GLORIA GALLOWAY OTTAWA — THE GLOBE AND MAIL Twenty Canadian first nations have taken to the world stage to accuse the Harper government of violating the human rights of their people and of failing to take action against “racist” media reports. The communities – most of them Cree – made two presentations
Indian residential school deaths found by Ontario coroner
Scrutiny of 5,000 death records dating back to 19th century finds 120 possibly ‘missing’ children Canadian Press/CBC An intensive review of Ontario records has so far turned up more than 100 possible cases of previously unidentified child and youth deaths linked to Indian residential schools, the province’s chief coroner said Thursday. The information
Power of Idle No More movement lies in direct action, says UBC prof
by YOLANDE COLE Straight.com THE IDLE NO More movement is undergoing a moment of “pause and critical reflection”, in the view of one participant. But that pause is also accompanied by a “rise in our collective anger and frustration” with the federal government, according to University of British Columbia professor Glen Coulthard. Speaking at an Idle
The Violence Against Women Act: Idle No More, and Why Most House Republicans Say Rape Is OK
Gyasi Ross Indian Country Today [excerpt] HOW MOST HOUSE REPUBLICANS CONCLUDED THAT IT’S OK FOR WOMEN TO BE RAPED It is absolutely mind-numbing that anybody would be opposed to reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. Except rapists. Yeah, my guess is that 100% of rapists oppose the Violence Against Women Act. But other than rapists, it’s hard to imagine
Legal challenges expected if Wisconsin mining bill passes
Nora G. Hertel http://www.isthmus.com Republicans may be fast-tracking mining legislation, but legal challenges are expected soon after signing. Litigation is so anticipated, in fact, that the bill includes a fiscal note from the Department of Justice requiring that funds be set aside to defend against “legal challenges,” as well as to prosecute “law violations” related
State of Care Documentary: Canada’s segregated health care
Anna Maria Termonti, The Current, CBC.ca Native Canadians who fell ill used to be able to count on one thing — not sharing a hospital ward with a white Canadian. Today we air a documentary on the story of segregated health care in Canada — and it’s not that old a story.
Lawyer says Alberta consult plan could make benefits agreements harder
BY BOB WEBER, THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON – An Alberta government proposal to regulate how energy companies negotiate benefits agreements with aboriginal bands could make it harder to work such deals out, says a lawyer whose firm assists in such talks. A discussion paper, released by the government last week, suggests that
Indigenous Women Take the Lead in Idle No More
Motivated by ancient traditions of female leadership as well as their need for improved legal rights, First Nations women are stepping to the forefront of the Idle No More movement. by Kristin Moe Yes! Late last year, amid the the rallies, dances, blockades, and furious tweeting that accompanied the burgeoning Idle No More
Daniel Wilson: Income Inequality and Indigenous Peoples in Canada
Daniel Willson Broadbent Institute Canadians are awakening to the fact that income inequality is a seriously problematic trend that marginalizes large segments of society and threatens social harmony and progress. However, for Indigenous people, vastly inferior incomes are a longstanding reality that makes up only a part of a much deeper and broader inequality.
Ecuadorian tribe gets reprieve from oil intrusion
Residents of Sani Isla have built up an arsenal of weapons to fend off Petroamazonas, in a confrontation which did not take place as expected Jonathan Watts, Latin American correspondent guardian.co.uk, An indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon has won a reprieve after building up an arsenal of spears, blowpipes, machetes
Idle No More, Meet the Norwegians
Canada’s elite lack guts dealing with oil giants. First Nations might embolden all of us. By Mitch Anderson TheTyee.ca Norway is a long way from Attawapiskat but there may be some important lessons for Canada’s First Nations from across the Atlantic in the looming showdown with Stephen Harper. In a recent series for The Tyee, I
A Tar Sands Manifesto
by RAMSEY SPRAGUE Fort Worth Weekly The mornings start off frosty. Four months ago, in the August heat, waking with the sun was still a muggy, sweaty pleasure. Late summer in Texas is a test of wills, but so too is a Texas winter spent in tents. Living like this, one learns
A Tar Sands Manifesto
by RAMSEY SPRAGUE Fort Worth Weekly The mornings start off frosty. Four months ago, in the August heat, waking with the sun was still a muggy, sweaty pleasure. Late summer in Texas is a test of wills, but so too is a Texas winter spent in tents. Living like this, one learns to manage
Welcome to Blockadia!
The corporate push to construct tar-sands pipelines is transforming the environmental movement across North America by increasing the involvement of local residents and normalizing the use of direct action. by Melanie Jae Martin, Jesse Fruhwirth Yes! We are members of Peaceful Uprising and Utah Tar Sands Resistance, groups that are working to stop tar sands mining from beginning
Why ‘Idle No More’ is gaining strength, and why all Canadians should care
In a Dec. 16 editorial, the Star rightly called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to meet with Chief Theresa Spence, now in her 10th day of a hunger strike. It rightly drew attention to the ongoing housing crisis at Attawapiskat First Nation. Yet, it missed the big picture. Spence’s hunger strike is
