More Thoughts on Idle No More

Does everyone realize that a reply to a comment can only be 4,096 characters total? Well I didn't know that since I'm still figuring out how all this blog stuff works, but I am learning all the time and will get there. 

Here is the link to the posting in reference in case you missed it the other day.

Some Thoughts on Idle No More

Occupy The Parliament Buildings's photo. - I really like this photo.

Last night I started off writing a very long reply to a comment, but then it wouldn't let me post it as it was too long. Just before I had discovered that I was thinking that I had gotten carried away on the reply and that it was turning into a new blog post. I got lost in the reply in trying to scroll up and down to see what I had already included and not. Then I thought that chances were that I'd said all that needed to be said at that point in response to the comment of R.J. Pare (sorry don't know how to make that accent-ague). So a decision was made for me... stop trying to make it a reply and change it into a new blog posting.


 Here is the culprit that started this extra work (totally kidding; I really enjoy getting comments):

 

r. j. paré  Commented on 20 January 2013 20:31 

I think the Idle No More movement has been very disingenuous. Originally focused on Chief's Spence's ongoing disagreement with the Gov and a grossly misrepresented bill C-45. When the general public began to see that Chief Spence's position and the conditions on her reserve were not the result of an evil government - they began to question Idle No More. When they examined the claims made by Idle No More, in regards Bill C-45, and discovered many exaggerations and misrepresentations they - doubted Idle No More - even more.

When they then took the time to see the aggressive and violent agitators in the movement they then realized that it has more in common with the recent history of First Nations violence [Oka & Caledonia for examples] than rights advocacy.

We can debate treaty rights and speak of various issues that need to be resolved - but once you use violence - you position becomes moot as society needs to be protected from such actions.

My Reply:

Hi R.J, Ty for leaving a comment.

I have not heard of any violence surrounding the INM events. Of course I do not have any MSM (Main Stream Media) in my house at this time, but I have been on and around the INM pages and have not heard of anything bad happening. Do you have some specific details about some problems that occurred?

 CENSORED NEWS: Whapmagoostui Youth Trekkers 'We are true Warriors'

By Matthew Mukash -Censored News

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

A special thank you to Matthew and the walkers from Censored News!

I did have some doubts about the genuineness of the INM movement at some moments surrounding Spence as well. Only because I didn't feel that she was supposed to be a leader of the movement, but somehow the media was trying to put her in that position. INM was just emerging at the same time as Spence declared her hunger strike, and as such, people idled even less to get by her side and support her cause. Thereby, the media mistakenly jumped to it's assumptions that she was the movement's leader. The Spence/Attawapiskat issues are more complicated than what was being said at that time.

The INM Movement is bigger than Spence and Attawapiskat. It is gathering momentum every day it seems and is about all societal issues that are affecting all Canadians (especially First Nations), and it is about time that we all band together and do something about it. This ties into the Occupy Movement as well. We are all the 99%. There are more of us than them, and I believe that they might just be getting worried about now. Because we can hit them in the pocketbook, which is all they seem to care about.

However, it sounds like you were listening to some disingenuous smears against Spence that was orchestrated by the CPC gov't and MSM to try and diffuse the movement. Touche to them.

The Oka crisis, as far as I can remember (I was fairly young at the time and not very politically aware) was about a land grab by some developers that wanted to build a golf course on lands that were not negotiated out of a treaty territory (sorry if I am not that accurate on this, as I did not take the time to look it up at this time; just going by what I remember). Ok, so I went and looked up the year lol - 1990 - I was 25 and struggling with my own crises in BC. I had never been that involved in politics nor Quebec at that time (was just starting to learn about vicious office politics tho), but I watched the news every evening. By looking at your pic, I'm guessing you are even a bit younger than me? So you probably don't remember that much first hand either?

Anyway, in one of my links in the article above, Chelsea Vowel, was the best info that I could find about the misinformation that was smeared about Spence. Maybe you didn't take the time to take it all in - it is a very long article, but I found interesting and informative and worth the read.

It does basically dispel the inflated figures that were broadcast and supposedly mismanaged. The $90 million figure is over the course of several years and is not all gov't money... etc, please read the article; that is why I included the link. I have already read it in it's entirety and don't want to repeat its relevant points again all here. I'm just trying to respond the best I can to your comment.

Have you considered what type of blatant spending that goes on in the Canadian gov't? What they may or not be able to say about any First Nations spending, would pale in comparison to the expense accounts of MPs. Remember Bev Oda, with the limo rides (even though there was a free shuttle available) and $15 glasses of orange juice? I have the dishonour of living in John Duncan's constituency. Try that link to see what I think of him.

Jessica Ernst demonstrating flammable water

I hope to be here to educate and I am very pleased that I have had a very good audience for this article and yesterday's post about Jessica Ernst's struggle with Encana over fracking. TY all - I doubled my views from the last 3 months in the last 3 days. Yippee; I am thankful for the interest/support ;) However, I had less visits to the fracking issue which is showing promise and some sanity from some jurisdictions. More info on the Ernst case can be found at http://www.ernstversusencana.ca/. New York State just instituted a moratorium on fracking.

Wheatland County, Alberta - Councillors Call for Fracking Halt Until Protective Methods are Developed

Back to you R.J., please assess the media influences you see with a grain of salt, gather information from various sources, and then piece it all together for yourself and come up with a truth. Along the way, your truth may be challenged.... be open to that, you never know what you may learn and need to change your version of your truth if it is warranted.

pic via Sandy Sjollema

You look Canadian, and we need everyone's support (all Canadians, Indians, Indigenous, brown, black, red, yellow, whoever, and their dog). Anyone who gives a crap about this earth and the preservation of our planet and environment in which we all need to survive (including the dogs and all other critters great and small); water, air, land.

May I recommend that you look a little more into what is involved and bundled up in Bill C45, be critical of every media input, and delve a little more into the issues that have faced Canadian First Nations (again - some links above), especially - Feature: The Canadian Holocaust: Hidden No Longer - KevinAnnett - Unrepentant (YouTube link).

More Bill C45 Protest

Excerpt:

The nationwide movement has united First Nations to talk about the issues facing their people and the passing of federal Bill C-45. First Nations have voiced concern with changes made in the bill, such as the removing of federal protection for several lakes and rivers and the management of reserve lands.

Then again, maybe you are a troll, but my key-strokes are not wasted as long as someone else reads this and takes a deeper look into the issues and informs themselves. Bill C-45 is a complex bundle of legislation that touches on all kinds of elements of Canadian values that should not be included in a "Budget" Bill as far as I'm concerned. It is a deliberate attempt by the CPC gov't to try and slip injustices by Canadians without them paying attention. Well, guess what? I think he failed at that. Our Mr. Dictator Harper has been caught trying to put one over on us.

The blatant continual degradation of democratic procedure, has stirred up a hornet's nest that he may or not have been expecting. Maybe he expected to just pass these things through without anyone noticing? A big bundle of crap, that no one would want to try and decipher? His mistake though was just that - Enbridge, FIPA, CNOOC, Budget Bill 5, 10 36, 45, HUT - caught all of our attentions. He just made the biggest mistake of his career; shot himself in the foot so they say. Previous Post - Canada Has Lost its Democracy

P.S. (I knew I had a PS) I am not native per se, but I believe in Mother earth and that is all that is needed right now. She is screaming out... can you hear her?

Check this out:
Same Thing is Going on in the UK
What is going on with all of our world leaders? Have they all lost their minds? Do you really think they can get away with this crap? It's almost like they are wanting us to challenge them on their actions.

And in Australia:
Lost the link to what I saw on there. Will post it later if I find it again.

Anyway, the point is that the INM movement is going viral and global. This is going to be undeniable to all leaders in all countries if they don't smarten up and stop the injustices being done to people Indigenous and otherwise, all over the world.

Some Thoughts on Idle No More

Well, I said I would create a new post about the Idle No More movement.

Occupy The Parliament Buildings's photo.

In response to some of the backlash against Chief Spence, here is a good article in her defense:
Chelsea Vowel - Tells Where the Attawapiskat Money Went

Here is a great documentary that talks about the history of when settlers first arrived and how the native were displaced, moved, restricted, and how some treaties came about. This specifically covers what happened and it still happening in Ontario and Quebec.

***NFB - INVISIBLE NATION - full feature*** (93 mins.) - This is a "Must Watch". This should be taught in all schools.

The Invisible Nation by Richard Desjardins & by Robert Monderie, National Film Board of Canada

Invisible Nation - Trailer  (1:30 min)

Synopsis: Online release: November 30, 2012 The Algonquin once lived in harmony with the vast territory they occupied. This balance was upset when the Europeans arrived in the 16th century. Gradually, their Aboriginal traditions were undermined and their natural resources plundered. Today, barely 9,000 Algonquin are left. They live in about 10 communities, often enduring abject poverty and human rights abuses. These Aboriginal people are suffering the threat to their very existence in silence. Richard Desjardins and Robert Monderie have decided to sound the alarm before it's too late.

Every Canadian should watch this before they post negative or racist comments on articles on the subject. If you can watch this and still say that the First Nations don't deserve anything more than they already have, there is something very wrong with you.

And then there is this recent example of the treatment of a First Nations people in Manitoba. Shame on the Provincial government that flooded their reserve and then doesn't properly relocate them. Shame on the Feds for not stepping in either. You have to read/watch this and click HERE to go to Causes and sign the petition.

Displaced Lake St. Martin First Nation

Here is some more background information about the injustices done by the Canadian Government by trying to strip First Nations of their culture, and the Catholic Church for allowing cruelty to be perpetrated on these poor scared children. People need to be aware of what has happened before they should dare criticize Native people:
Feature: The Canadian Holocaust: Hidden No Longer - Kevin Annett - Unrepentant

Some more great wisdom:
The Old Mans Journal - A Call For Unity the Indigenous Spring of 2013 to Protect the Earth and Its People

There is so much out there on this subject, I'm sure there are many more good links, but I have to put a limit on it at this point... Now for my own words:

(originally posted on Facebook "Idle No More - Official" page on January 12th)
Here's my take as of now..... It seems that things are getting a little muddled and the mainstream media loves to pick up on any weakness. I thought/believed/hoped that this movement was concentrating on Harper's enacting bills that affect EVERYONE (all Canadians). In particular the gutting of environmental regulations, selling our resources to China, and the just all out exploitation of all resources, no matter what the environmental damage.

Now it seems to be getting confused with chiefs, and the hunger strike, meetings, etc. Yes, I realize that this is a Native driven movement, but it can't become "Native" against "White". What I want to see and what I believe will help everyone along is for this movement to be inclusive of all Canadians. As all Canadians respect clean air, land, and water. We all want wild spaces left wild and not contaminated. Spaces that support food/subsistence hunting and gathering.

What my hope was that through treaty rights and Indian Act laws, the First Nations would have a legal leg to stand on to challenge Harper on all these bills and regulations that he is making changes to without consultation with First Nations, which I believe is required.

What we all want is for Harper to back up and to be able to force him to reconsider what he is doing, because he is pissing EVERYONE off!!! All Canadians will back this movement as long as it is clear what we are really fighting for. The movement will lose support if it becomes all about renegotiating treaty rights and funding and all the issues that the government has done wrong. There is already an amazing amount of negative commenting that I have seen on some mainstream media articles (Ottawa Citizen, National Post). We should all know that people have been taught all those negative stereotypes about natives. That is going to take something special to get past for the majority of con supporters and urban dwellers.

The treaty rights issue is important but it is also HUGE. It can't be dealt with quickly and the protests will die out before anything could possibly be changed. That way Harper will win, if it all dies out quietly. What we need is to concentrate on one battle at a time, starting with the highest priority, and something that can be attainable and measurable as a win. 

I believe that that fight needs to be the issue of unbridled exploitation of the oil and gas development without regard for the environment. PERIOD. Let's start there because it deals directly with the contamination and use of treaty territories without consultation, which shouldn't be allowed. And it stands to be the most harmful and irreversible issue (to me anyway) that is the biggest threat to all Canadians and especially to the health of all nations in the north. Most Canadians also are now aware of the FIPA issue and CNOOC deals, and do not want to sell out our National resources to China.

I believe if we concentrate on the environmental oil and gas issues, we will have the support of millions of Canadians, no matter what colour they are. And that they will all stand behind the Native leaders if they have the intention of taking the Harper government to task in COURT on the issues that the newly rammed through Bills infringe on.

Care needs to be taken as to not cause any undo hardships on working Canadians. They need to get to work freely. Blockading access for regular-working-stiff/slave Canadian's freedom of movement is not the way to go. It will only create backlash attitudes in those that you are trying to win over.


Now this is what I have wanted to see and what I have been advocating:

Kamloops News - Canadians Urged To Fight Omnibus Bill

From left, Shane Camille, Joe Meldrum and Randy Sam perform drum songs before the start of Friday's march through downtown Kamloops.

Excerpt:

Organizers of Friday’s rally repeatedly stressed that Idle No More is an inclusive movement, not confined to aboriginal issues. All Canadians need to understand the implications of environmental protections weakened by bills C-35 and C-45, the omnibus legislation passed in December.

“We’re being very cognizant of the fact that we have a lot of non-aboriginal allies,” said Lenora Starr, a march organizer.

Idle No More is all about making people understand the impact of the new legislation, she told the rally.

“We’re just really thankful that aboriginal people have the constitutional right to be able to challenge this legislation,” said Anita Strong, who joined the march. “The rest of us don’t have that.”

“There should be 5,000 people here, not 50,” said another non-aboriginal who didn’t want to give her name. “What they’re doing to Canada is appalling and unforgivable.”

The Mikisew Cree Nation has declared its intention to bring a constitutional challenge against Bill C-45, Good said. It would take 10 years to fight the case to the Supreme Court of Canada, but if the litigants can demonstrate that the legislation could cause irreparable harm that money could not mitigate, they could obtain a court injunction against the legislation as an interim measure.

“I think it should be a groundswell of Canadian efforts to repeal the act,” Good said. “My hope that the entire bill will be repealed and that, in the interest of democracy, it can be unbundled and Canadians can understand what it means.”

Ok, so let's go. If there is legal standpoint to get an injunction, then we can at least delay the destruction of the lands for as long as we can drag it out for; the courts seem to allow those stall tactics. Ten years, ok. That will cost the government a few billion in tax revenues - billions more in lost profit to the oil and gas companies. In order to get their attention, it has to cost them money, as that is the only thing they hold dear.

All this talk about high level meetings and such just slows the process of protecting the lands, and gives Harper and Big Oil the idea that all they have to do is negotiate a bigger pay off to the native leaders. If they absolutely want to destroy and rape all the lands and water, then you need to hold out for a really big pay out so that you can move to where there is clean water (that might be an impossible challenge in itself). I do not recommend allowing your leaders the idea of biting at the golden carrot. It is a sell out to everything you hold dear and everything that other Canadians hold dear (at least most of us). To sell out would be to give up on the territories and would be the end of the natural world of the north. It would also be the selling out of our last hope to stave off the gluttonous big oil companies and the Harper pigs.

Spreecast - Idle No More - Where Do We Go From Here - Part 1

Via Geoffrey Rankin

There are 3 parts to this presentation. You will find the other 2 at the link for Part 1. The Spreecast went down a few times during the broadcast, but it seams together without missing anything when you watch all 3 parts. Highly recommended. This was a great, spirited, informative, inspirational get together at UVIC on the evening of January 16th. Wait until they finally swing the camera around and so you the standing room only, and out into the hallway crowd that attended. It was awesome!!

Nathan Cullen - Describes What the Cons Consider Consultation
A quick 1:30 clip of Nathan Cullen, NDP, Leader of the House on December 5, 2012. His constituency includes the Central and Northern Coast including Kitimat where the pipeline is proposed to go to.

Please Click Here to Vote Up/Recommend on Progressive Bloggers

Continued.... 
In response to the comment by R.J. Pare below, I expanded on this posting with another post.
More Thoughts on Idle No More Click to go there.

Hey it's Party Time - We have a Harper Anniversary to Celebrate!

Guess what today is!! (or was for you in the east) ....

Would you believe that they have the nerve to ask for a donation of $7 or more in order to help them "keep Canada's economy on track"; what's wrong Harper?... have you already spent all the budget on yours and your buddy's lavish travel, zillion $ living out and 2nd home renovation allowance, and $100 breakfast expenses? Click here if you don't believe me that they have that kind of gall; they made a special page to celebrate their 7 years at the trough.

I just keep finding more and more crap on these guys with special attention to my favourite MP - Mr. John Duncan who is in the thick of things as the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development!

At this ATPN link you will find some of his latest performances (dance puppet dance). ATPN.ca-minister-john-duncan. A couple of these announcements were made on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. I believe that these monies come out of the Western Economic Diversification Fund that was set up and funded many years ago and thereby, has already been accounted for and the larger fund earns interest each year in order to fund more projects. He wants to make you believe that they pulled out the cheque-book and provided new money for these projects. 

The truth is that organizations, community groups, etc. apply for these funds from a pool of allocated money each year. They go through an application and approval process that measures all types of means, and usually requires 1/3-1/3-1/3 funding. This means that 33.33% usually comes from the community's coffers, 33.33% comes from the provincial tax payers, and 33.33% + the penny comes from federal tax payers.

You will see his generic statement made in the various locations at the different announcements:

“Our Government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity in our communities,” said the Honourable John Duncan. “By improving facilities such as this, we are helping to boost economic activity and maintain a high quality of life for Canadians.”

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________________________________________________

In case you missed it:

Originally posted on November 1, 2012

OK - So I looked up this guy whose smiley face has been in my local paper.... Well, well, well, very interesting when you go to his web site that is on the business card sized ad in the paper; johnduncanmp.com, it does NOT obviously display his party affiliation; what's wrong John Duncan, not proud of being a CONSERVATIVE at this point?.

On closer inspection, he must be a Conservative Party member. How a Conservative won a seat on Vancouver Island is beyond me; must have been due to vote splitting with NDP/Liberals/Green. I deduce that he is a Conservative by this statement on his web page:

"In 2008, John became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and Northern Development.  In August 2010, he was appointed Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. After winning the 2011 election he continued his appointment as Minister but under the new title of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development."

Follow me here... he is currently the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development !!! Wouldn't that be the most closely related Minister to what we are dealing with here on Vancouver Island and in all of BC and especially in the North in terms of oil sands and pipelines and the effect on First Nations??? And somehow he is ignoring the out-speaking of First Nations peoples. Oh but they got a new Cancer Hospital built in the North for them (Prince George); that outta fix that eh? Go figure, I guess we should be expecting a growth of cancer rates of peoples in the North that are drinking the water and breathing the air downstream/downwind of the tar sands.

This is beyond reason. I have not heard a peep from this guy on my news, yet he is my MP, and should be directly involved in what Harper is putting through legislatively right now. I might have been able to cut him some slack if he was an NDP, Liberal, or Green Party member MP. But his action and non-communication to his constituents (kowtowing Harper's line) is unacceptable. Any robo-calls, over-budget campaign $, or polling station shenanigans with this guy???

I am calling you out Mr. (Hon.?; sorry I can't call you honourable) John Duncan. Please explain to us Canadians what the hell you CONSERVATIVES are up to. Actually, too late, I don't care what your damage control (BS spin) explanation is at this point because it is obvious to me that you have either:

     a)  Dropped the ball by being incompetent or,

     b)  You are corrupt and have been paid off or,

     c)  You kowtow (get used to the Chinese expressions) to Harper or,

     d)  All of the Above.

TAKE YOUR PICK - I am going with d) All of the Above.

How much did you get paid off? You definitely do not have the interests of your constituents at heart or even in your mind. Did you not see the protest in Victoria (however misplaced that it was)? That same and bigger protest will be coming to your home and Ottawa.

You, Mr. John Duncan are some special type of coward. I dare you to come back to your riding and hold a rally. Why are rallies only held during election time and then you go off and perform work that you are not mandated to do. You must have been misleading (directly or by ommission) your constituents over a year ago, because there is no way in hell that you would have been elected on this type of platform that has emerged from your leader. As a CABINET MINISTER, you CANNOT convince me that you DID NOT know what Harper's agenda was or the direction it was heading at election time in 2011.

As far as I'm concerned, the entire Conservative Party lied to and misled all constituents across the country, along with some party members having participated in questionable and fraudulent election practices. What more does it take for us Canadians to recall you and your cohorts and demand a new election or at least a referendum on these foreign ownership and treaty issues.

Signed One of Your (involuntary) Constituents.

Oh and I just keep finding more and more good stuff; taken from:

Reference: http://www.wawataynews.ca

 .... 

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Canada (AANDC) Minister John Duncan defended the bill before the committee on Oct. 15.

He said Bill C-27 will help build stronger, more self-sufficient First Nation communities, as it will allow community residents to view how band council funds are spent by their elected officials.

“Democracy depends on citizens being able to call their elected leaders to account to ensure they represent the community’s best interests,” Duncan said. “This would ensure that First Nations community members have the necessary information to make informed decisions about their governments.”

Some First Nation leaders have spoken out against the bill, calling it “paternalistic.”...

Again - worth repeating YOUR WORDS:

“Democracy depends on citizens being able to call their elected leaders to account to ensure they represent the community’s best interests,”... 

Bill C-27 is about making public the salaries of First Nations Officials, but Mr. Duncan's words must have meaning and should apply to himself and ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS. I am calling on you, Mr. Duncan, to ACCOUNT for your actions or lack thereof, whichever the case may be.