01) SOLIDARITY WITH THE "IDLE NO MORE" MOVEMENT

Resolution adopted by the Central Committee, Communist Party of Canada, December 15‑16, 2012, Toronto

     On December 10, the United Nations International Human Rights Day, Aboriginal peoples took to the streets by the thousands, in cities and towns across Canada. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Canada sends our deepest solidarity to the "Idle No More" movement which initiated this historic struggle against Bill C‑45 and the entire racist agenda of the Harper Tory government.

     The December actions, which reflect a significant surge in protests by Aboriginal peoples, have blown the lid off the arrogant colonial lie that Canada is a country of equality, fairness and social justice. In Canada today, Aboriginal peoples suffer high rates of poverty, unemployment and incarceration, and dramatically shorter life spans. In Attawapiskat and on other reserves, and even in urban centres, many live in terrible housing conditions. Over 100 First Nations communities lack clean drinking water. In Manitoba, over 2000 members of the Lake St. Martin First Nation remain homeless 18 months after their reserve was deliberately flooded to save Winnipeg and other communities from the massive floods of 2011. Despite centuries of broken treaties promising fair treatment, and decades of protests and reports, this situation has not improved. In the latest examples, Bill C‑45 is removing federal environmental protections for thousands of lakes, streams and rivers which are crucial for the well‑being of Aboriginal peoples in all parts of Canada, and the Tory government is trampling the land and water rights of First Nations which oppose the expansion of tar sands exports.

     Refusing to accept these genocidal policies, four Aboriginal women in Saskatchewan took the initiative this fall to begin the Idle No More campaign, using social media tools and teach‑ins to spread the word. Their courageous example helped inspire a number of chiefs to take their case directly to PM Stephen Harper, only to be barred from entering Parliament. Now this movement has taken root in communities in every part of the country.

     The Communist Party of Canada calls for the strengthening of solidarity by the labour and other democratic movements with the Idle No More movement and with the overall struggle for Aboriginal rights, including the hunger strike by Chief Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat and the fasting relay by other women.

     The manifesto of Idle No More truthfully places this struggle in the context of the national question within the Canadian state. As this statement says, "The Treaties are nation to nation agreements between Canada and First Nations, who are sovereign nations. The Treaties are agreements that cannot be altered or broken by one side of the two Nations. The spirit and intent of the Treaty agreements meant that First Nations peoples would share the land, but retain their inherent rights to lands and resources. Instead, First Nations have experienced a history of colonization which has resulted in outstanding land claims, lack of resources and unequal funding for services such as education and housing. Canada has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world by using the land and resources. Canadian mining, logging, oil and fishing companies are the most powerful in the world due to land and resources. Some of the poorest First Nations communities (such as Attawapiskat) have mines or other developments on their land but do not get a share of the profit. The taking of resources has left many lands and waters poisoned ‑ the animals and plants are dying in many areas in Canada. We cannot live without the land and water. We have laws older than this colonial government about how to live with the land. Currently, this government is trying to pass many laws so that reserve lands can also be bought and sold by big companies to get profit from resources. They are promising to share this time...Why would these promises be different from past promises? We will be left with nothing but poisoned water, land and air. This is an attempt to take away sovereignty and the inherent right to land and resources from First Nations peoples. There are many examples of other countries moving towards sustainability, and we must demand sustainable development as well. We believe in healthy, just, equitable and sustainable communities and have a vision and plan of how to build them. Please join us in creating this vision."

     This profound manifesto challenges the destructive agenda of the Harper Tories, and presents an alternative which puts the interests of people and the environment ahead of corporate profiteering. The Communist Party of Canada welcomes this manifesto for the future of the peoples of this country. We pledge to strengthen and find new ways to build the alliance of the labour and democratic movements with Aboriginal peoples, whose aim is full justice and national rights for Aboriginal peoples in Canada, and the creation of a fairer, anti‑racist society for all.

(The above article is from the January 1-31, 2013, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)