Sunday, January 6, 2013

Canadian Bridge Blockades: Canadians Indigenous are "Idle No More"


   by Kenny Brown

    Over the last few years we have seen protests and uprisings all across the globe. From the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street, from the EU Austerity Protests to the students in Canada. Now we are seeing a new protest stirring in the commonly silenced indigenous people of Canada. They are gathering behind a slogan "Idle No More", claiming multiple industries and the Canadian government are throwing them to the wind when it comes to promised profits and destroyed land. To put it in their own words here is an excerpt from the "Idle No More Manifesto" found on their Facebook page:

 "We contend that:
    Currently, this government is trying to pass many laws so that reserve lands can also be bought          and sold by big companies to get profit from resources. They are promising to share this time…Why would these promises be different from past promises? We will be left with nothing but poisoned water, land and air. This is an attempt to take away sovereignty and the inherent right to land and resources from First Nations peoples."

    The ongoing distrust of the Canadian government by the First Nations people and the "Idle No More" movement can be seen by recent actions. On Friday, January 4, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed to a meeting with representatives of the First Nations but yesterday, Saturday the 5th, the month old movement successfully created a blockade on the International Bridge in Cornwall, Ontario leading the police to shut it down. Other blockades were created across places like the main rail line between Toronto and Montreal. This blockade helped create havoc for passengers when it disrupted service for the Via Rail, affecting Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.

    It should be noted that one of the four "Idle No More" founders, Jessica Gordon, does not support the blockade method, citing her support for peaceful protest. Although she disagrees with this form of action it should be noted the attention being fostered by it. News networks all over the globe have been covering the blockades and bringing light to a commonly ignored minority.

    Their next major announced protests will occur on January 11th on what they are calling their "Global Day of Solidarity and Resurgence". We shall see how things play out over the next few days and weeks with this rather young grassroots movement and if they will have their questions answered and their problems justified. It is hard to tell these days what movements will be successful but I always have my fingers crossed for the well intentioned under dog.

If you want to learn more about the "Idle No More" movement you can check them out via the links below.
Facebook Page
"Idle No More" Main Site

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