Kamloops Global Day of Action

Idle No More and CommonCauses held an information session at the Smorgasbord Deli downtown Kamloops between 6 and 8 p.m. on the Jan 28's Global Day of Action.  

Idle No More declared solidarity with CommonCauses and other labour groups in a press release on 28 January, 2013.

Anita Strong - Common Causes
Michelle Good - Idle No More

The joint information session chaired by Anita Strong and Michelle Good was attended by approximately 50 people.  

This was the first event for Common Causes Kamloops, said organizer Anita Strong.  Common Causes is an umbrella group providing an united front for other social causes.

"We believe that coordinated action is needed to take a strong stand against this agenda that is changing society in critical areas such as the economy, the environment, labour rights, health care, food safety, education, social programs, culture, civil liberties, peace, and poverty."  
from CommonCauses.ca

Information Session at Smorgasbord Deli, Kamloops.

Michelle Good a local lawyer and organizer for Idle No More in Kamloops reviewed Idle No More's Official Manifesto that was released on 21 January, 2013.  

Idle No More's Manifesto covers four main points.

1. Treaties are made nation to nation between the Crown and First Nations and cannot be broken;

2. Resource extraction has made Canada one of the Wealthiest countries in the world at the expense of the environment;

3. The Federal government is passing laws which allow reserve lands to be sold for the purpose of resource extraction and that this infringes on First Nations Sovereignty; and

4. A stated belief in healthy communities.

Most of the information session was dedicated to dialogue and questions from people in attendance with Strong and Good.  

Issues discussed:

Bill C-45 and C-38 the Omnibus bills.  Concerns were raised about how the bills were not subjected to proper political debate before being passed into law.

The Mikisew Cree First Nations Legal Challenge against Bill C-45.

How mainstream media is presenting current issues and how people can get unfiltered news.

The role of social media in organizing events.  Social Media allows for greater communication but can leave older people out who are not computer savvy.

Future events:

1. A jointly held speakers series, proposed to start on 22nd March, 2013 at the same time as the UN's World Water Day.

2. Council of Canadians will be having a political forum at the Kamloops Farmers Market on the 27th April, 2013.

The information session was one of two events on 28 January.

A flash mob was held at the Interior Savings Centre during the Blazers Aboriginal Night at the same time drawing about 30 to 40 people according to Lenora Starr a local Idle No More organizer who attended the information session after the flash mob.

Flashmob and Round Dance at TRU as Idle No More participates in the Global Day of Action a few days early.

Natives, non-native, teachers and students came together at Idle No More at Thompson Rivers University today at 12:30 in front of the Campus Activity Centre.

 Today's flashmob and roundance was organized by Jolene Michel, Nicole Kahoose, Rhoda Tom Shania West and Michelle Ikwumonu.

 The event attracted over a hundred participants who participated in the round dancing and listened to various speakers, including Elders, Professors, Students, Student Union representatives and guests..

 

After each speaker drummers in the center of the circle sang and participants danced around them.  One of the last songs was a woman's song.  The women present stood in the center of the circle and sang while the men stood at the outside to show their support for them.

 

The purpose of Idle No More TRU is to bring awareness of the issues surrounding Bill C-45 to campus. And while not everyone took part in the event, Idle No More made its presence felt at TRU.

Open letter from Fort Mcmurray RCMP to Residents of Wood Buffalo

RCMP of Wood Buffalo Detachment, Chief of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Acting Fire Chief jointly signed and sent an open letter to the residences of the Wood Buffalo Municipal Region.  Asking that residence balance freedom of expression be balanced with public safety.
This letter comes after Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation threatened to blockade highway 63 if the omnibus bill C-45 was not rescinded. Chief Allan Adam's statement was reported in a CBC story, Idle No More Protests held across Canada on 11 Jan, 2013.

"Maintaining a measured approach is a challenge, particularly in an environment which is emotionally charged, but we cannot allow the actions of one or more individuals to endanger the health and safety of other citizens." Open Letter to Our Community, from RCMP, Chief of Mikisew and Acting Fire Chief.

Federal Liberal's bid to align with grassroot movements

The Federal Liberal party in a bid to attract voters and support are promoting a more inclusive method of voting for the next leader of the Liberal party as presented by Justin Trudeau.

On their website they say voting for the next Liberal leader will be "as easy as 1-2-3. Sign up. Register and Vote." This will be different than past leadership elections where only standing party members are able to vote for the leader of a political party. 

Also, the Federal Liberal party has posted on their website several petitions which address some of the issues brought up by the Idle No More movement.

One, is Tell Harper: No more hiding behind omnibus bills.

Another is, Harper is ending environmental protection.

As well as many others petitions which can be viewed on the Federal Liberal website.

It is also noteworthy to remember that Jean Chretien's Liberal government introduced omnibus bill C-17 in 1994.  A bill that was criticized by then MP Stephen Harper as undemocratic. Now the Liberal party has taken the stance that omnibus bills are contrary to the democratic process.  Is this the stance of a party removed from the government and official opposition who are trying to regain their foothold in Parliament?  We will have to wait until the Liberals form the next government to see if they intend to follow through with their current political assertions.


Note: I am not endorsing the Liberal party or their petitions.

Justin Trudeau at Thompson Rivers University gives his opinion of Idle No More

Justin Trudeau came to Thompson Rivers University today to promote his intention to run for the leadership of the Federal Liberal party.  He stopped this morning to talk to Shelley Joyce of CBC's Daybreak.
Trudeau arrived at Thompson Rivers University just before 6 Pm and the hall was packed, standing room only as Trudeau addressed the crowd.
His speech was similar to most campaign speeches filled with promises to help a suffering and cynical middle class that is distrustful of the current government. 
The one notable point that Trudeau made was that beginning this Spring the Federal Liberal party will be allowing anyone who is not affiliated with another Federal political party to vote for the leader of the Federal Liberal party.

The following is a transcription and audio from the question period following Mr. Trudeau's speech on the question of Idle No More.

WOMAN:  My question is on Idle No More.[murmuring]  So with Aboriginal issues becoming more on the Canadian conscience the next election it might actually finally be a hot topic.  What are the sort of plans you have if your government comes to power?

TRUDEAU: Well, first of all when people look at.  A lot of people, politicians look at a movement like Idle No More they look at it as a problem.  I'm looking at it as an extraordinary opportunity.  The fact that we have so many grassroots First Nations, Metis, Aboriginal and Inuit activists coming together and saying you know what it's time to get something done.  It's time we fulfill those promises that have been made time and time again and not fulfilled.  It's time we started working together, especially since like I say the largest percentage of young people in this country are in our aboriginal communities.  We need to get this right not just because of a moral imperative that we should feel shamed for.  What we have done in the past as a country which we absolutely should but because if we want to get our future right we're going to need these young people and whats more we're going to need the solutions and values that come from the traditions that have successfully thrived on this land for millennial.  The idea of thinking long term, the idea of caring for the land that in return cares for us.  The idea that we do not inherit the land from our parents but that we borrow it from our grandchildren. [applause] These are the things we need to start thinking about. [applause]... that means starting a relationship based on respect and partnership and shared goals that is the starting point. That's where we go from here.  Thank you.

Kamloops Daily News published a story on Trudeau's visit to Kamloops.  However, leaves out Trudeau's comments about Idle No More.

Rick Mercer on the Omnibus bill

The Omnibus bill, C-45 the Jobs and Growth Act is the Finance bill often referred to by the Idle No More movement (IDM).

But this is not the first time that it has been brought up.  Rick Mercer commented on this bill and why it is a concern to Canadians and the democratic process.  Mercer mentions that the Prime Minster argued against Omnibus style bills in 1994. 

The Honorable Joseph A Day from the Senate reiterates the comments made by Mercer in the Canadian senate during the second reading of the Omnibus bill.

Hon. Joseph A. Day:

"However, honourable senators, in order for the omnibus bill to move through quickly, governments in the past have decided that, "Well, there are only a few of them initially, so, okay, we will just tie it in with finance. We know that budget implementation and finance have to be moved through quickly, so we can just tie these other ones in there. They will not get a full hearing as a result, and they will move them through nice and quickly."
That is how this began. It was something that maybe innocently began when there were not enough to have a standalone omnibus bill. However, honourable senators, this has grown into something very serious. I have spoken on this in the past, and many others have, as well." from the Liberal Senate Forum

I will examine how it affects First Nations in later posts.

Rick Mercer can give you his opinion himself. 

A pretty good opinion of what Idle No More is about

Here is a link to opinion by Dana Wensley from GuelphMercury.com.
 
It gives a fair overview of the Idle No More movement and some of the issues surrounding it.

there-s-lots-of-confusion-about-bill-c-45-and-the-idle-no-more-movementThere’s lots of confusion about Bill C-45 and the Idle No More movement

Start date

This Blog will be going live beginning on the 23rd Jan 2013.