Canada's First Nations protest heralds a new alliance

[marmar]

(Guardian UK) Canada's placid winter surface has been broken by unprecedented protests by its aboriginal peoples. In just a few weeks, a small campaign launched against the Conservative government's budget bill by four aboriginal women has expanded and transformed into a season of discontent: a cultural and political resurgence.

It has seen rallies in dozens of cities, a disruption of legislature, blockades of major highways, drumming flash mobs in malls, a flurry of Twitter activity under the hashtag #IdleNoMore and a hunger strike by Chief Theresa Spence, in a tepee minutes from Ottawa's parliament. Into her tenth day, Spence says she is "willing to die for her people" to get the prime minister, chiefs and Queen to discuss respect for historical treaties.

The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs John Duncan has dismissed the escalating protest movement, saying "that's social media, so we'll just have to see where that goes." He told international media that relations with First Nations are "very good". If only that were the truth. What remains unspeakable in mainstream politics in Canada was recently uttered, in a moment of rare candour, by former Prime Minister Paul Martin:

"We have never admitted to ourselves that we were, and still are, a colonial power."

The evidence – and source of the current anger and unrest – is hard to dispute. While Canada has the world's largest supply of fresh water, more than 100 aboriginal communities have tapwater so foul they are under continual boil alert (pdf). Aboriginal peoples constitute 3% of Canada's population; they make up 20% of its prisons' inmates. In the far north, the rate of tuberculosis is a stunning 137 times that of the rest of the country. And the suicide rate capital of the world? A small reserve in Ontario, where a group of school-age girls once signed a pact to collectively take their lives. ....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/20/canada-first-nations-new-alliance

[tama]

1. Dear colonialists

First Nations are not your enemy, they find strength in the power of forgiveness when you find strength to want to overcome your collective guilt and want to stop repeating your crimes against people and land. They are your friends and allies from whom you can learn a lot about democracy, community and living in balance with your environment.

May of the colonialists who wanted to escape horrors of Europe found true freedom and peace at heart by living with the natives, not in the colonies.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Search Twitter for #IdleNoMore to learn about First Nations awakening!

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23idlenomore&src=tyah

[applegrove]

3. This is wonderful news.