Happy Birthday to my "No Reservations Airline: Musings of a First Nations Flight Attendant"BLOG!
Hy'ch qa! (Thank you!) to my Family & Friends for encouraging me to write (as a way to ease my Idle No More anxiety). I am thrilled to write my 1st post in my brand spanking new BLOG! (Thank you to my nephew E for his technical expertise!) While I look forward to writing about travel, food, culture etc. Today, writing about anything else other than "Idle No More" would be frivolous.
IDLE NO MORE #J11: A wildfire storm
O' Sii'em (Respected ones),
For the record: my Ancestors, Family, Community & Nations have NOT been "Idle".
(such a challenging choice for the name of such an important movement! However, in the spirit of consensus, I have agreed to support for the greater good: especially for the social awareness and educational aspects)
We, the Coast Salish & the Nuu-chah-nulth people, have been governing and asserting our Rights: in our Longhouses; naming our children, commemorating birth, marriage & death, receiving the sxwayxway mask, memorializing our ancestors. Our Chief & Council fights daily: battling with Canada, BC, the city of Nanaimo, and any number of other groups i.e. The Nanaimo Port Authority.
We have NOT been IDLE! I will Stand up & Support what is RIGHT but I will not follow blindly especially Idle No More's de facto leadership.
Generally, the people are saying, "INM has no leaders, the people are the leaders". Predictably, it has been interesting to watch the "wannabe leaders" emerge from the woodwork espousing their own philosophies. Further, the people of the movement have been railing against the elected Chiefs. Divisive tactics under the guise #DividedNoMore are completely ironic! I am a voting member of the SFN and our Chief votes at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). In Snuneymuxw, we have built our own Electoral Code. As such our elections are not held under the regulations of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development (DIAND).
Yet, on January 10, 2013 some of those same elected leaders converged onto Ottawa to proclaim that they are not taking part in the J11 Assembly of First Nations meeting with Prime Minister Harper. REALLY?!
AFN Regional groupings are siding with the demands of Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat who has been on a Hunger Strike since December 11, 2012. One such demand is that both Prime Minister Harper and the Govenor General David Lloyd Johnston attend a meeting together.
(note bene: over 500 of these Chiefs attended the AFN election and 341 voted for National Chief Shawn Atleo [A-in-chut] just over 5 months ago in July 2012 in Toronto)
I cannot support the choice of Chief Spence to conduct a Hunger Strike. From the beginning of the Hunger Strike, I have had an instinctual opposition to it. Yes, our people have a national suicide rate that is 5-6 times higher than among non-aboriginal youth. As a First Nations woman and Mother who has experienced the tragedies of family and community members committing suicide, I cannot condone anyone especially, a role model such as a Chief choosing this path to a meeting. I am anguished at the thought of how this Hunger Strike may end: I will pray for Chief Spence, her family & community...We have teachings to not look at the ground, "there is nothing there for you", especially if you are a leader you hold your head up high and proud...
I would like to know if proper protocols were adhered to in our Nation to Nation governance. Did Chief Spence ask permission of the Chiefs of the Algonquin Nations to conduct her Hunger Strike in their traditional territory?
The Idle No More movement has been as exhilarating,fascinating, scary and exhausting as a wildfire. The energy of our people gathering has been incredible. I have actively participated in an IDM Rally organized by Tyger Man in Nanaimo, BC, the traditional territory of my people of the Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN). This gathering was held on January 7, 2013 at a traditional village site of the SFN known as Kwa'sula'qwul. Held in conjunction with a meeting organized by Michelle Corfield, concerned citizens, fishermen & Protection Islanders we rallied together against the Nanaimo Port Authority's proposal to privatize the Nanaimo harbour boat basin. This meeting epitomized how a united gathering of both Snuneymuxw & Nanaimoites can work together to effect positive change.
Today, I will pray to the Creator that our people, young and old are safe from the political backlash; for all leaders to work for the good of all; for the greater good of all Canadians that a fair and equitable solution is found "because we matter to each other".
I pray that this energy is harnessed in the right direction that fuels the fire with STRATEGY, PURPOSE and PROGRESS in UNITY...
chuu, (this conversation will continue)
Tsatassaya
