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 readingTag: First Nations
drive-by planet: Idle No More protests: national chief calls on Canadians to ‘stand with us’
Top: Alberta horseback protest / Center: Attiwapiskat Chief Theresa Spence First Nations has taken a stand against the Harper government’s omnibus budget bill C-45 in protests from coast-to-coast – part of the Canada-wide Idle No More movement. The movement opposes provisions in Harper’s omnibus bill that violate treaty rights and
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Why does ArcelorMittal hate Bosnia?
Pollution, people and tombstones in Zenica. Owned by the Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, ArcelorMittal is the world’s largest steel producer—creating some 93 billion USD of revenue as of 2011. Granted, steel is an essential building block of the modern world yet ArcelorMittal’s obscene profit margins do raise the question of
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 readingAccidental Deliberations: Friday Morning Links
Assorted content to end your week. – Jim Stanford is the latest to point out that the Cons see accountability and transparency solely as punishments to be inflicted on their perceived enemies, not as values to be applied to their own decision-making: Following Mr. Hiebert’s logic, any organization in society
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why is Stephen Harper Afraid of Chief Spence?
It's hard to believe that a native leader from a suffering community, would have to go on a hunger strike, to try to get a meeting with a Canadian Prime Minister.On the eve of a day of aboriginal protest, the hunger-striking chief of the troubled Attawapiskat First Nation is again calling
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canadian Labour Congress supports Idle No More and Chief Spence
by Canadian Labour Congress: The Canadian Labour Congress supports Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario, who is on a hunger strike in Ottawa. She is determined not to eat until granted an audience with the Prime Minister to discuss conditions on her reserve and government
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 readingThe Canadian Progressive: Hunger Striker Chief Theresa Spence’s Exclusive Interview With The CBC
In this exclusive interview with the CBC’s Chris Rands, hunger striker Chief Theresa Spence explains her peaceful protest. Chief Spence started her hunger strike here in Ottawa on December 11. She’s demanded an immediate meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a representative of the Crown to discuss the treaty
Continue readingWalking Turcot Yards: Idle No More – Montreal, Friday at Noon
****An English version will follow**** FRANÇAIS: 17/12/2012 – Mouvement historique – Les autochtones se réunissent sous la bannière Idle No More pour dénoncer les politiques du gouvernement Harper – Joignez-vous à eux le 21 décembre à Montréal. Suivant l’impulsion d’un mouvement spontané, lancé par le mot-clic #IdleNoMore sur Twitter, des
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Harper saddened by NHL lockout, NOT by Chief Spence’s hunger strike
Once again, proof that Canada’s biggest shame is its Conservative Prime Minister. Stephen Harper is saddened by the ongoing NHL lockout, according to the Metro News Ottawa. And, apparently, NOT by Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s ongoing hunger strike right here in Ottawa. As Spence’s gallant protest enters Day 9., Harper
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: The Hunger for Justice
Harper and the Governor General don’t offer a spoonful of respect, let alone justice. Attawapiskat Chief Spence reissues call for PM, GG treaty meeting I wish our Prime Minister and Governor General cared enough about the self-imposed suffering of a brave First Nations leader, to meet with her for an
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Jeremy Warren reports on the origins of the Idle No More movement – recognizing it as an ideal example of how a few people resolving to take action can have a massive impact on public discussions. And Tim Harper notes that Stephen Harper
Continue readingWalking Turcot Yards: Hunger Strike As First Nations Serve Notice
Open letter on behalf of the First Nations leaders to the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston and the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper OTTAWA, Dec. 16, 2012 /CNW/ – On behalf of the National Executive of the Assembly of First Nations, we write today regarding an
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Chief Spence Hunger Strike: Solidarity letter from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers
by Canadian Union of Postal Workers: Chief Theresa Spence, The Canadian Union of Postal Workers honour Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat for her courageous stand in defense of the land against the moral bankruptcy of the Canadian state. We recognize the racist and genocidal history of Canada and that the
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: As Theresa Spence’s hunger strike enters second week, National Chief Atleo calls for urgent meeting with Harper
by Assembly of First Nations: Open letter on behalf of the First Nations leaders to the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston and the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper: On behalf of the National Executive of the Assembly of First Nations, we write today regarding an urgent
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
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