Running head: IDLE NO MORE MOVEMENT

Idle No More movement

Tania Le Surf
Stenberg College
Introduction to Aboriginal Peoples in Canada
101-3

December, 2013
Idle No More movement

As Canadians, we are very blessed to live in such a vibrant and culturally rich
Country. Our landscape is so serene which includes, majestic mountains which change color with
each beautiful season, large open waters rich with orcas and fish. Wildlife so vast and bountiful
with eagles soaring high above our lands, this is Canada, our home and Native land.
Many Canadians today are unaware of the hardships the Aboriginal people of Canada have
endured. It would seem nave to believe all is well among the first people of Canada. A
tremendous amount of mis-fortunes have occurred and continue to occur within this amazing
culture. The intention of this paper is to educate the reader on issues surrounding Bill C-47, to

inform the reader on the Idle No More Movement, and to provide the writers own analysis of the
above. The reader should keep in mind this paper by no means covers all of the issues
surrounding Bill C-47 and the Idle No More Movement, this paper is simply a brief explanation
of them.

Bill C-45 is a heavily weighted parliamentary bill which has been passed before the
Canadian House of Commons. It is also known as the Jobs and Growth Act, 2012 and was first
presented on the parliamentary table in March of 2012, (Dorey, 2012). This bill is omnibus
which means it is, comprising several items (www.oxforddictionaries.com). The bill
contains many different topics which are only bills, until the government votes and passes them
as laws. Bill C-45 has gained most attention among the Aboriginal people of Canada because it is
a threat of control and power over what has been provided by the Creator, they have the,
right to internally regulate how the lands and its resources are to be used and
allocated.(Morellato, 2008). Government officials are given special training provided by the
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Canada (AANDC) to ensure the fulfillment of
the Crowns duty to consult with all Aboriginal groups (www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca) prior to the
finalization of any new bills or laws. This consultation is a basic Human right and is expected
among all Canadians. Christ, Howard & McIvor, (n.d) state that, Consultation between
government and First Nations requires ongoing dialogue between the government decisionmaker and affected Aboriginal people. The decision-maker should listen to concerns raised by
First Nations, make changes to the project as required, and when changes requested by a First
Nation are not made, explain why not. In order to clarify for the reader the seriousness of duty
to consult, the writer can compare it to a surgeon not consulting with his/her patient prior to

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removing a limb. John Ivison, (2013) quotes Mr. Diablo in his article who says, Canadians feel
like they invited someone into their home who has now taken over and is making up the rules.
The appalling details surrounding bill C-47 most definitely can be interpreted as being a game of
trickery with the First Nations people being the but of the joke. The writer is very surprised
that a government which is meant to protect the rights of all Canadians would behave in such a
despicable manner especially to the First people of our country. In the writers opinion, the
government is acting as though it is a third world country and is leaning towards a democratic
uprising. The writer wonders how non-Aboriginals would feel if our government was run solely
by Indigenous people controlling their culture and livelihood in every way imaginable. If the
same atrocities were to happen to Westerners, the writer feels the political uprising would be
tenfold.

The Idol No More movement was born in Saskatchewan in 2012 and created by four
women who claim they, theyd had enough(Yundt, 2013). Sheelah McLean, Nina Wilson,
Silvia Mc Adam and Jessica Gordon began their journey discussing the problems and absence of
duty to consult regarding Bill C-47 and the impact this bill would have on the leasing of reserve
lands by First Nations communities, the environmental assessment processes and the protection
of waterways, (Yundt,2013). The Aboriginal believe they must protect what the Creator has
provided them. Belanger, 2010, quotes a member of the Cree tribe who says, We heard our
lands were sold and we did not like it; we dont want to sell our lands, it is our property, and no
one has a right to sell them.(p.74). The Idol No More movement went viral over the internet very
quickly. Both the young and old from all over Canada supported the movement and also wanted
to be heard. A voice was now given to the Aboriginal people, a voice made up of thousands of

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individuals who are passionate about keeping their cultural rights alive. The vision of this project
is to create a revolution of people who will, honor Indigenous sovereignty, and will,
protect the land and water"(www.idlenomore.ca). Without the work of this movement, the
government will sell off Native lands to large corporations who will quickly take over the waters
and the lands leaving nothing behind for the future Aboriginal children, leaving the culture to die
off. The manifesto between the Aboriginal people and the Canadian government is that treaties
which are in place to protect the lands and resources from being taken from the Aboriginals, are
being disregarded through outstanding land claims by way of the history of colonization. The
future for the Indigenous people if nothing is done is, poisoned water, land and
air.(www.idlenomore.ca).
The Idol No More Movement (www.idolnomore.ca) has many intentions which include,
repealing requirements in bill C-47 which apply to protecting the environment, the Navigable
Waters Act and make required changes to the Indian Act as well. To ensure the proper
consultation is maintained with regards to legislation concerning the environment and also where
corporations are interested in pursuing economic growth by using Native lands and reserves.
Ensuring Aboriginal people of Canada have the right to say no to developments intended on
their territory and that, principle of free, prior, and informed consentis respected always.
Another intention is to have Canada, the provinces its territories able to , Cease its policy of
extinguishment of Aboriginal Title and recognize and affirm Aboriginal Title and Rights. The
fifth hoped outcome is that all historic treaties are continuously respected and honored. The last
hope is the resistance to violence against Aboriginal women and that those who are murdered or
have gone missing are searched for and their perpetrators are sought after. (www.idlenomore.ca).
Amnesty international has a page devoted to the violence against women and state, The high

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rates of violence faced by Indigenous women in Canada is a national human rights

tragedy(www.amnesty.ca). This topic is one which is worthy of a whole new paper.
There are as well un-intended outcomes of the Idle No More Movement. The most
apparent is violence. Heated discussions have the capacity to allow physical violence to erupt. A
good example of this is the standoff in New Brunswick at the Southwestern Energys project site
on October 17th, 2013. First Nations protesters stood across the road to the site for days at a loss
for the company in excess of $60,000.00 per day. The standoff was as a result of the corporation
using a fracking system which includes injecting chemicals and water into the ground so gas
can be harvested, the result of such is pollution to the land and water. Miles Howe a news
reporter was involved in the violence and stated, We are currently surrounded by about 75 cops,
all guns drawn. Several are in military fatigues. Rubber bullets have been fired in the woods.
Molotovs were thrown earlier from warrior side. Currently still in standoff."
(www.therealnews.com). The blockade was done impart to prove a point and to also show the
corporation that the First Nations people are strong and will not be bullied anymore
(www.firstpeoples.org). Aboriginal people are standing up for their rights, standing up for their
culture and future, The clash between resource extraction and indigenous rights is expected to
become more pronounced in the coming years as indigenous people increasingly see their rights
enshrined at national and international levels and exercise them more
effectively.(www.firstpeoples.org). Another un-intended outcome is the anger of the reserve
chiefs to disclose financial information to the government. To prepare and publically
disclose audited consolidated financial statements And Schedule of Remuneration and
Expenses with remuneration and expenses for its chief and each councillor
(www.apihtawikosisan.com). Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt announced

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on March 27th,2013 the Transparency law which would make it law for the salaries of chiefs and
councillors to be made public. Again there was much resistance to this law, Pam Palmater, an
Idle No More activist in Manitoba, said there is grassroots opposition to the new law because it
gives the federal government too much power over First Nations. (www.bcafn.ca). Valcourt had
something to say to the Idle No More people saying, I'm sorry, but if that's [what] the
movement is about shutting down people, their own people I'm sorry for
them," (www.bcafn.ca). Clearly government officials are not listening to what the messages the
movement has to say, there is a clear dis-agreeance among Valcourt and Idol No More activists.
As Aboriginals are becoming more educated on the ways of the government, tempers are sure to
fly resulting in many more violence and disorder, The clash between resource extraction and
indigenous rights is expected to become more pronounced in the coming years as indigenous
people increasingly see their rights enshrined at national and international levels and exercise
them more effectively.(www.firstpeoples.org). The writer sides with the Aboriginal people
because it is clear to see the disparities and inequalities forsaken by the Indigenous peoples of
Canada. The writer also feels that with Canada hiding information from the Aboriginal people,
a continued sense of dis-trust and separation between the white man and the First Nations man
will only get worse. The writer feels the Idle No More Movement is a step in the right direction to
ensuring government officials hear what needs to be heard however, the writer is worried that
this information will fall upon deaf ears. With continued persistence from the movement
participants, surely positive changes will occur.
In conclusion, this paper has defined Bill C-47 briefly explaining its contents and also
reviewing the duty to consult process. The writer has provided the reader with a short analysis of
the Idle No More Movements history, vision and manifesto. This paper also regarded the hoped

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outcomes and also un-intended outcomes of the movement. The writer hopes this paper has
provided the reader with somewhat of an understanding of the seriousness the lack of
consultation with Aboriginal people has caused with respect to Bill C-47. This writer hopes as a
result of reading this paper, the reader will feel more passionate and empathetic towards the
hardships of the Indigenous people of our country and feel compelled to advocate for this culture
in any way the reader feels appropriate. Ignorance is bliss however knowledge is power.

References
Amnesty International, (n.d). In No More Stolen Sisters. Retrieved from:
http://www.amnesty.ca/our-work/issues/indigenous-peoples/no-more-stolen-sisters
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, (n.d) In, Training of Federal
Officials to Fulfill the Duty to Consult. Retrieved from:
http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1331834966106/1331835027256

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Belanger, Y. D. (2010). Ways of knowing an introduction to Native studies in Canada.
Toronto, Canada: Nelson Education.
British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, (March,2013) In, Protesters disrupt First
Nations transparency law announcement. Retrieved from: http://www.bcafn.ca/files/breakingnews-2013-03-28.php
Christ, D, Howard, T, McIvor, B.(n.d) In, Canada Steps Back from Aboriginal
Consultation. Retrieved from: http://www.firstpeopleslaw.com/index/articles/137.php
Morellato, M. (Feb, 2010). National Centre for First Nations Governance. In, The
Crowns Constitutional Duty to Consult and Accommodate Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
Retrieved from:
http://fngovernance.org/resources_docs/Crown_Duty_to_Consult__Accommodate.pdf
The Real News, (Oct,2013) In Canadian Police Use Military Tactics to Disperse
Indigenous Anti-Fracking Blockade. Retrieved from: http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10891

Unknown,(n.d). In Canada, Aboriginal Tension Erupts Over Resource Development.

Retrieved from: http://firstpeoples.org/wp/in-canada-aboriginal-tension-erupts-over-resourcedevelopment/
Unknown, (n.d). Definition of Omnibus in English. Retrieved from:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/omnibus
Unknown, (n.d). In, Harper Government Unilateral federal legislation imposing over
First Nations. Retrieved from:
http://apihtawikosisan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Termination.pdf

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