Indian Act Chiefs and Idle No More: Snakes in the Grassroots?

by Zig Zag, Warrior Publications, Dec. 14, 2012

“Grand Chief” Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Idle No More Rally in Winnipeg, Dec. 10, 2012.

According to the accounts of Idle No More (INM) organizers, the mobilization began in Saskatchewan when four women met and decided to organize workshops outlining what Bill C-45 was, and the threats it presented to Indigenous peoples and lands. From this humble beginning, it transformed into a national day of action, almost entirely through social media. Or so goes the dominant narrative.

But is this movement really grassroots?

Mohawk Nation News: IDLE NO MORE Editorial

Mohawk Nation News, December 13, 2012

MNN.  Dec. 12, 2012.  The Assembly of First Nations AFN and Iroquois Caucus [IC] merged their corporations on December 4^th 2012. The Iroquois Caucus represents the band councils on the Mohawk communities in Canada, not the legitimate Mohawk people or Iroquois Confederacy.  They take credit for our grassroots activism.  In fact they worked behind the scenes to help their benefactors, the Canadian government, to try to silence us and continue the illusion of freedom.  

Idle No More? Speak for Yourself…

Analysis of Idle No More Mobilization

by Zig Zag, Warrior Publications, Dec. 12, 2012

On Dec. 10, 2012, several thousand Native peoples rallied across Canada as part of a national day of action dubbed “Idle No More” (INM). The protests targeted Bill C-45 and the policies of the ruling Conservative Party. In Edmonton, as many as 1,500 turned out, one of the largest. A reported 400 people attended in Calgary and Winnipeg, with anywhere from 100 to 300 participating in Toronto, Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, and Vancouver.

Indian Act Chiefs Act Up in Ottawa

First Nations chiefs demand to be heard

Try to force their way into the House

Indian Act chiefs attempt to enter House of Commons in Ottawa (for 30 seconds…)

By: Mia Rabson, Winnipeg Free Press, Dec. 5, 2012

OTTAWA — Chiefs from Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan tried to force their way onto the floor of the House of Commons on Tuesday, demanding a chance to be heard by the government.

Some mild pushing and shoving occurred as security guards stepped up to block access to the chamber, and after about 30 seconds, the chiefs backed down.

Atleo accused of too-cozy partnership with Harper in AFN election

By Teresa Smith, Postmedia News June 24, 2012

The powerful group that represents Canada’s First Nations will elect a new leader next month, but with eight people vying for the job, the choice between the status quo and a radical change is bound to be a contentious one.

Day of Action, or Dead on Arrival?

AFN DOA 2007: Day of Action, or Dead on Arrival?

By Warrior Publications, Warrior, No.3, Summer 2007

“Act when it is beneficial, desist when it is not.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has called for a ‘National Day of Action’ to occur on June 29, 2007. The purpose of this is to pressure the federal government into providing more funding for Native programs & services. Specifically, it is in response to the recent federal budget, which did not allocate enough funding for Native peoples, according to the AFN.

AFN kept “oil pipelines” resolution from vote over “terrorism” concerns: Manitoba chief

Dec. 12, 2011 by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News

A resolution from Manitoba chiefs calling for “action on oil pipelines” was kept from a vote during the special chiefs assembly in Ottawa last week because a lawyer for the Assembly of First Nations determined it could be interpreted as “terrorism,” according to the chief who proposed the resolution.

RESIST THE ATLEO/HARPER WHITE PAPER!!

FOUR DAYS OF ACTION IN FALL 2011

by Indigenous Anticapitalist

JULY 14TH 2011

Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo tries to convince First Nations chiefs to”support his blueprint for radically altering, structurally and politically, the relationship between First Nations and the federal government” by meeting with Stephen Harper. As Indigenous people whose lives are directly threatened by the Atleo/Harper agenda, we resist this subversive attack on our land and our communities, and this attempt to sell out our resistance.

AFN’s H20-Indian Act Corruption Scandal

“Days before Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo announced in Winnipeg he would be pushing to abolish the Indian Act, he received a telephone call from Bruce Carson, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former aide and friend.
In the phone call, Carson said he knew of a water company with a plan to clean dirty water on First Nations reserves and he wanted to meet with Atleo at the end of July.”

Resist the Assimilation of First Nations

WarriorPublications.wordpress.com

Against the Assembly of First Nations

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) was first established in 1980 in Ottawa. It claims to be the national representative of Indigenous peoples across Canada, one that fights for our title & rights. In reality, it is a state-funded organization comprised of Indian Act band council chiefs, who act as neo-colonial agents in the interests of government & corporations.

In order to understand the role of organizations such as the AFN & band councils, we need to know our history & be aware of current government strategies in regards to Indigenous peoples.