Idle No More is a grassroots social movement founded in 2012 by Nina Wilson, Sylvia McAdam, Jessica Gordon and Sheelah McLean.  The movement began partially as a reaction to Bill C-45, the omnibus federal budget bill, which included measures to reduce the number of federally protected waterways along with substantial changes to major pieces of legislation such as the Fisheries Act and the Indian Act.

Idle No More “calls on all people to join in a revolution which honors and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty which protects the land and water. ” A National Day of Solidarity and Resurgence was called for 10 December 2012, and protests were held across Canada. Indigenous activists and their allies have continued to expand the movement using social media to organize local action including rallies, roadblocks, and hunger strikes. 

Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence began an indefinite hunger strike in coordination with Idle No More on December 11 2012, seeking good faith negotiations between the Crown and First Nations leaders and calling for greater respect of treaty rights. 

Find continuing coverage of #idlenomore on rabble.ca.

 

 

The manifesto for Idle No More: http://idlenomore1.blogspot.ca/p/manifesto.html