Holed up inside for the last few weeks with a chest infection, I’ve spent my time examining the coverage of the Idle No More movement.
I’ve read countless articles. Reviewed comments on social media sites (including reading a staggering 1,021 comments for one article alone on the CBC website). And what I have concluded so far is there is a lot of interest in this issue, but a lot of confusion about what exactly the “issue” is.
More than 3,000 people seem to think that the CBC is giving too much coverage to the protests, and “glorifying the cause.” More than 800 readers agreed with a comment that the blockades could be seen as an “act of war to some Americans” and the army should be called in to put a stop to these peaceful demonstrations.
What the debate has highlighted is just how invasive the misunderstanding is between First Nations groups and non-First Nations in Canada. I can say this from experience. What is happening in Canada now reminds me of New Zealand in the 1970s when the indigenous Maori started to protest to protect their treaty rights.
It took the non-indigenous population of New Zealand years to realize that the issue was not about federal finding, or land, or rights to natural resources, or even the treaty. These smaller issues are part of the larger issue, which is about governance, language, preserving culture, and how decisions are made that affect indigenous populations.
Which brings us Bill C-45.
What is obvious from much of the coverage and commentary is that the issue of Bill C-45 has been lost in the fray. It was this omnibus bill that started the demonstrations not just because of what it purports to achieve, but because of the way it was introduced without adequate consultation with First Nation groups.
Idle No More did not start in a vacuum. It started in response to Bill C-45, which is the catalyst behind this.
And it is not just First Nations groups who are opposed to it. On Nov. 21, an open letter was sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper from several groups expressing disappointment at the way the government has chosen to “rewrite some of Canada’s foundational environmental protection laws” with C-45. The signatories to the letter — including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace Canada, and World Wildlife Fund — allege that Bill C-45 “weakens Canada’s environmental laws,” removes critical safeguards, and limits public involvement in projects that could threaten the “air, water, soil and ecosystems on which all Canadians, and our economy, depend.”
It seems that Bill C-45 has opened a can of worms. I wonder if anyone in Canada quite realizes yet how far this could go. In New Zealand, the process is still ongoing, but to date vast tracks of land have been returned, rights granted to Maori over airwaves, fisheries, and water resources, and a Maori sovereignty flag was endorsed to fly alongside the New Zealand flag on days of national significance.
What I want to say to Canadians is that this is an issue that cuts deep. It is not solved with knee-jerk reactions like I have seen written in the comments to articles and on social media. This should be seen as a chance to bring change that is beneficial to both sides.
We need to work together on this. Ignoring it, getting angry or getting frustrated will not make it go away.
It will take time. But if Canada follows the lead of other post-colonial countries that have grappled with these issues for years, it will speed up the reconciliation process that will be beneficial to all.
Original Article
Source: guelphmercury.com
Author: Dana Wensley
I’ve read countless articles. Reviewed comments on social media sites (including reading a staggering 1,021 comments for one article alone on the CBC website). And what I have concluded so far is there is a lot of interest in this issue, but a lot of confusion about what exactly the “issue” is.
More than 3,000 people seem to think that the CBC is giving too much coverage to the protests, and “glorifying the cause.” More than 800 readers agreed with a comment that the blockades could be seen as an “act of war to some Americans” and the army should be called in to put a stop to these peaceful demonstrations.
What the debate has highlighted is just how invasive the misunderstanding is between First Nations groups and non-First Nations in Canada. I can say this from experience. What is happening in Canada now reminds me of New Zealand in the 1970s when the indigenous Maori started to protest to protect their treaty rights.
It took the non-indigenous population of New Zealand years to realize that the issue was not about federal finding, or land, or rights to natural resources, or even the treaty. These smaller issues are part of the larger issue, which is about governance, language, preserving culture, and how decisions are made that affect indigenous populations.
Which brings us Bill C-45.
What is obvious from much of the coverage and commentary is that the issue of Bill C-45 has been lost in the fray. It was this omnibus bill that started the demonstrations not just because of what it purports to achieve, but because of the way it was introduced without adequate consultation with First Nation groups.
Idle No More did not start in a vacuum. It started in response to Bill C-45, which is the catalyst behind this.
And it is not just First Nations groups who are opposed to it. On Nov. 21, an open letter was sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper from several groups expressing disappointment at the way the government has chosen to “rewrite some of Canada’s foundational environmental protection laws” with C-45. The signatories to the letter — including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace Canada, and World Wildlife Fund — allege that Bill C-45 “weakens Canada’s environmental laws,” removes critical safeguards, and limits public involvement in projects that could threaten the “air, water, soil and ecosystems on which all Canadians, and our economy, depend.”
It seems that Bill C-45 has opened a can of worms. I wonder if anyone in Canada quite realizes yet how far this could go. In New Zealand, the process is still ongoing, but to date vast tracks of land have been returned, rights granted to Maori over airwaves, fisheries, and water resources, and a Maori sovereignty flag was endorsed to fly alongside the New Zealand flag on days of national significance.
What I want to say to Canadians is that this is an issue that cuts deep. It is not solved with knee-jerk reactions like I have seen written in the comments to articles and on social media. This should be seen as a chance to bring change that is beneficial to both sides.
We need to work together on this. Ignoring it, getting angry or getting frustrated will not make it go away.
It will take time. But if Canada follows the lead of other post-colonial countries that have grappled with these issues for years, it will speed up the reconciliation process that will be beneficial to all.
Original Article
Source: guelphmercury.com
Author: Dana Wensley
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