherings we will have to combat what Stephen Harper is doing with his omnibus bills,” Bouchier said.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dec. 10, 2012.

http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/hundreds-of-first-nations-m%C3%A9tis-rally-against-bill-c-45-1.1073796

Idle No More rally draws 300 to Manitoba legislature

CBC News, Dec 10, 2012

First Nations across Canada are holding rallies to express opposition to proposed legislation by the federal government that they feel is a direct attack on aboriginal rights.

The national day of action and solidarity, called Idle No More, drew about 300 protestors to the Manitoba legislative grounds despite the bitter cold on Monday, the CBC’s Tiar Wilson reports.

Many held signs and flags in protest to bill C-45, the federal government’s omnibus budget bill, which proposes significant changes to the Indian Act, including changes to land management on reserves that make it easier for the federal government to control reserve land, rally organizers said.

The Idle No More movement emerged about four weeks ago in Saskatchewan as an effort to educate First Nations people on the multitude of legislation being put forward by the government.

People at the Winnipeg rally chanted “we have a voice” alongside traditional drummers and singers.

Organizers said the rally is also about a larger issue, that of the federal government’s habit of making changes to the Indian Act without consulting First Nations people beforehand.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/12/10/mb-idle-no-more-protest-legislature-manitoba.html

Protestors against Bill C-45 will ‘Idle’ no more

Rally in Saskatoon, Dec. 10, 2012.

By Jane Caulfield and Morgan Modjeski, Metro Saskatoon, Dec. 10, 2012

For hundreds of people from Saskatoon’s First Nations community opposing Bill C-45 is about supporting their basic human rights.

Participating in the national grassroots movement called Idle No More, protesters marched in peaceful opposition to the omnibus bill — which includes changes to the Indian Act — from the Rainbow Community Centre on 20th Street to MP Kelly Block’s office on 22nd Street Monday afternoon.

“I just want my unborn children … to have their treaty rights,” said Curtis Merasty, a 31-year-old from Sandy Bay. “We’ve had enough and we’re serious about our lives and our culture. It’s been lost, but it will be picked up and found again.”

Idle No More outlines a stance that Bill C-45 lacked proper consultation and infringes on the human rights of Canada’s indigenous peoples.

“Our Goal: To support the grassroots opposition to Stephen Harper’s blatant disregard for democracy, the environment, and the inherent and treaty rights of First Nations peoples.” the group writes on its Facebook event page.

Event organizer, Jessica Gordon said a bill C-45 is an attack on the aboriginal rights and called it “colonial legislation.”

Protester, Kara Sanderson, a 21-year-old nursing student at the University of Saskatchewan said there is a lot at stake for First Nations in Canada if the bill is passed.

“Not only our education, but our future generations education and just our rights as First Nations people,” said Sanderson. “I’m here take a stand, make a difference and hopefully we’re heard by the government and nothing changes and we still have the same rights that we have now.”

http://metronews.ca/news/saskatoon/472807/protestors-against-bill-c-45-will-idle-no-more/

For Immediate Release

FIRST NATIONS TO HOLD NATIONWIDE RALLIES MONDAY

First Nations To Rally to Express Opposition

To The Harper Government’s Attacks
on Aboriginal Rights

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 http://www.idlenomore.com and also on our Event Pages.

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For more information contact:

Jess Gordon                                                               Tanya Kappo

(306) 716- 2789                                                          (587) 986-3241

jessicagordonconsulting@gmail.com                         tmkappo@gmail.com

Twitter:  @jessicapgordon                                          Twitter:  @nehiyahswke

Idle No More website:

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