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 readingTag: Bill C-45
The 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: Why does it take a hunger strike to gain media attention for Aboriginal issues in Canada?
Dana Wensley | Troy Media: The issue is one of of fairness As First Nation groups continue their protests against Bill C-45, what comes as a surprise to me is that it took so long to happen in Canada. In the lead up to Canada Day I noted that while other
Continue reading350 or bust: The Drumbeat Continues
The story of the Idle No More is far from over. Over the holiday season, when people are generally too busy celebrating with friends and family to pay attention to political or social movements (there’s a reason why Stephen Harper shut down Parliament not once but twice in December). However,
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: To Chief Theresa Spence, From Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan
by Obert Madondo: If it’s a Christmas present, it’s a terrible one. No, an insult. A window into the insidious, hostile and frozen core of political power in Canada under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservatives. Yesterday, Christmas Day, Harper’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan wrote to Chief Spence, whose indefinite hunger
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Idle No More: An audio essay by the CBC Radio’s Jian Ghomeshi
Jian Ghomeshi, the host of “Q”, a national daily cultural affairs talk program on the CBC’s Radio One, weighs in on the Idle No More grassroots movement for First Nations rights in Canada. Ghomeshi tackles the slogan, the hashtag, and the movement. RELATED: Canada’s First Nations leaders confront Harper Gvt
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: This Christmas, Canadians and First Nations Idle No More
Neither the bitter Canadian winter nor the holiday season are slowing down Chief Theresa Spence and the phenomenal Idle No More movement. Flash mobs and other peaceful protest actions are either under way or planned for the near future, including the ongoing blockade of a CN Rail line in Sarnia, Ontario. Chief
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: David Suzuki Foundation supports Idle No More movement
by David Suzuki Foundation: Dear Prime Minister Harper, Two years ago, under your leadership, Canada endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, despite initially voting against it at the UN General Assembly. Canada’s decision to reverse its position to support international efforts that recognize and protect
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Alberta Federation of Labour urges Canadians to be Idle No More
by Alberta Federation of Labour: The Alberta Federation of Labour is urging Canadians to be Idle No More in opposing Bill C-45. On the morning of Friday, Dec. 21, union representatives marched with First Nations leaders and Albertans from all walks of life in Edmonton at an “Idle No More” rally against
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: For Idle No More, A solidarity statement from the gates of Buckingham Palace (Video)
For Idle No More, from Idle No More London: solidarity statement from the gates of Buckingham Palace in London urges resistance to the budget implementation bill C-45 and other assimilation plans of the Harper government. WATCH: This video is available on Idle No More London RELATED: Idle No More: Canadian
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Elizabeth May’s Green Party of Canada supports the #idlenomore movement
by Green Party of Canada: The Green Party of Canada calls on all Canadians to take part in #idlenomore events throughout Canada. Green Leader Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands, specifically invites citizens to take part in the 21 December 2012 rally in Ottawa. “Harper’s record on Aboriginal Affairs is
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Pressure mounting on PM Harper to meet hunger striker Theresa Spence
by Obert Madondo: Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to tear down his stubborn wall of silence over hunger striker Chief Theresa Spence. First Nations leaders, the opposition, unions, the media, grassroots movements and individuals are urging Harper to meet with the Attawapiskat First Nation chief as her indefinite protest reaches the
Continue reading350 or bust: Idle No More: A Drumbeat Is Heard Across The Nation
There are a lot of things I could write about on this crisp winter morning; NOAA’s updated 2012 Arctic Report Card, for example (hint: it ain’t lookin’ good) or the aftermath of the tragedy in Newton Connecticut on Friday, or the (related) fact that American drones have killed nearly 200
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Idle No More: Canadian Citizen Writes to the Governor General
A Canadian citizen writes to the Governor General, declaring fierce opposition to numerous pieces of legislation recently passed by the Harper Government. The bills the writer has issue with seek to further exploit, disempower, control and marginalize First Nations. They include Bill C-45, which is at the heart of both the
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: What Chief Spence’s Hunger Strike Says About Canada
by Obert Madondo | Huffington Post Blog http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/obert-madondo/cheif-hunger-strike-democracy_b_2298786.html “I’m willing to die for my people because the pain is too much and it’s time for the government to realize what (it’s) doing to us.” The chief of the northern Ontario First Nation reserve of Attawapiskat uttered the haunting statement as
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Attawapiskat First Nations Chief Theresa Spence Protests Harper With Hunger Strike
by Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive “I’m wiling to die for my people,” Theresa Spence says. The Chief of the northern Ontario First Nation reserve of Attawapiskat began a hunger strike here in Ottawa yesterday to protest the Harper Government’s continuing abuse of First Nations. Chief Spence is demanding
Continue readingEarthgauge Radio: Interview with John Bennett of the Sierra Club
Click the audio player to hear my interview with John Bennett, Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada, about the federal government’s proposed changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act. Bennett explains why so many people and organizations, including the musicians Sarah Harmer, Gord Downie and Feist as well as Ottawa Riverkeeper Meredith Brown and Mountain Equipment Co-op, […]
Earthgauge Radio: Earthgauge Radio November 29, 2012: international climate science, Ottawa climate politics, and the growing movement to protect Canada’s waterways
This week on Earthgauge Radio, we’re talking about climate change and the protection of Canadian waterways. I have 3 features on the program today: Radio EcoShock‘s broadcast of a speech by the top U.K. climate scientist Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research My interview with John Bennett, Executive Director of the Sierra Club of […]
Environmental Law Alert Blog: Environmental law is funny (really)
Thursday, November 1, 2012 When asked in polls, a large majority of Canadians think that it’s important for BC and Canada to have strong environmental laws. The trouble is, when public interest environmental lawyers start talking about different models of environmental assessment, or the legal definition of “critical habitat”, most
Continue readingCanadian ProgressiveCanadian Progressive: First Nation: Bill C-45 allows tar sands industry to destroy vital waterways and treaty rights
by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Today the conservative government tabled a new version of Bill C-45, a 443-page bill, to implement its federal budget. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) was taken aback by the proposed amendments stating they are indicative of the further erosion of Treaty rights in Canada. ACFN
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