By Karl Dockstader
Fort Erie, Ontario – Saturday January 4th at noon at the Peace Bridge entrances supporters the Peace Bridge entrances to celebrate the one year anniversary of the original Peaceful Awareness Rally that occurred at the height of last year’s Idle No More movement. While the adrenaline rush has leveled off a little, the urgency to continue to raise awareness hasn’t.
Photo courtesy of Phil Davis
“We are in what I like to call the ember stage,” said Leigh Hill, Turtle Clan Mohawk, and one of the organizers, on the December 21st edition of the “Let’s Talk Native” with John Kane show, “We were ablaze last year and now we are calm, maybe even ashes, but the metaphor is about phoenixs rising from the ashes.”
Organizers are asking participants to gather on both sides of where the “border crossed us.” There will be volunteers to organize people at the Busti Avenue entrance to the Peace Bridge on one side of the bridge at Noon and Mather’s Arch at the other side also at Noon.
Last year’s event, which occurred in sub-zero weather on a blustery day, still had a jovial spirit at times. Parades led by flag bearers and accompanied by traditional singers marched to the middle of the Peace Bridge where the tone changed as the rallying cries to protect Mother Earth were given passionately by spokesperson Earl Lambert and other local leaders. At some times it was a protest, at others it was a celebration of the special culture of First Nations people showing strong signs of unity and dilligenge in the name of protecting Mother Earth.
For some community members there is still a sense of urgency: “Our lands are in crisis, look at the Tar Sands, our waters are in crisis, look at Grassy Narrows, Elispogtog’s future as well,” says Valerie Moses, a Delaware Member of the Turtle Clan, currently living in Fort Erie, “But our people are not in crisis. It is a choice for us, whether we choose to sit by idly watching turtle island be destroyed in the name of dollars, fame and power, or to stand together and be idle no more.”
“We find ourselves in a very critical time. Our lands, water and resources continue to be exploited at costs so detrimental that even Scientists’ are being silenced for the dire situation we are in,” Says Karissa John a Kanien’keha:ka citizen and student at York University, “It is our responsibility to speak up against these injustices and stand up for our land, water, resources, future generations and all our relations.”
“The power of the people is much stronger than the people in power,” Karissa continued, “but in order to achieve effective change we need everyone to wake up to the reality that we are in. Things happen through action or in-action it is your choice. Would you rather be complacent, be part of the problem, or, stand up, unite and be part of the solution?”
This years march is themed for “Warriors from all Walk of Life” in recognition of how this grassroots movement has attracted support from all types of people all over the earth who are getting fed up with injustice, greed, corruption and the destruction of the planet. In spite of this there is a feeling of unity bred out of hope amongst those who are trying to heighten the global consciousness of of the changing world.
Organizers have been working closely with all the local authorities to ensure a safe and effective event and anybody with a good mind and a will to affect positive change is encouraged to attend.
This years rally will start at Noon, if you wish to participate in the Bridge march bring photo ID for insurance waivers. The march be followed by a potluck social and guest speakers at 3pm at 796 Buffalo Road, Fort Erie.
Karl Dockstader is a resident of Niagara, Ontario and is on the Niagara Regional Native Centre board of directors. He is also a member of the Onyata:aka Nation, though this editorial does not represent the official opinion of either.
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Niagara At Large 
The horrible, horrible thing is that 25 years ago I attended a federal Public Service Alliance union training course at which a teacher attended, who told us that, if the conditions that were tolerated at native schools occurred in everyone else’s school’s, people would go ballistic.
Guess what? 25 years later the newspapers are full of reports that per student spending at native schools is STILL way below per student spending at public schools. And many people still blame natives for massive social problems. Pathetic.
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