Idle No More: Indigenous Voices in Unity

Idle No More!

 December 21, 2012, Prince Rupert, BC, Canada

Today the voices of Indigenous Peoples across Canada rang out in unity in proclamation of our continued presence here in this land. This collective voice spoke in declaration of our continuing determination to assert our Human Rights as the First Peoples of this land and our living heritage that is our historic and our on-going connection to this land. Indigenous Leadership from across this country spoke unequivocally of our determination to maintain our rightful place in our respective Homeland Territories. They spoke strongly and in no uncertain terms of our determination to re establish our rightful place here in this country. Many spoke of the unshakable determination of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence who at this time is on a hunger strike in protest of the abusive disregard of the Stephen Harper Government toward Indigenous issues. Chief Spence continues to place her own life on the line to ensure that the Stephen Harper Conservative Government Leadership finally assent to hearing, and to begin meaningful involvement with, Indigenous Leadership.  These are very real and long-standing concerns that deal with the denigration, total subjection and the actual denial of the very humanity of Indigenous Peoples of Canada by the actions and intent of successive Federal and Provincial Governments of this country. It is time for all Canadians to recognize that, as one speaker stated, we will never go away. It is time for Canadians to realize that Government policy that continues to cause further social aggravation within the Indigenous Community of this land is policy that will continue to cause an escalation of the financial toll on Federal tax resources. This is not according to the wishes of the Indigenous Peoples of this land. Our wishes are to become viable social contributors to a society that will finally recognize both our humanity, and our potential as contributors to a healthy and vibrant economic process. Canadians must once and for all accept that we do in fact have a very real right to a share of the riches that continue to flow from our homeland territories. Canadians must stand and work to ensure that those who they place in positions of Canadian Leadership will now begin to make a real and a meaningful and determined effort to build a respectful relationship with Indigenous Peoples of Canada. Canadians must now realize that, failing this social and political challenge can, and will, mean that the Indigenous Peoples activities of today will only have been a very small taste of things to come in the future. Today, as has always been the case until now, we want peaceful resolution to our long standing concerns. If there is any valid leadership in Ottawa, today is the day when you must begin to earn your wage. Today is the day when you must begin to build a truthful interaction with Indigenous Leadership, and indeed with all Canadians. Under the Leadership of Stephen Harper, Canada now suffers a downward spiraling loss of reputation within the International Community. This loss is based in no small part in the degradation of Indigenous Peoples of Canada by the Government of Canada. For those who have any interest in rebuilding the formerly pristine reputation of Canada, building a positive, balanced and a respectful relationship with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada is the most obvious place to begin.

These following photos and video were taken today, December 21, 2012 at the 'Idle No More' protest rally that took place on the lawn of the Prince Rupert City Hall, in Tsimpshian Tribal Territory in Northern British Columbia. Present on this very cold and windswept day of the 2012 winter solstice were a small but spirited group of Indigenous People from throughout this region of Canada.