The Idle No More movement continues to pick up steam. But is all of the drumming and chanting doing any good?
A Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll done earlier this month found that only four in 10 Canadians is sympathetic to the goals of Idle No More. But the same poll found that fewer than four in 10 Canadians were familiar with the aims of the movement.
To us, that’s a big disconnect and a sign that supporters aren’t piquing the average citizen’s interest with demonstrations. That doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty of work to do to resolve systemic problems in the relationship between First Nations and government. Getting key players on both sides to sit down and talk about those issues is a good start.
Assembly of First Nations national chief Shawn Atleo, who met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Jan. 11, says his organization will pressure the feds to continue working toward improving that relationship.
Atleo and Harper met a year ago in what the prime minister’s office called “a historic meeting.”
No doubt, work has since been done to clarify goals around governance, access to education, community self-sufficiency and other areas. Idle No More emerged, nonetheless, which makes one question whether Harper and company were paying lip service to First Nations last January.
Despite the seeming disconnect with the majority of Canadians, the grassroots protest movement has restoked the fire in First Nations and is slowly getting non-aboriginals to pay more attention to grassroots aboriginal issues.
But progress won’t come through noisy demonstrations. It’ll be achieved through First Nations leaders working together with government using a focused, unified, businesslike approach.
— Victoria News
