Story appeared in the Jan. 9, 2013 issue of the Interlake Enterprise, by Teresa Carey…
Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson
Members of the Peguis First Nation community have been actively engaged in the Idle no More movement right from its beginning, and many of the reserve’s youth have been showing a real interest in it, said Dawn Thomas (formerly, McCorrister), a long-time volunteer on Peguis First Nation.
Thomas has been front and centre in coordinating various Idle No More activities, from bus transportation from the reserve into Winnipeg for Idle No More rallies, to passing around leaflets and coordinating events happening right on the reserve itself, all with Chief Glenn Hudson’s support, Thomas said.
“He’s offered to let me print out as many copies [of the leaflets] as I need at the band office, and will support bussing. He’s willing to absorb those costs for the community,” said Thomas. “He also supports me going on the radio with public service announcements.”
The first bus left Peguis on Dec. 10, taking 14 students, including the Junior Chief and Council and five adults, to the Manitoba Legislature for a rally there.
A second rally, which also took place at the Legislature on Dec. 21 garnered even more interest from the Peguis community. Two buses were needed this time, to transport a total of 37 youth and 25 adults from Peguis.
Then, on New Year’s Eve, another bus transported 25 people to Winnipeg for the flash mob round dance, which blocked Portage and Main, that ended with a gathering at the Thunderbird House on Higgins and Main.
There were many others from Peguis who made the trip into the city in their own vehicles for these events, as well as for flash mobs at Polo Park and Portage Place.
Less well publicized are Idle No More activities that are taking place on the reserve itself, in which people from surrounding communities have also been invited to take part.
On Dec. 27, Thomas help organize a flash mob inside the Peguis mall saw about 100 people in attendance. She is now coordinating another Idle No More event, which will take place on Friday, Jan. 11.
The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. with an information table set up beside the band office inside the Peguis mall until 5:00 p.m. At 3:30, a march from Peguis Central School will end at the mall in time for the 4:00 p.m. peace rally which will run until 5:00 p.m. There will be a flash mob Round Dance and information handouts and a teach-in giving a breakdown of the implications of the Omnibus Bill C-45 for aboriginal people.
The event will be held inside the Peguis mall itself, unless a large turnout forces it outdoors, between the mall and the recreation centre.
“Everything so far seems to be going very well,” Thomas said. “More and more people are starting to ask questions: ‘What’s going on?’ ‘What is this Idle No More movement?’ At the present time I’m holding teach-ins, assembling a group of people for coffee and talks. We’re informing, educating and inspiring the grass roots,” Thomas said.
Thomas said she has another volunteer lined up who is willing to go into people’s homes to do teach-ins for those unable to get out.
Anyone who wants a home-visit in order to learn about Idle No More, can contact Thomas at 204-645-2469.
Idle No More events will continue on for the foreseeable future across the country, Thomas believes.
“I can easily say they will go on until March. I feel something will happen that will keep this moving forward,” she said.
The Idle No More website (www.idlenomore.ca), has indicated some steps forward, stating that it is “time to focus as communities and nations to hear and feel what is needed…Together in a unified way we must come to a consensus with the direction of our Elders, knowledge keepers, brothers and sisters as to which is the best form of action as they relate to our own communities.”
The Idle No More website suggests that each First Nations community consult with their people at a grass roots level, then choose a designated “runner” to bring these messages to a national forum.
“The designated “runners” will be part of the panel for the national teleconference which will share your communities response,” it states. “The national conference will be available for everyone to listen and call or chat live. As a Nation we will all begin implementation of community and nations resurgence.”
The Idle No More originators are firm in their vision that this be an entirely peaceful, grassroots movement:
“When INM first began, Elders were consulted and direction provided from them. Their message and direction has been of peaceful solidarity and unity. One of the most sacred of Indigenous laws is peaceful resistance when Elders and children are involved and this is what we must follow,” the website states.
“Idle No More is a peaceful organization that is working towards profound social, political, and economic change. Our goal is to use education to build consciousness and awareness in all Canadians on the resurgence of Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protections… Idle No More feels that any acts that are not in line with peace and solidarity only detract attention from our ultimate mission which is to assert our sovereignty and ensure protection to our Mother Earth and in essence our peoples health and wellbeing. We ask that you all keep in mind these factors when planning any acts of resurgence.”
