Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Review: Ghost Sick by Emily Pohl-Weary
Ghost Sick
Emily Pohl-Weary
Tightrope Books
Reviewed By: Christine Smith (McFarlane)
Violence and crime do not just affect a victim and their
family; it also affects a whole community. This is evident in the poetry of
Emily Pohl-Weary in her book Ghost Sick, where she writes about violence and
its impact not only on herself but on her community as a whole.
Pohl-Weary’s poetry in Ghost Sick are deep and poignant, I
especially empathize with the poem World
of Sorrow where Pohl-Weary writes about a Christmas Eve shooting and says
“Before that night
I had no way of comprehending
It only takes a second to tear
The spirit from a young body
Bullets
A .22 aimed behind parked cars
Five blocks from our childhood home
Business as usual ended a boy’s life
Nearly ripped a brother from mine”
Ghost Sick makes you look deep inside yourself, takes your breathe
away and leaves you with wanting more. A great collection of poetry overall.
Ghost Sick is published by Tightrope Books and is 105 pages
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Review: HeartBeat of A Warrior
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Review: Heartbeat of A Warrior: Aboriginal Men’s Writing,
Art & Culture
BY: Christine Smith (McFarlane)
“Heartbeat of A Warrior: Aboriginal Men’s Writing, Art &
Culture” is a small collection of poetry, photography and art that was borne
out of a few years work at “Sagatay” a Native men’s program through a Native
Men’s Residence- Na-Me-Res based in Toronto.
Emily Pohl Weary, a local Toronto writer and the men in the
Sagatay Progam developed two volumes of writings called Broken Arrow. Lee
Maracle, a renowned author, and grandmother of Aboriginal Literature then
became a guest teacher for Pohl-Weary during the course of her creative writing
courses with the men. Maracle says, “Some of the men who participated in this
project had been writing for some time. Others were new to the experience, but
all were eager to put their hearts and minds to the task.”
The poetry within this book is heartfelt, moving, and
courageous. The theme, according to guest teacher, Lee Maracle of this book
“was for the men to come to understand themselves as modern Warriors and to
respect the journey’s their lives have been on.”
Many of the poems that resonated with me speak of roads to
recovery whether its from drugs, alcohol or violence. In one poem “Untitled”,
the writer Windwolf writes
“Today you’re making
a change in your life
Even when its too
little to notice the change
You’ve changed more
than anyone could have dreamed
Be happy and never
let another person’s opinion about you
Bring you down
You are worth more
than you think”
The poems within Heartbeat of A Warrior are tinged with a
wide range of emotions, and a great read if you need a quick pick me up to
remind yourself of where you are in your journey in life. The poems remind you
most of all that you are not alone, and that there are others out there too who
may be fighting the same battle as you.
Na-Me-Res is selling
the book to fund the Na-Me-Res/ Sagatay Apaenmowineen Life Skills Program. The
book sells at $15 a book, $12 for multiple copies and $10 for 100 plus copies.
The contact person for this book is Marshall Schuhert, and he can be reached at mschuchert@nameres.org
Heartbeat of A Warrior: Aboriginal Men’s Writing, Art &
Culture is 102 pages long. ISBN: 978-0-9918291-0-1
Please note this is a cross post with this review soon being published in Anishinabek News
Please note this is a cross post with this review soon being published in Anishinabek News
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Fashions for Passions Hosts its 3rd Annual Gathering-Honouring Our Stolen Sisters
Fashions for Passions hosts its third annual gala, Honouring Our Stolen Sisters
Toronto, ON (September 3, 2015)- Fashions for Passions (www.fashionsforpassions.ca), founded by VWAT Family Services, will be hosting its third annual gala, on Wednesday, September 23rd at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Grand (Governor's Room). The gala will include a four-course dinner, a live auction hosted by Gordon Cressy, as well as a silent auction. Five
designers from |FAT| Arts & Fashion Week will be featured in the
show, and Andrea Menard and Kaitlin Kozell will be providing
entertainment for the evening. This year’s gala aims to raise
awareness against the violence and trafficking of women and girls,
thus entitled “Honouring Our Stolen Sisters.” This year, the gala will be honouring Ms. Winnie Ng, Ms. Loly Rico and Ms. Susan Langdon with the Icons of Empowerment award in recognition of their passion and dedication in furthering the status of women and girls.
“We intend to impact more people than ever before,” says Thien LE “Every
year, our level of impact has increased. It’s encouraged us to push for
more so we can continue to break down the stigma around violence
towards and the trafficking of women and girls.”
The
gala aims to help educate people on the factors that contribute to
perpetuating the violence and trafficking of women, with particular
focus on the missing Aboriginal women. By initiating a conversation,
Fashions for Passions aims to engage Torontonians to stand in solidarity
with the Board of Directors of VWAT to help improve the status of all
women. The proceeds from the gala go directly to VWAT’s domestic
violence services and two other local agencies with anti-violence and
anti-trafficking services, equally.
In
the past, Fashions for Passions Gala has had 4.2 million social media
impressions. Those impressions were people who read and gained awareness
about intimate violence and trafficking in Canada, and the necessity of
coming together as a community to put an end to these injustices. By
inviting community leaders and prominent Torontonians to Fashions for
Passions each year, the conversation continues to grow through the
sharing of information and encouraging individual, organizational and
systemic efforts to challenge the violence against and trafficking of
women and girls.
Media are invited to attend the event on Wednesday September 23 at the Liberty Grand (Governor's Room) at 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP to jessica@glocommunications.ca.
Fashions
for Passions was created to raise awareness and funds for local
organizations that work towards anti-violence and anti-human trafficking
initiatives. It was established in 2013, when the VWAT Board of
Directors, after 33 years of supporting immigrant and newcomer
communities, decided to create a program targeting the lack of awareness
and support for these issues stemming from the stigma surrounding them.
The gala features socially conscious and ethical local designers while
offering a space to discuss modern day slavery and different forms of
violence that happen both in Canada and globally, as well as ways to
contribute to solving these issues. The VWAT’s vision is to raise enough
awareness and funds to sustain the growth of programs and services
available to victims of violence and trafficking to ultimately help them
regain self-esteem and empower them to live free.
About the VWAT Family Services:
For 33 years, VWAT Family Services has been integral in the adaptation of Vietnamese newcomers and immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area. VWAT is the first point of contact for those who seek community supports to achieve their goal of integration and belonging in Canada, while preserving their Vietnamese culture. Since 2002, we have worked with over 24,000 people through VWAT’s dedicated campaigns to raising awareness and direct supports for victims of intimate violence by walking with them, every step of the way, until they gain confidence and self-esteem to reclaim control of their lives. VWAT provides a safe place for anyone who seeks support, referral services and educational workshops to assist in their success. We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable community that empowers women and girls to live free.
For 33 years, VWAT Family Services has been integral in the adaptation of Vietnamese newcomers and immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area. VWAT is the first point of contact for those who seek community supports to achieve their goal of integration and belonging in Canada, while preserving their Vietnamese culture. Since 2002, we have worked with over 24,000 people through VWAT’s dedicated campaigns to raising awareness and direct supports for victims of intimate violence by walking with them, every step of the way, until they gain confidence and self-esteem to reclaim control of their lives. VWAT provides a safe place for anyone who seeks support, referral services and educational workshops to assist in their success. We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable community that empowers women and girls to live free.
For further inquiries, or media accreditation please contact:
Jessica Glover, GLO Communications at jessica@glocommunications.ca – 416.892.4833 or
Chrissy Newton, VOCAB Communications at chrissy@vocabcommunications.
Jessica Glover, GLO Communications at jessica@glocommunications.ca – 416.892.4833 or
Chrissy Newton, VOCAB Communications at chrissy@vocabcommunications.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Latest Review on Rabble.ca- The Arrogant Autocrat-Stephen Harper's Takeover of Canada
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Media Release- Harbourfront Centre
|
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Review: Blue Vengeance
Blue
Vengeance
Alison
Preston, 253 pages
Signature
Editions
www.signature-editions.com $16.95
Blue
Vengeance is the latest in Alison Preston’s Norwood Flats mysteries. The imagery
on the cover of the book pulls at you right away, especially when you see the
image of a young girl lying dead in the water. It makes you wonder, what
happened and ask yourself why is this girl dead?
Blue
Vengeance opens in 1964 when troubled teenager Cookie is found dead in the Red
River. Cookie was a troubled teenager who had been battling bulimia and various
other demons, that saw her become distant towards her family before her
untimely death.
Your
heartstrings are pulled when Cookie’s younger brother Danny stands at the
graveyard with his family while burying his sister and as they stand in the
rain; he recalls that his sister doesn’t like rain. He turns to his aunt and
says, “Cookie doesn’t like the rain.”(pg.1) “Hurry up” he said “We can’t be
dropping her down into a lake.” (pg.1)
Blue
Vengeance is not so much about grief, loss and coping but also about vengeance
for a young soul lost. Danny holds Cookie’s gym teacher responsible for her
death because not long before his sister died, he witnessed Mrs. Hartley being
mean to Cookie and calling her names in front of her classmates.
Danny
and Cookie’s best friend Janine conceive a plot over the course of the summer
and fall to kill Mrs. Hartley. Along with dealing with his sister’s death,
Danny also has to deal with having a mother who is not capable of helping him
through his grief due to her own illnesses and grief. We see Danny grow up
faster than his thirteen years as we see the role of parent and child reversed
with Danny undertaking household chores and cooking to help his mother out.
Essentially
this freedom, allows him to entertain thoughts of seeking vengeance for his
sister’s death and not really caring about the outcome.
(Christine
Smith (McFarlane)
Previously published in Broken Pencil Magazine
Previously published in Broken Pencil Magazine
P.S. Please note that once a month I will be posting non Native literary works
Friday, July 10, 2015
Review: Little Brother of War
Review: Little Brother of War
Reviewed By: Christine Smith (McFarlane)
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Poetry Review: Wabigoon River: Poems
Review: Wabigoon River: Poems
Reviewed by: Christine Smith McFarlane
Wabigoon River Poems is written by award winning writer
David Groulx and covers a wide range of social justice issues within a global
context. In order to fully understand the breadth of the poetry that Groulx
writes, one must take in each poem they read slowly.
By reading slowly, it is like ingesting every powerful word and
letting yourself fall into the depths of each word that is written. For an
example there is the poem “Why Are They Called White People,” where Groulx
bluntly says
“Why are they called
White people
and not immigrants
colonists
settlers
or
killers
or kidnappers
or
thieves”
This poem clearly speaks historically of the unsettling
relations between non-Native and Native peoples in the past but also in the
present. We just need to think of the impact of colonialist policies imposed
upon our people-the Indian Act, the residential school system etc.
Another poem that really struck me was “On Seeing a
Photograph of My Mother At St. Joseph Residential School for Girls,” where
Groulx metaphorically speaks of the sadness that encompasses the image he sees
off his mother in a picture from residential school and the storm that ensues from
her survival.
“Some of the girls in
the picture are smiling. You are not Your
eyes staring into the
camera Seem a million miles away
That stare I will see
seldom and one day understand that
Storms begin millions
of miles away”
Wabigoon River Poems is breathtakingly beautiful. The poems
tackle a wide range of issues such as genocide, revolution, and survival. David
Groulx does not just speak of Indigenous struggles but he also places other
battles, other atrocities and other genocides committed worldwide. A great read overall
Wabigoon River is 58 pages, and is published by Kegedonce
Press. ISBN 978-1-928120-01-8
This is a cross post-will soon be posted in Anishinabek News
Friday, July 3, 2015
Review of "Back to the Red Road: A Story of Survival, Redemption and Love"
“Back to the Red Road: A Story of
Survival, Redemption and Love”
Reviewed by:
Christine Smith (McFarlane)
“Back To The Red Road: A Story of Survival, Redemption and Love” is a memoir co-written by authors
Florence Kaefer and Edward Gamblin. It examines each author’s respective
journeys to reconciliation, redemption and love after each survives the
residential school era. Kaefer is a teacher during that era and Gamblin is a
student.
Kaefer is just
nineteen when she accepts a job as a teacher at Norway House Indian Residential
School. She states that she was not fully aware of the conditions in which the
children lived in at the school, but littered throughout her story are some
snippets of what she remembers as a teacher at that time. How can she not be aware
when she when she points out an incident of “when a little boy came back after
lunch crying,” and when asking the other students what was wrong? They stated,
“Mr. Plint had boxed the boy’s ears,” She further states that she confronted
the teacher responsible for this child crying and the teacher paid no attention
to her request to leave her children alone.
There is other
evidence throughout Back to the Red Road that makes me question how Kaefer can
purport to not know about the abuse the residential school children went
through when she reconnects with her former student Edward Gamblin, and is not
only told about the abuses he went through but as a singer he sings about it in
various cds that Kaefer comes to own.
Gamblin is five
years old when he enters the Norway House Indian Residential School, and though
he has been out of residential school for years, you can still hear his pain as
he recounts certain events to Kaefer, such as various beatings and being
sexually assaulted by one of the priests at the school.
It is after Kaefer
is reunited with Gamblin, hears his stories and hears other residential school
survivor’s stories that she feels motivated to apologize on behalf of the
school and her colleagues.
“Back to the Red Road: A Story of Survival,
Redemption and Love” is
a heartbreaking read, and as a survivor of abuse, I found it at times to be
quite triggering and difficult to digest.
Back to the Red
Road: A Story of Survival, Redemption and Love is published by Caitlin Press
and is 207 pages. ISBN: 13:978-1—927575-37-6
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Poetry- Remnants of Past Pain
By: Christine Smith McFarlane
Remnants of past pain
hit my very core
leaving me feeling
like there's a hole inside
that will never quite fill up
hit my very core
leaving me feeling
like there's a hole inside
that will never quite fill up
Remnants of past pain
hit my very core
leaving me with a sadness
i cannot quite explain
the little girl inside
weeps
but no one knows
how much it takes
just to stay strong
Remnants of past pain
hit my very core
but i hold my head up
and tell myself
if it wasn't for this pain
i wouldn't be on
this path I'm on
today
hit my very core
leaving me with a sadness
i cannot quite explain
the little girl inside
weeps
but no one knows
how much it takes
just to stay strong
Remnants of past pain
hit my very core
but i hold my head up
and tell myself
if it wasn't for this pain
i wouldn't be on
this path I'm on
today
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
Media release: Harbourfront Centre's New Season of Programming
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Celebrate the revitalized waterfront with Harbourfront Centre's new season of great programming
TORONTO , ON (June 15, 2015) - Culture lives at Harbourfront Centre with an incredible lineup of programming that crosses borders, defends diversity and proliferates the arts.
This summer, Harbourfront Centre celebrates arts and culture from around the world, along with plenty of stellar Canadian talent. Spectacular performances featuring artists from South Asia to Africa, Taiwan to Australia, Iran to the Caribbean, and right here in Canada, will be heating up Toronto all summer long. Visitors of all ages are invited to indulge in sensational festivals, outdoor concerts, Canada Day Eve Fireworks (June 30), and to experience the thrill of dancing by the lake, watching films under the stars, and much more. As always, the majority of our programming is free unless otherwise noted.
Weekly activities include the always popular Free Flicks movie night, Dancing on the Pier, Summer Music in the Garden, DJ Deep Fried Fridays, Magnetic Beats, and awesome outdoor concerts on the WestJet Stage.
Every weekend from July 3-September 7, Harbourfront Centre hosts a different curated festival designed with the whole family in mind. New festivals include FLAUNT, which honours freedom of style, and Party on the Block, where local neighbourhoods meet global sounds and movements. Visitors looking to experience the different facets of global culture can participate in TAIWANfest, Habari Africa, the Iranian festival Tirgan, the pan-Latin festival Ritmo Y Color, or the Caribbean festival Island Soul. Each weekend festival will also see unique vendors offering their wares for purchase.
New to Harbourfront Centre is The Word on the Street Book and Magazine Festival, which makes the move from Queen's Park to take place on site Sunday, September 27th. The festival will showcase Canada's hottest new books and authors, as well as the best Canadian magazines. Visitors can enjoy over 200 authors and presenters on stage and shop in the Exhibitor Marketplace, which features hundreds of vendors.
Returning this year is Planet IndigenUS, July 31-August 9. The 10-day festival features over 300 Indigenous artists from around the globe. Co-produced with the Woodland Cultural Centre, the festival focuses on the innovative voices, stories, and cultures of Indigenous people by showcasing the wealth of work across all disciplines of contemporary Indigenous art.
Getting to Harbourfront Centre is easier than ever, and the opening of the newly-renovated Queens Quay West allows visitors to fully embrace all that Harbourfront Centre has to offer. The 10-acre site is fully accessible by public transport, car, bicycle, or foot. It's less than a 10-minute walk from Union Station, a quick ride on the 509/510 streetcar (there's a streetcar stop right at our door), and there's ample parking in either one of Harbourfront Centre's two public lots. While on site, our visitors can enjoy great food and beverages at the Lakeside Local Patio, The World Café and the Lakeside Local Bar & Grill - all while taking in the best view in the city.
For a full listing of Harbourfront Centre's events, please visit harbourfrontcentre.com or call the Information Hotline at 416-973-4000. Harbourfront Centre is located at 235 Queen's Quay West in the heart of downtown Toronto's waterfront.
ABOUT HARBOURFRONT CENTRE
Harbourfront Centre is a Canadian charity operating the 10 prime acres of Toronto's central waterfront as a free and open public site. We celebrate the multiplicities of cultures that comprise Canada, and enliven the city through the creative imaginations of artists from across the country and around the globe.
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Please note individual media releases with additional information will be distributed in advance of each festival.
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
June 20
Toronto Area Board Gaming Society (TABS) Game Day
Whether you're already a fan of strategy games or have always wanted to explore the world of multi-player board gaming, this event is for you.
June 20-21
The 2nd Annual Chessfest at Harbourfront Centre
The Chess Institute of Canada and the Annex Chess Club bring the game to the waterfront.
June 20-21
Play Zone
Discover Harbourfront Centre's imagination playground for kids eight years old and under.
June 26
FIT PRIMPIN
Two of Toronto's best LGBTQ dance parties (FIT & BIG PRIMPIN) team up for the third year to present FIT PRIMPIN, a Pride party to remember.
June 30
Canada Eve Fireworks
Don't miss the best fireworks show in the city, exploding over Lake Ontario.
July 1
Canada Day: The Next Generation
Join us as we celebrate the music, food and ideas that make Canada one of the most diverse places on the planet.
July 3-5
Kick Up Your Heels
Explore a diverse range of dance forms through interactive performances, workshops and classes.
July 10-12
Party on the Block
Block party culture comes to Harbourfront Centre and art and social movements inspire each other.
July 17-19
Ritmo Y Color
The 10th edition of one of Toronto's largest pan-Latin festivals.
July 24-26
FLAUNT
Celebrating the spectacular world of vaudeville, circus, fashion and everything fabulous.
July 31-August 3
Island Soul
Explore the rhythms, mythologies, histories and delicacies of the Caribbean islands.
July 31-August 9
Planet IndigenUS
A contemporary arts and cultural festival that celebrates the voices, stories, and cultures of Indigenous people from around the world.
August 14-16
Habari Africa
Learn about the rich and diverse cultures spanning the African continent.
August 20-23
Tirgan
The world's largest Iranian festival returns with this year's theme of "Homeland."
August 28-30
TAIWANfest
Explore some of Taiwan's most remarkable artists and ideas.
September 4-7
Hot & Spicy Food Festival
This popular festival celebrates global cuisine that is hot, spicy and sustainable.
September 11-13
Veg Food Fest
Presented by the Toronto Vegetarian Association
North America's biggest vegetarian food festival returns with more than 130 vendors.
October 12
HarbourKIDS: Rites
Join us on Thanksgiving Day and share traditions through art and interactive experiences.
LITERARY
June 2
Montreal Storytellers
Join us in celebrating this famed performance group and the late Hugh Hood, one of its founding members, with readings by authors Clark Blaise, John Metcalf and Ray Smith.
June 25
Book Summit 2015: The Story at the Centre
This full-day workshop explores how readers, writers and new technology are impacting current publishing models and narrative structures.
July 16
LOVE, DISHONOR, MARRY, DIE, CHERISH, PERISH by David Rakoff
Studio 180 Theatre pays tribute to essayist, humourist and national treasure David Rakoff with a concert staging of his whimsical and deeply moving portrait of life in the 20th century.
August 4
Planet IndigenUS: In Conversation with Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Catch an in-depth conversation with non-fiction writer Sheila Watt-Cloutier about her recent work, The Right to be Cold.
September 27
The Word on the Street Book and Magazine Festival
For the first time, The Word on the Street arrives on the Harbourfront Centre site to showcase Canada's hottest new books and authors, as well as the best Canadian magazines. Enjoy over 200 authors and presenters on stage and shop in an Exhibitor Marketplace featuring hundreds of vendors.
October 22-November 1
36th International Festival of Authors
Don't miss these 11 days of readings, interviews, lectures, roundtable discussions, public book signings and special events. This year, discover the work of emerging and established poets and the best of contemporary Catalonian literature.
VISUAL ARTS
June 20-September 7
Eminent Domain
Bik Van der Pol continues their investigation on the ways that human activity in the globalized age has a direct effect on ecological systems.
June 20-September 7
Mine
A newly commissioned project that refers on the one hand to the commercial practice of extracting valuable subterranean minerals and on the other, to the possessive pronoun.
June 20-September 7
The Mouth Holds the Tongue
A project exploring the depths of collaboration, created by Nadia Belerique, Lili Huston-Herterich and Laurie Kang.
June 20-September 7
(art)work(sport)work(sex)work
YES! Association/Föreningen JA! puts into practice a structural redistribution of access to financial resources, space and time within the contemporary art sphere through engaging in strategies related to rights discourse and inclusion, radical difference and utopia.
June 20-September 20
Summer Exhibitions
Part of Planet IndigenUS
Five exhibitions featuring more than 27 artists who explore the relationship between land, politics and art.
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Thursdays, June 25-September 3
Dancing on the Pier
Learn how to salsa, meringue, swing and more on Toronto's favourite open-air dance floor.
Fridays, July 3-September 4
DJ Deep Fried Fridays
DJs bring their best beats and chefs bring their favourite fried foods every Friday night from 7-9 pm.
Fridays, July 3-September 4
Magnetic Beats
A social and interactive series combining urban dance and music in one space from 8-10 pm.
Saturdays, July 4-September 5
Lakeside Late Nights
Every Saturday night we offer a unique late night experience inspired and informed by each weekend festival theme.
Most Sundays and Thursdays, July 2-September 13
Summer Music in the Garden
Presented by TD Bank Group
Experience the best classical music from around the world in a wonderfully serene setting.
Wednesdays, July 8 - September 2
Free Flicks
Presented by PortsToronto
Free movies by the lake. This year's theme explores different generations within families.
LAKESIDE DINING AND SHOPPING
May 16-October 12
World Café
An extension of some of the busiest kitchens in the GTA, and an important complement to the summer festival season.
June 20-September 7
Lakeview Market
Visitors can browse through a wide range of clothing, house wares, artifacts and other products.
May 16-October 12
Lakeside Local Patio
A fully licensed venue serving up great food with the best view of Lake Ontario.
Year-round
Lakeside Local Bar & Grill
Delicious casual dining on the waterfront overlooking the action happening around the Natrel Pond.
Year-round
The Harbourfront Centre Shop
A curated selection of extraordinary accessories, gifts and one-of-a-kind unsubscribe from Harbourfront Centres media relations database,
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay W M5J 2G8
416-973-4600
www.harbourfrontcentre.com
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Book Review: #IDLENOMORE and the Remaking of Canada
Book Review: #IdleNoMore:
And The Remaking of Canada
Written By: Ken
Coates
Reviewed By: Christine Smith (McFarlane)
“#IDLENOMORE and
the Remaking of Canada” is a book that kind of examines the roots of the powerful
Idle No More movement of 2012 but I get the impression that the author really
just argues about how relations between First Nations peoples and non-native
peoples were leading up to the Idle No More Movement and have come to be since.
The author
states in the preface that “my emotions relative to the movement like most
non-Aboriginal Canadians have run the gamut,” and that “it is hard to explain a
movement that was, intentionally, leaderless, inspired by remarkable founders,
suffused with a decolonization critique, peaceful, largely comprised of young
people, and far more cultural than political.”
The Idle No More
Movement of 2012 was launched by four women in Saskatchewan, most specifically
Jessica Gordon, Sylvia McAdam, Sheelah MacLean and Nina Wilson in response to
the launch of Bill C-45 by Stephen Harper and the Conservative government. Bill
C-45 was a bill that was set up to implement the 2012 federal budget, but came at
a cost for First Nations peoples. It meant many changes, most notably changes
to band control over the land and environmental regulations for Aboriginal
people.
Idle No More started
out as a post on facebook, and began as a small teach in in Saskatoon. It was a
movement that grew beyond social media that went right across Canada It was
huge in the sense that First Nations people were asserting their rights and
airing their concerns in a way that had not been done before. You just need to
remember the collective marches, the sound of the drums and the round dances
that happened at each event or gathering.
There was a message in “Idle No More,” and
from the beginning it was a declaration of the women’s determination that
they-and anyone who wanted to join them- would not sit silently while the
Government of Canada transformed the foundations of environmental and
Indigenous law.”
Author Ken
Coates feels that in order to understand the origins of #Idle No More and how
it began, it is important to look at the many good reasons for Aboriginal
people to be upset and also feels that the social geography of the Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal relationship needs to be explained.
Coates
identifies issues that have kept Aboriginal people angry and frustrated and
lays an explanatory framework for the events of 2012. He not only speaks about
the Indian Act and how it controlled and limited the freedoms of First Nations
peoples but he also writes about how there were notions of cultural and
religious superiority that convinced the government to regulate crucial
Aboriginal traditions, the use of Indian agents, the refusal of First Nations
to be able to meet for the purposes of lobbying or protesting, and the list
goes on.
Coates states
“Some Canadians might not know of the pattern of mistreatment but that the
ignorance” of these issues no longer holds because there are new perspectives
and interpretations being told in schools about Aboriginal history, there is
broad coverage in the media and popular culture of the impact of government
actions on Indigenous people.” And non-Aboriginal Canadians are slowly and
uneasily coming to terms with the historical injustices that have been a part
of First Nations people’s lives.
Though Coates
argues that “the last four decades have seen the Government of Canada and
latterly the provincial and territorial governments spend billions of dollars
to address historical grievances and support Indigenous efforts to overcome
historical legacies, I tend to disagree with him.
Within the
author’s view the process has been administratively extensive but collectively
more than a little insincere. If the process in which the government is
collectively trying to right their wrongs, there still wouldn’t be the issues
we face today- discrimination, racism, the need for a Truth and Reconciliation
Commission to state what all First Nations people have known for years- that
the government has committed genocide against First Nations people, and the
Harper government is doing everything it can to erode First Nations peoples
rights as a people.
Coates states
“Revolutionary change happens when opponents of the current regime rise up and
overthrow it. Idle No More did not affect that kind of change and the
organizers never intended it to,” but really when you think of it, Idle No More
was a success, it launched a national evolution, it brought First Nations
concerns to the forefront instead of being swept to the backroom of offices,
school campuses and in our communities. We have been heard to some degree and
that is better than not at all!
#IDLENOMORE and the Remaking of Canada is
published by the University of Regina Press and is 230 pages. It sells for
$27.95 ISBN:9780889773424
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