Idle No More in Sechelt

The Sechelt Nation stands up against Prime Minister Harper

The Idle No More native rights movement – and it is a movement –plans to stage worldwide rallies on Friday, January 11 in solidarity with Canada’s Aboriginal communities.
Organizers have designated this as the Global Day of Action. It coincides with the same day that Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to meet with some native leaders, including Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence.
Spence has held a hunger strike since December 11, 2012, and intends to continue the protest until Harper meets with the leaders of indigenous communities.
Harper had ignored the movement’s requests for several weeks, but on January 4, he agreed to the meeting after the hunger strike sparked several protests in and outside Canada.
The protests like the one held here in Sechelt last Friday are aimed at drawing the world’s attention to Ottawa’s rights abuses against the Aboriginal communities and undermining previously agreed treaties. The rally saw Chief Garry Feschuk, Sechelt Elder Barb Higgins and others address the crowds of people in support of the movement.
It was Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike that has really inspired a generation of Indigenous youth to stand up, organize and speak out right now. “She is prepared to die for us,” one young man explained.