Idle No More's intention in the release of this document is to make the information available to those who understand that voting is simply one tool in our toolbox, and a method of harm reduction to stand against the policies of a colonial government that directly affect our lives.

Idle No More will continue to support the work of communities across these lands facing colonial environmental violence.

In solidarity with Indigenous nations, communities, and grassroots resistance: first and foremost, our allegiance is to these lands, these waters, and the future of our planet.

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Pipelines, Tar Sands, Oil and Gas Mining

Conservative: Supports Enbridge Northern Gateway, supports TransCanada Energy East. (source 1, 2, 3)

"Expanding our pipeline network is critical for Canada to access global markets for its oil and gas. Canada’s biggest customer, the United States, has increased its own domestic production of crude oil, and the International Energy Agency projects it will be the world’s biggest oil producer by 2020. At the same time, Asian markets and other emerging economies are increasing their demand. Canadian crude has recently been selling at a significant discount due to insufficient access to global markets. Building the infrastructure to move our energy products to global markets will help us overcome these challenges."

Source: Enhancing Pipeline Safety

Green: opposes any and all pipeline developments

"The Green Party is the only party opposing any and all current pipeline plans. We will oppose any and all pipeline proposals committed to shipping raw bitumen out of Canada. We must move to a national energy policy with a strong climate plan."

Source: Pipeline Politics

Liberal: Supports the Keystone XL pipeline, but has also said the current federal pipeline review process is not strict enough. (source 1, 2, 3)

"Pipelines are an important part of the infrastructure necessary to move Canada’s energy resources to domestic and global market. When planned and executed with appropriate expert, environmental and community consultation, they are safer for the environment and communities than other delivery methods such as rail. Canada does not need to make a choice between protecting the environment and growing our economy. "

Source: Liberal Party statement to Vote Compass

NDP: opposes the Keystone XL pipeline. He has also said other pipeline projects such as Energy East should be approved only if they are “consistent” with Canada’s emissions-reduction targets. (source 1, 2, 3)

[NDP Leader Tom Mulcair:] “What we especially said in the case of Northern Gateway — and I got a chance to visit the Douglas Channel — was there was no safe way to bring those large super tankers into that narrow channel. That just doesn’t make any sense. What I have said in the case of Keystone XL — you just heard me repeat it — part of sustainable development is creating those value-added jobs in your own country. You don’t export them to another country. […] With regard to Energy East, it could be a win-win-win: better price for the producers, more royalties for the producing province. It could also help create those jobs in Canada. And of course it could help with Canada’s own energy security.

Source: Maclean’s National Leaders Debate 2015

MEDIA ADVISORY

"The story of Neeve Nutarariaq is heartwrenching. We cannot stand idly by - we have to take action on the issue of housing." - Anna Lee-Popham, Idle No More organizer

Housing is a basic human right, one that should be readily available in a wealthy country such as Canada. However due to a series of past and present governmental policy decisions to move toward austerity rather than addressing the impacts of an ongoing housing crisis, federal and provincial governments have cut back on housing support, women’s shelters and other social programs that support families. As a result, Canada is experiencing a growing housing crisis that encompasses all people; it’s particularly affecting Indigenous women, two-spirit people and their families. Neeve Nutarariaq an Inuit woman is now living in a tent with her family in Igloolik, Nunavut, because the housing shortage is at crisis levels. This is only one example of this emergency situation.

Since time immemorial, the Unist’ot’en house of the Wet’suwet’en have lived by Wedzin Kwah (Morice River), fishing, hunting, trapping, and practicing ceremony. The Wet’suwet’en people have also governed themselves by their own system of governance for centuries, and under their governance, each house is responsible for its own lands. The Wet’suwet’en governance system and Indigenous economy survive today, despite continued efforts of the Canadian state to destroy it.

In order to protect their ability to continue living on the land and from the land, for the last five years, the Unist’ot’en have maintained a camp by Wedzin Kwah that is blocking 7 oil pipelines that do not have Unist’ot’en consent to use their land. In this effort the Unist’ot’en are joined by many supporters and allies whom they have invited to their land. 

On July 17, the situation on Unist’ot’en land escalated. 

(Traducción en Español debajo)

Idle No More stands with our relations of the International Tribunal of Justice Abya Yala being organized in Guatemala from September 15-17, 2015.  We will continue to support the continental movement to implement Indigenous Self Determination and Nationhood. We will work together across borders to construct a long-term continental decolonization strategy, in the spirit of Self Determination of Original Nations of Indigenous Peoples.

We support the formation of a Continental Indigenous Commission  (North-Central-South Abya Yala - Turtle Island) to deliver the findings of the International Tribunal of Justice Abya Yala to the Lenape-Delaware territories of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September, when Pope Francis will be present.  It is our hope that this Commission will directly address the continued sanctification of the Colonial Doctrines of Discovery via the Papal Bulls Inter Caetera. The Indigenous Law Institute has recognized that “this Papal Bull has been, and continues to be, devastating to our religions, our cultures, and the survival of our populations”. In a Communiqué to the Vatican, the V Continental Summit Abya Yala held in the Cauca Territories of Colombia called for Pope Francis to publicly renounce the Doctrine of Discovery.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 10, 2015

Grassroots Water Defenders Pledge to Continue Fight to Protect the Water for Future Generations.

Iskatewizaagegan, Shoal Lake 39 First Nation—This past weekend, the Anishinaabe Water Walk against the Energy East Pipeline concluded its week-long, 125 km trek from Eagle Lake Lake to Shoal Lake in Treaty 3, Anishinaabe Territory, along the route of TransCanada’s proposed Energy East tarsands pipeline project.

The Walk included more than three dozen participants from more than a dozen different First Nations and non-native communities over the course of the week, including the Chiefs of two Treaty 3 First Nations, Chief Patricia Big George of Naongashiing, Big Island First Nation, and Chief Fawn Wapioke of Iskatewizaagegan, Shoal Lake 39 First Nation who was on the Walk for its entirety.

“Our Anishinaabe laws and values tell us everything we need to know about Energy East; that is why we say no,” said Wapioke.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 6, 2015

Grassroots Indigenous People say they will be the ones to decide if Tarsands Oil can cross their Territories.

Kenora—Today is day 5 of the Anishinaabe Water Walk, and already more than 40 walkers have covered 100 km of the route that TransCanada wants to use for the Energy East Pipeline project that will pump tarsands bitumen through a 40 year old gas pipeline where it crosses and threatens more than a dozen waterways in Treaty 3 Territory. The Anishinaabe Water Walk, organized by Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence (GIWD), will pass through downtown Kenora today, and will be joined by supporters for a rally at Market Square at 3pm, and will then march through the streets of downtown Kenora to McLeod Park for a community meal, from which the Water Walkers will continue to their final destination at Shoal Lake 39 on Saturday.

Fawn Wapioke is Chief of Iskatewizaagegan (Shoal Lake 39) First Nation and a mother who has been one of the lead walkers since Sunday. “The bravery and the strength of our young people, Elders, men and women in collectively opposing the proposed Energy East project is admirable,” she says.

“The walk has created awareness, unity, and a stronger connection to one another as well as to the lands, waters, and to our responsibilities as the Anishinaabeg who are indigenous to this territory,” says Wapioke.

On August 2, 2015, nearly two dozen (or more) Anishinaabe Women and Men, Youth and Elders will be joined by supporters in a week-long walk against the Energy East Pipeline. The walk will cover more than 125 km of TransCanada’s proposed pipeline route where it crosses and threatens more than a dozen waterways in Treaty 3 Territory. The Anishinaabe Water Walk is organized by Grassroots Indigenous Water Defence (GIWD).

Idle No More is pleased to announce that we have been invited to travel with Neil Young’s Rebel Content tour during July 2015. We will be one of twelve leading environmental rights and justice organizations on the tour that are tackling today’s greatest environmental challenges through education and by impacting legislation. 

Idle No More & Defenders of the Land stand in solidarity with Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in their legal challenge against Enbridge's Line 9 pipeline project.

Idle No More supports and stands in solidarity with the families of the missing Ayotzinapa students following Mexico’s mid-term elections. Several months ago the families of the 43 missing students denounced yesterday's midterm election, stating that the conditions would not allow a fair and transparent election due to the evidence of links between organized crime and local governments. The recent election has been called the “Narco-Elections” by activists and protesters.