Dreaming Canada...

Then 

Now that I've said I can't be arsed keeping this blog updated, awesome things keep happening.

So, last night we promenade along Broadway, at the Fringe Festival, is one is wont to do, and we pass by the sound check for Dreamwatchers so make a point of catching their show. Awesome, as we say.

Then the next day. on campus, I call in to the Gordon Oakes Aboriginal Student Centre and here's Dreamcatchers getting a tour. And one of the young women talks to Willa and tells her to live her dreams, and how the Creator has put in place the people and things she needs to achieve those dreams.

She gives the news that a group she is involved with, Indigenous Climate Action, have been won a prize - the Lush Award - for their work.

All of which is quite inspiring.

Tautoko Idle No More

The value of Twitter, or at least the people I follow, is driven home by the Idle No More protests of First Nations fellow travellers in Canada. Their manifesto reads a follows...

We contend that:
The Treaties are nation to nation agreements between First Nations and the Crown who are sovereign nations. The Treaties are agreements that cannot be altered or broken by one side of the two Nations. The spirit and intent of the Treaty agreements meant that First Nations peoples would share the land, but retain their inherent rights to lands and resources. Instead, First Nations have experienced a history of colonization which has resulted in outstanding land claims, lack of resources and unequal funding for services such as education and housing.

We contend that:
Canada has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world by using the land and resources. Canadian mining, logging, oil and fishing companies are the most powerful in the world due to land and resources. Some of the poorest First Nations communities (such as Attawapiskat) have mines or other developments on their land but do not get a share of the profit. The taking of resources has left many lands and waters poisoned – the animals and plants are dying in many areas in Canada. We cannot live without the land and water. We have laws older than this colonial government about how to live with the land.

We contend that:
Currently, this government is trying to pass many laws so that reserve lands can also be bought and sold by big companies to get profit from resources. They are promising to share this time…Why would these promises be different from past promises? We will be left with nothing but poisoned water, land and air. This is an attempt to take away sovereignty and the inherent right to land and resources from First Nations peoples.

We contend that:
There are many examples of other countries moving towards sustainability, and we must demand sustainable development as well. We believe in healthy, just, equitable and sustainable communities and have a vision and plan of how to build them.

Please join us in creating this vision.

 

 

 

I see crazed and crazy posts on the blog, but also reasoned and compassionate replies. In a world of re-indigenising humanity, this marks an important time.

 

Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.