HISTORY

What is Idle No More about? What is impacted? What is happening now?

This all began in November 10th 2012 by four women in protest against omnibus Bill C-45.

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In the 1600s, the British made treaties with First Nations to regulate relationships and secure access to Indigenous land and trading. In 2012, the Canadian government violated the land treaty with bill C-45.

Essentially, the bill affects the protection of lands and waterways, making it easier for the federal government to take away or change the lands of indigenous peoples. Furthermore, changes in this bill allow large businesses to easily take natural resources. It completely ignores Canada's duty to consult with First Nations.  

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The environmental impact is the key impact of this bill. Changes in the Navigable (ability to sail on water by boats) Waters Protection Act, Fisheries act, environmental act and more were made. 

• The bill removes many fish habitat protections and fails to recognize aboriginal commercial fisheries. 

• The Navigable Water Protection Act reduces the number of protected lakes - 32 000 lakes to 97 lakes and 2.25 million to 62 rivers.  

• Environmental assessments are no longer required for government projects 

Even through all the changes, First Nations were NOT consulted. 

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Bill C-45 was passed on December 14th, 2012.  

Even though Bill C-45 sparked the Idle No More movement, it wasn't just because of that bill. The government has been continuously creating new policies to change First Nation treaty rights. The First Nation community had already been protesting the previous changes in policies but this bill was the tipping point.

To read a more in-depth on bill C-45 and how it sparked Idle No More, click here. 

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After it was passed, the movement got taken into the streets and malls in forms of dance to protest (all peaceful). At the beginning of 2013, some First Nations challenged the bill in court asking for a review of the environmental impacts.  

Currently (March 2020), they are calling their community to shut down KKR’s plan to purchase 65% of the Coastal GasLink pipeline. They believe that if they shut down the KKR, it will stop the financing of the pipeline. They are urging people online to express their concerns to KKR. As of the end of March, constructions on the Trans Mountain pipeline continues (even in the midst of a pandemic).