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'We're not going to take it anymore' National aboriginal movement draws hundreds to Yellowknife streets to protest Tory policyLaura Busch Northern News Services Published Monday, December 24, 2012
The protest was held in conjunction with several others held around Canada and the world on the winter solstice to support the Idle No More Movement, which originated in Saskatchewan. This was the second Idle No More protest in Yellowknife. The first, held in frigid temperatures on Dec. 10, gathered only seven supporters. Friday's protest showed the movement is gaining momentum and will not go anywhere before it gets results, said Melaw Nakehk'o, who helped organize both protests.  "It's a movement, it's a continuous thing. It not only has to do with the bills that are passing through, it's just that we're not going to be idle anymore. We're not going to take it anymore," she told Yellowknifer. The Idle No More movement was started by four women in Saskatchewan who became fed up with the federal government and decided to petition hard for change in the relationship between First Nations and the federal government. Laws that have recently passed or are currently before Parliament will cause sweeping changes for environmental protection, cultural protection and aboriginal rights - specifically legislation outlining a new "results-based" approach to treaty and self-government negotiations, which could mean that Canada will pull out of negotiations where parties don't agree, taking First Nations funding with it, according to a backgrounder leaflet provided at the event. First Nations political organizations will have their funding capped at $500,000 annually, cutting at least $1 million from several aboriginal governments. Also, funding for First Nations band and tribal councils will be cut over the next two years according to the leaflet. Compounding the unrest is Prime Minister Stephen Harper's refusal to meet with Theresa Spence, the chief of Ontario's beleaguered Attawapiskat First Nation. She has been on hunger strike since Dec. 11 in protest of his refusal. "They've basically been trampling on our rights, basically ramming laws down or throat without consulting the aboriginal people or the non-aboriginal people," said acting Yellowknives Dene Chief Roy Erasmus. "It's just unacceptable in a democracy like Canada. They've cut off debate several times and it's just not the way things should be done." As the sun rose on the shortest day of the year, a smaller group of about 15 adults and many more children gathered on the playground at K'alemi Dene School in Ndilo for a fire-feeding ceremony. Participants then gathered at the Dene Nation building on 50 Street shortly after 11 a.m. and were led by drummers along 49 Street, through Centre Square Mall and out onto Franklin Avenue, where the queue circled and began tea-dancing in one of the busiest intersections in town. Bev Bagnall, taking part in the rally with her daughter Desiree Bagnall and 20-month-old granddaughter Paige Hope, said the turnout was amazing. "There are so many people here from all over," she said. The rally goers then marched to the Tree of Peace, where volunteers provided warm food and beverages while Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus and several of the youth who were responsible for organizing Friday's protest discussed the issues. Deneze Nakehk'o said all Canadians, not just First Nations, are being affected by changes coming from Ottawa, and the rights of all have been affected, he said. Many attending the rally said they were excited by the new energy that seems to be re-awakening indigenous groups around the world. "Leaders and elders have always spoken about a seventh generation that is going to lead a new way of how things are," said Lawrence Nayally, who organized the Facebook page for the event and rallied young people to step up and help out. "I feel as if this whole movement has awoken that seventh generation." - with files from Danielle Sachs
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