The Canadian Progressive: Chief Theresa Spence Ends 43-Day Hunger Strike With Declaration “Towards Fundamental Change”

by Guest Blogger | The Canadian Progressive, Jan 25, 2013 Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence signed the First Nations declaration that ended her 43-day hunger strike at Ottawa’s Victoria Island . The 13-point declaration, entitled “First Nations: Working Towards Fundamental Change”, was signed jointly with First Nations leaders and Canada’s federal opposition parties.

Continue reading

The Canadian Progressive: Quebec students support Idle No More, the ‘Native Spring’ of 2013

by L’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ) | Jan 11, 2013 L’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ), the Quebec student movement which prosecuted the hugely successful 2012 Quebec student protests against tuition hikes, has issued the following statement of solidarity with #IdleNoMore: Last year the streets of Quebec vibrated to the rhythm of hundreds

Continue reading

The Canadian Progressive: In Ottawa, Thousands of #IdleNoMore And Allied Protesters Demand Real Change (PHOTOS)

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

Continue reading

The 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 reading

The 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 reading

The 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 reading