Idle No More! That's what my Indigenous brothers and sisters from all over the world are calling a movement that started among the First Nations Peoples of Canada. The movement was initiated as a protest against actions taken by the Canadian Parliament that threaten the environment and the sovereignty of the First Nations in Canada and those communities on or near bordering waters and lands. Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation has become a central figure, the visible face, of this protest movement. Her month long hunger strike within sight of the seat of Canadian government is a widely visible act of civil disobedience in the face of oppression. Her resolve and her courage remind many of the same courage and resolve of individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Indigenous Peoples from all over North America have risen up in solidarity with Chief Spence in round dance flash mobs in public places. These demonstrations of unity and support have provided a voice to other oppressed and marginalized communities. They are an opportunity for the world to see that Indigenous People are alive, angry, and demanding of respect. Many people have attended these events and will continue to for days and possibly months to come.
Chief Spence demanded a meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister and then learning that some grievances needed the support of the British Crown, a meeting with the Canadian Governor General. She was provided that opportunity on Friday, January 11. Sadly, she walked out of the meeting with the Governor General, stating she didn't feel the honor and respect she thought the meeting deserved. Her hunger strike continues.
Some First Nations leaders have begun to question the meaning of Chief Spence's continued hunger strike. Chief Darren Bonaparte of the Akwesasne Mohawk community has asked her publicly to end her hunger strike. He feels she has brought attention to issues long left unaddressed by the Canadian government and that her life is of more value now than ever to her family and her People. Furthermore, with rates of suicide so high among Indigenous Peoples the world over, why take your own life in this regard through continued starvation? He presents a good question. One that should be answered.
Like Chief Bonaparte, I too question the continued wisdom of Chief Spence's hunger strike. I also question the intended long term impact of the multitude of flash mobs and other public acts of solidarity that continue to populate my Facebook wall. What is the public policy agenda? What concrete actions do participants wish Parliament, or in my case, Congress to take? Where are the legislative proposals?
I believe unless the Idle No More movement begins to present a policy agenda articulated clearly and repeatedly by a strong and visible leader (like Chief Spence) or council of leaders, it is doomed to fade into oblivion in the same fashion as the Occupy Movement did. Lacking leadership and a concrete set of policies presented to elected officials, Occupy Wall Street and the myriad of related Occupy encampments eventually lost the public forum and the momentum that inspired its active participants.
There are legitimate public policy issues that could be addressed by this movement. Obviously, Canadian First Nations have their fair share. However, here in the United States, Congress has failed to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. Tribal provisions in the Senate version of the reauthorization bill would have addressed a pernicious attack on tribal sovereignty in this country - the inability of tribal judiciaries to assert jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit acts of domestic violence against tribal members on reservation.
Many domestic violence advocates are speaking up concerning this issue. The opportunity for tribal people to demand Congressional action is now. There is real potential to a concerted effort on the part of all the individuals who have gone to the local shopping mall to hold up an Idle No More sign or blast a round dance song on their hand drum to get involved in this discussion.
Right here in Wisconsin, there is a movement to oppose the establishment of an open pit taconite mine which threatens the Lake Superior watershed and the traditional lands and waters of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Again, if you are willing to be part of the protest in solidarity with our First Nations brothers and sisters, you should be aware and engaged with the debate soon to be held in the Wisconsin Assembly.
These are just a few examples of real public policy issues affecting tribal communities in the United States. I'm sure anyone reading this from across North America, not to mention other Indigenous communities worldwide, can identify substantive issues needing to be addressed in your community. What are those issues and how are they articulated in the Idle No More movement?
I hear Indian people talk about sovereignty and environmental issues all the time, both without substance and without knowledge of legitimate legislative opportunities to address either. As bold as I am, I'm tempted to walk up to the next Idle No More gathering and ask the first few random Skins I see, "What are you here for?" "What is Idle No More about?" "What lasting impact will this have on the health and welfare of your tribal community or others across the planet?"
By now you're probably pissed. Honestly, I don't blame you. You should be pissed. But, deep within you should be burning a desire to prove me wrong. Prove to yourself and to the people who came before you and those who will come after you that Idle No More isn't just another fad destined to pass soon into memory.
Remember Alcatraz?
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