By: Assembly of First Nations Quebec and Labrador | Press Release: WENDAKE, QC – Madam Jeannette Pilot, an Innu from Uashat Mani-Uténam, has undertaken a hunger strike this past January 1st. On March 13th, Madam Pilot indicated that she was now refraining from drinking, thus moving on to a complete fast.
Continue readingTag: Theresa Spence
The Canadian Progressive: Best line to pick up a Canadian woman: “Hi, I’m NOT Stephen Harper”? (VIDEO)
by Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive, Feb.3, 2013: Seriously, you can actually get laid in Canada for introducing yourself as NOT Prime Minister Stephen Harper and certainly having nothing to do with the Conservatives? For saying that you got nothing to do with the Alberta tar sands and Canada’s oil-driven foreign policy? That you got
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Erika Shaker rightly tears into the special brand of FAIPOF demanding that First Nations protesters focus solely on their own community leaders rather than recognizing broader and more systematic inequality: Much is being made of Chief Spence’s Escalade (although I’m unsure if she
Continue readingThe 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 readingLeDaro: Idle No More
Harper’s neglect of First Nations, indifference to them, has come to a head, with the Idle No More protests taking off across the country. The protests are against the poor state of housing on reserves like Attawapiskat whose chief, Theresa Spence, has gone on hunger strike. The protests are also
Continue readingThe 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 readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Attawapiskat Audit is Merely a Distraction
Green Party leader Elizabeth May published a well-thought out and clear article on Wednesday, breaking down the reasons why the ongoing media banter about Attiwapiskat fund mismanagement and Chief Theresa Spence are merely distractions from an ongoing legacy of government failure to protect indigenous people and the environment. Twitter and
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Chief Theresa Spence’s Heroism Already Eclipses Nelson Mandela’s
by Obert Madondo | Huffington Post Blog: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/obert-madondo/chief-theresa-spences-her_b_2408049.html Hunger-striking Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence is the reincarnation of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. She is becoming the greatest moral and political leader of our time. In fact, Chief Theresa Spence’s courage and sacrifice already eclipses that of South Africa’s
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: SATIRE: Stunning Caucasian Female Loves Stephen Harper, Disses #IdleNoMore (Video)
This stunning Caucasian female loves Stephen Harper, disses #IdleNoMore movement and hunger-striking Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence. Please note that this is satire. The writer, director and actor says: ”Just so y’all are clear this video is 100% satirical, meant to make fun of Stephen Harper and racists. I
Continue readingdrive-by planet: Puyallup elder Ramona Bennett’s inspirational call at Idle No More event in Seattle
The Idle No More movement is growing worldwide. The turn-out at rallies, protests and flash mob events south of the border has been impressive. A recent Idle No More event in Seattle included an appearance by Puyallup tribal elder, Ramona Bennett. Bennett has been a strong voice for human rights
Continue readingSong of the Watermelon: Three New Year’s Resolutions for Canada
I have never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. The practice always struck me as little more than an excuse to put off self-improvement until next year. But now, with year’s end upon us, and solutions nowhere in sight for the host of problems that we face as a
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: 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: Hunger striker Chief Theresa Spence gets 5 500 Twitter followers in only 40 hours
Today marks Day 14 of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence’s indefinite hunger strike. Still, Canada’s Prime Minister refuses to tear down his stubborn wall of silence over the peaceful protest. He remains unwilling to meet Spence legitimate demand for a face-to-face meeting of the prime minister, Governor General and First Nations leaders. Michael
Continue readingdrive-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 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: 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
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