White With You: Idle No More

When I speak with Sylvia, one of the founding four of Idle No More, I tell her I am very honoured to walk alongside thier movement as a settler descendant. I thank her for welcoming the newcomer Canadians to Idle No More. I say that it's easy for us, when we learn about our history, to become full of shame and then we don't know what to do.

Sylvia stops me, and says in a gentle, rainwater voice, to tell my settler friends not to come to this grassroots movement with shame, but to bring our creative selves and we will make Canada a better place for all of us.

White With You, Sheelah, Nina, Sylvia, and Jess.

Idle No More in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan.

 

White grandmother, Hazel Jardine, speaking

in support of Idle No More with Lisa of the Sun.

 

Daughter and Mother, Daisy and Kate, say,

"Settler Descendants are

Idle No More."

 

 

Little Coulsin Emora walks at least half the way,
hand in hand with her daddy, Brian.

 

 

Colleagues, Andre and Melissa, take their lunch hour to

make hot chocolate for our minus 27 windchill walk.

 

 

 

Victoria carrying half of the banner, "WE ARE ALL TREATY PEOPLE"
with the Treaty Four Governance Centre in the background

 

 Cousin Angela and Emora cuddling before we get ready to Unity Walk.

 

 

Emily and Val, Dynamic Daughter Mother Duo

"Changing Our World:
One Step at a Time

Unity"
 

Idle No More

 

 

Minister Sharon and the Jardine's representing Kairos



Go Greg Go!



Three of the dear faces of Idle No More
in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan



Professor Jim Harding, in the green.
After the Unity Walk, at the Governance Centre
the event organizers asked Jim to add his voice to the agenda.
He has been an environmental ally for years and years.



Victoria and Cousin Brian



Arwen and Cousin Emora



Emora and Sharon bonding over colouring.

 

 

Moira in the middle, with her teacher, Val.

and friends, Emily, Kevin and Sweet.

 

Faces of Idle No More

What Does Sovereignty Mean to You?

In the Governance Centre after our Unity Walk, Jess Gordon, one of the original four of Idle No More, asked the audience, "What Does Sovereignty Mean to You?" I posted this on facebook while she was still speaking.

Here's what two of my friends responded:

"I'm sad to say, but it has felt like Harper has incarnated Canadian sovereignty. He has done so like a cowardly bully on the playground, getting others to do his underhanded mission of greed; sacrificing for always our nation that has been entrusted to him for a short period of time. Having a majority government I wonder why so many voters want this cheeky tyranny. Canadian sovereignty has made me cringe, as I do when my throat is dry and raw from a 2 day coughing cold and I feel a tickle emerging in my uvula. I see hope now. Idle no more is a concept that is spreading through out Canada and has now been seen by the world; who now watches us to see what happens. If this momentum can be sustained for a little longer, the people will once again hold our National leaders responsible, no longer being a ruling autocracy. I look forward to "idle no more" incarnating Canadian sovereignty. That's kind of how I feel." -- Steve Krause. Fort Qu'Appelle, of German and Nakota descent.

"It means we can take care of our lands, that what it means. We all must fight, rather than sitting on our asses. This is making me real angry. I hate the government for taking advantage of us."                 -- Douglas Bouvier, of Black Lake, Dene descent.

Hey, Steve. Can I quote you on my blog? Douglas, the four women who started Idle No More are asking us to act "sovereign" in a variety of creative, peaceful and unorthodox ways. Things like speaking the indigenous languages, story telling, and anything that helps the sovereign nations (and cultures) resurge! What are you passionate about in your culture? How can you help pass that on? I believe in this generation of young people. You will make a difference.  -- Sheena Koops, Fort Qu'Appelle, of Norweign, Scottish, Irish, and English descent.

Unity Walk in the Fort, January 11th, 2013

I Will Follow Leaders Who Cry for their People

When was the last time I saw the mayor, my MLA, or my MP shed a tear? Maybe I haven't been paying attention, so I'm putting that out there to Canadian leaders of all nations, all parties, all levels of government. When was the last time you cried for your people.

I just watched a twenty-two minute youtube video and saw leaders cry for their people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SuPy35llXoc

What am I willing to cry for? What will bring me to my feet? What will bring me to my knees?

Idle No More