The #idlenomore movement in Response to the passing of Bill
C-45, makes me prouder than ever to be an Indigenous Women in a generation that
is determined to make and demand change.
I was looking through my twitter, and following some updates
of the #idlenomore, and It hit me, it was literally one of those comedic “light
bulb” moments you see in cartoons.
The last week I was in Zambia, Women for Change was
advocating and educating Women from every part of the country. The Women were
coming together to stand up for their Basic Human Rights, and also Women’s
Rights they've never been granted before.
While I was there, The Zambian Government released the first
draft of a New Constitution (the last Constitution was from Colonial Times
which was surpressed on Zambians)
Many Women’s groups, and NGO’s unified to put together a
massive conference to unite Women to Educate ALL women, regardless of the tribe
they were from, which Indigenous Language they spoke, how wealthy or non
wealthy they were, there was no discrimination. Just Women to Women.
All of the Women came together, not only to get Educated
about the Constitution, but to forward their recommendations for the Second
draft. When the Conference was over, ALL
the women, were unified in their stance in regards to the constitution.
This loops back to the relationship we have with our
Brothers and Sisters across the World. Our Sisters in Zambia, took all the
knowledge they learned at that conference, back home to Educate all the other women who
could not attend.
There was a day in
Zambia, I asked the Creator why he sent me here, and I got one answer, “He sent
you here to show you something” Now I
know what that something was. An example of how to mobilize and educate the people.
This relates to us here in Canada, because here we are,
Chief Spence in her 21st day of her Hunger Strike, and there are still
many First Nations who may not fully understand what the movement is about. It
is very complex to understand, there are many layers to peel back to fully
grasp it’s complexity. You need to know what the treaties are, Indigenous Rights,
and Human Rights, and how the Bill got to where it is today in terms of the Justice system.
I'm a fourth year University Student, and I still am researching about it,I know in my own community, there is a high percentage of
the adult population that have literacy troubles, How do you expect them to
fully understand, when we need to back up, and educate about the treaties
first, before we explain how the Bill will be hindering protection of the land,
or about the Sustainability of our Water.
I think about the Women’s Constitution Conference and how
women from all walks of life, had united together to fight for their rights as
Women. I never mention a problem, without ever having a solution to offer.
First Nations need to move forward with one unified response.The Conservative government will not listen, if all of our Chiefs have
different responses, or critiques of the movement, we'll be disregarded once again, claiming, we don't know what we want.
This is the Generation that refuses to give
up
I think about the
African Proverb:
“If you
think you are too small to make a difference, you have never spent a night with
a mosquito”
#idlenmore
@ashleydennehy
