by Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive | Jan 11, 2013 7.00 PM EST #IdleNoMore’s show of people-power forced Prime Minister Stephen Harper to stay for entire five hours of meeting with First Nations leaders. More than five thousand #IdleNoMore protesters gathered in Ottawa today as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and First Nations leaders held a closed-door
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The Canadian Progressive: FBI “plot to identify and assassinate Occupy leaders”?
The FBI hatched a “plot to identify and assassinate Occupy leaders”? It’d seem so, according to the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund and civil liberties activists. Information obtained by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund via a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that the FBI: a) “collaborated with other federal agencies,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: For #IdleNoMore, support and prayer from Kobe, Japan (PHOTO)
From Kobe, Japan, an expression of support and solidarity for hunger striker Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence and the phenomenal #IdleNoMore grassroots movement for Aboriginal rights and sovereignty: This photo: Photo via Facebook And these words: Today , we gathered together to pray in Kobe Japan. We hope this prayer can reach to Chief Theresa
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Line 9: The Tar Sands Come to Ontario (VIDEO)
A must-watch. Line 9: The tar sands come to Ontario, expanding the Alberta tar sands operations, which are ravaging First Nations communities, resources & treaty rights. Video available on Vimeo RELATED: First Nation: Bill C-45 allows tar sands industry to destroy vital waterways and treaty rights Harper’s CNOOC/Nexen deal pushes Canada
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper government bills that enraged First Nations, Theresa Spence, and birthed #IdleNoMore
Yesterday, Idle No More, the grassroots movement for Aboriginal justice, flexed its muscle with peaceful blockages of bridges and border crossings across Canada. Dr. Pamela Palmater, an indigenous activist and chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University, says #IdleNoMore is pushing back at the aggressive assimilation agenda of the right-wing Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Netherlands Quakers & Mennonites Support Chief Spence and #IdleNoMore (PHOTO)
Netherlands Quakers & Mennonites sent their message of support and solidarity to hunger striker Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence and the phenomenal #IdleNoMore grassroots movement for Aboriginal rights and sovereignty: Photo via Facebook RELATED: Chief Spence says Harper government has encouraged “segregation” PETITION: British Crown Must Honour Canada-First Nations Treaties, Revoke Bill C-45,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Again, hunger-striking Chief Spence calls on PM Harper, Governor General to meet
For immediate release: January 4, 2013, Victoria Island, traditional territory of the Algonquian Peoples: As Chief Theresa Spence enters into her twenty fifth day of her hunger strike, her message is becoming more crucial. “We are calling on the Prime Minister and the Governor General to meet with us. This
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Chief Theresa Spence speaks on Day 21 of hunger strike against Harper Conservatives
For immediate release: December 31, 2012, Victoria Island, traditional territory of the Algonquian Peoples: Today is the twenty first day of Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike and the last day of 2012. Yesterday, Chief Spence met with Senators and Members of Parliament from the New Democratic Party, Liberal Party and
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: PETITION: British Crown Must Honour Canada-First Nations Treaties, Revoke Bill C-45, And Fire Harper & GG
Dear British Crown: honour Canada-First Nations treaties, revoke Bill C-45, and immediately fire Prime Minister Harper and Governor General Johnston: Please sign the PETITION: British Crown Must Honour Canada-First Nations Treaties, Revoke Bill C-45 now! Petition text: On the 28th January 2013, just 6 hours before the Canadian Parliament resumes
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Indigenous and Human Rights Groups Issue Joint Statement Supporting Chief Spence and #IdleNoMore
Twenty-four indigenous and human rights groups have issued the following joint statement supporting the #IdleNoMore grassroots movement and Chief Theresa Spence, who is in the fourth week of her indefinite hunger strike on Ottawa’s Victoria Island, just across from the Canadian Parliament. Chief Spence, the leader of the northern Ontario Attawapiskat First
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada’s Indigenous #IdleNoMore Movement Gains Momentum (VIDEO)
First Nations groups denied their constitutionally-protected rights, targeted by the Harper Conservative government In Canada, #IdleNoMore, an indigenous rights movement that started as a small social media campaign, is gaining momentum. The movement is spearheaded by Chief Theresa Spence, the leader of the Attawapiskat First Nation, who is now on Day 23
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Elizabeth May shares her 2002 hunger strike experience, begs Harper to meet Chief Spence
During my 85-day hunger strike against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s New Jim Crow-style crime Bill C-10, the deceptively christened “Safe Streets and Communities Act”, a prominent opposition MP told me hunger protests weren’t part of the process of democratic engagement in Canada. I was shocked and disappointed. First, during our conversation on
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Spence hunger strike: FN Chiefs contemplate Canada-wide “economic disruptions”
by Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive | January 01, 2013 “Economic impacts are imminent if there is no response.” APTN National News is reporting that First Nations leaders are contemplating Canada-wide “economic disruptions by the middle of January if Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t agree to hunger-striking Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Chief Spence says Harper government has encouraged “segregation”
For immediate release: December 31, 2012, Victoria Island, traditional territory of the Algonquian Peoples: Today is the thirty first day of Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike and the last day of 2012. Yesterday, Chief Spence met with Senators and Members of Parliament from the New Democratic Party, Liberal Party and Parti
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: United Church of Canada implores Harper to meet with hunger striker Chief Spence
by United Church of Canada: December 19, 2012 The Right Hon. Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario Fax: 613-941-6900 Dear Prime Minister Harper: We write with urgency to implore you to meet with Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence, as soon as possible. We are
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Idle No More at Ottawa’s Rideau Centre today
At the Idle No More event at Ottawa’s Rideau Centre today, I bore witness: I saw friendly activists handing out literature: I saw a poster that said “We Support Chief Spence”. Theresa Spence, the Chief of the Northern Ontario First Nation of Attawapiskat is in Day 20 of her hunger strike. She
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Theresa Spence Hunger Strike: Social Media Conversation on Day 19
It’s the end of Day 19 of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s indefinite hunger strike, taking place here in Ottawa. Spence started her peaceful protest on December 11, 2012. She’s demanding a meeting involving Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a representative of the Queen and First Nations leaders. She wants to discuss treaty agreements between
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Idle No More dance and speeches on Parliament Hill (VIDEO)
This colorful video of the December 21, 2012, Idle No More protest on Parliament Hill, will always remain one of the highlights of my career as a progressive activist. The video includes speeches by supporters and helpers of hunger striker Chief Theresa Spence. The speakers also repeated Spence’s call for a meeting involving Prime
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Hunger striker Chief Spence urges supporters to maintain pressure on Stephen Harper
In the press release below, issued on Friday, December 28, hunger striker Chief Theresa Spence invites MPs and Senators to visit her at her teepee on Victoria Island, a short walking distance from Parliament Hill, on Sunday, December 30th, 2012. Chief Spence, who is now on Day 19 of her
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Idle No More: Map Reveals A Global Movement
Map shows places around the world where Idle No More blockages, rallies, flash mobs, teach-ins, hunger strikes and other acts of civil disobedience against Prime Minister Stephen Harper have occurred in the last few days. Says the creator of the map, Toronto-based investigative researcher and journalist, Tim Groves: Although far from a complete list,
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