The Generation that Refuses to Give Up

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 21^st 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