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Idle No More movement protests at Eaton Centre

Posted By: Siobhan Morris · 12/30/2012 12:25:00 PM

Hundreds of people with the Idle No More movement demonstatred at the Eaton Centre Sunday afternoon.

The group converged on the Centre Court fountain at 2pm.  Demonstrators moved up through the mall, holding banners over the fountain from 4 floors up.

The group drummed, clapped & chanted "Meet Chief Spence".

Similar demonstrations have been taking place across Canada & in the US in recent weeks.  On December 21st, about 1000 Idle No More demonstrators closed the intersection of Yonge & Dundas.

The Idle No More movement was born out opposition to the federal budget bill & it's possible impact on Aboriginal communities.  The bill removed federal oversight over waterways without consulting aboriginal groups who depend on them for water & food.

Theresa Spence, Chief of the Attawapiskat reserve is on day 19 of a hunger strike.  She has vowed to continue it until she gets a meeting with Prime Minister Harper to discuss treaty issues.

The government points to a meeting it held last January with First Nations leaders as proof it's serious about improving their relationship.  The government adds that it's spent millions on aboriginal health, housing & education.

But aboriginal leaders say they're being left out of the discussion the government is having about how best to develop Canada's lucrative natural resources.

Spence has turned down offers from Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan to meet up.

(With files from the Canadian Press)

*Pictures from twitter, video from Occupy Bay Street

 

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  1. proton posted on 12/30/2012 03:27 PM
    this is like caledonia 2. if we tried a similar stunt we'd all be arrested. don't you just love the 2 sets of laws this province operates under? great justice system we have here. in other countries they'd call it corruption and/or prejudice
    1. Jeff posted on 12/30/2012 07:19 PM
      @proton @proton "Caledonia 2? if we tried a similar stunt we'd all be arrested" Did I dream the how OCCUPY protests? I don't recall our jails boiling over then. Just saying.
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  2. Pete posted on 12/30/2012 03:46 PM
    It's incredible! It seems, whatever your cause or disgruntlement may be, just go in droves to somewhere centralized and take over and make sure that everyone ls is inconvenienced and intimidated. It's usually people who cause mayhem because they don't have real lives, who are attracted to these "protests". I guess their way of thinking is if they disrupt people, traffic etc, they'll get their way. Hope it doesn't happen. Tomorrow there will be another group with another cause.
    1. sumaal posted on 12/30/2012 04:10 PM
      @Pete Can you please indicate how anyone was intimidated? Making such senseless allegations is fear mongering at its worst. Certainly your assertion that "they don't have real lives" is akin to someone suggesting that people who make inane assertions in response to media articles "need a life". The fact that this large and growing group is staging peaceful protests to ensure that the Canadian public is aware of the issues facing First Nations groups in this country is to be commended. Apartheid needs to stop existing in Canada.
    2. Bibo posted on 12/30/2012 05:49 PM
      @Pete When you experience for yourself the ramifications of Harper's self serving Bills you will appreciate what these people are doing for you!
      Your comment only illuminate your ignorance of the injustice Harper is bringing to bare on the Canadian people.
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  3. Toby Lake posted on 12/30/2012 04:08 PM
    So I see the trolls on here are at it again, bashing a movement for petty moronic catch phrases like "i don't understand that so its dumb". Go stick your head in a vice.

    For all those who are actually interested because the city is getting boring and embracing people we care about is important to us, you can follow the movement at http://www.facebook.com/IdleNoMoreNewsGroup?fref=ts and check out my contribution at www.facebook.com/pebble.paper .
    1. Pete posted on 12/30/2012 04:41 PM
      @Toby Lake Mob mentality is always intimidating. You go stick your head in a vice. And because you think that city is getting boring and want to embrace people you care about does not give you the right to disrupt everyone with your mob mentality. Toby........I knew you would be there, you don't have a life! This is what you do, join, join, join and spew your nonsensical garbage.
    2. proton posted on 12/30/2012 05:16 PM
      @Toby Lake perhaps if their leaders "idled no more" the natives wouldn't be living in such squalor, poorly educated, housed, etc.

      gov't has given billions to native people yet many bands/communities continue to live in abhorrent conditions.

      ask yourself where the money went. anyone with minimal sense could spend that money to help their community rather than spend it on themselves. it's shameful and should be criminal what these band leaders have done to their communities, not all but quite a large number
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  4. Ken posted on 12/31/2012 11:54 AM
    I wish I had time to demostrate against my beefs with our society. I'm too busy working hard, paying my taxes, volunteering in the community, raising my own kids, spending time with my kids and trying to buy Canadian. A lot of these people have no desire to contribute any share to society let alone their fair share. They simply have the mentality that society owes them everything. A number of them are sponsored by unions and the left-wing media to show up and disrupt the working class. A number of them are simply anarchists that simply have the mentality of morons but are looked after in our tolerant society. A number of them are the result of sperm and egg blended from a group we call first Canadians - so we give them special rights and laws and rules and unaccounted for monies. It's too bad we don't have a real provincial government. It's too bad the government directs the police to selectively enforce the laws. And we call ourselves a democracy?
    1. proton posted on 12/31/2012 04:00 PM
      @Ken as long as we continue to elect mcchickens this nonsense will continue and only get worse.

      if those people spent half that energy working, getting jobs, etc. they'd be a lot farther ahead and a lot happier. Why bother though when we have a system that patronizes their attitude and disincentivises them to work.

      The advantage is that my kids have less competition for jobs because they have a strong work ethic. The disadvantage is they (and we) pay higher taxes to support people that don't want to work, as opposed to those who really can't (and do deserve some support)

      Long live Ronald Reagan and his actions with the air traffic controllers. we need leaders like him, with cojonas
  5. kenfromcanada posted on 12/31/2012 01:10 PM
    proton - A fan of your posts - Happy New Year!

    To point:



    TROLLS - lolol- Sorry Toby - the first person who calls another a troll - usually is. BUT - does an active posting life preclude one from being a troll, or, make one a troll? I do not know - but, have a good guess.

    As one who has a more than passing acquaintance with our legal system - professionally - I am incensed at the amount of 'leeway' given to the Occupy people - whom I remember had a Native Canadian Contingent at the park - and to the Caledonia mob. And - MOB they are.
    1. proton posted on 12/31/2012 03:50 PM
      @kenfromcanada likewise with your posts Ken. Happy New Year to you as well!
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