Check out this short video about some of the barriers our society perpetuates re: community involvement, activism, and having those tough, much needed conversations.
A really great talk! The best part? If you’re from Ontario, you might feel the info directly speaks to your experiences.
https://www.ted.com/talks/dave_meslin_the_antidote_to_apathy/up-next?language=en
Robert Lovelace’s analogy for how colonization happened in Canada.
I think parts of this can be applied to other ‘settled’ lands, too. Lovelace did a pretty great job, so give it a read!
Click for Chickens: Colonialism for Dummies (a story about chickens to help explain Canadian history) | rabble.ca
SUBJECT:
BODY:
I am a university student and am non-Indigenous.
I am aware of Indigenous Peoples “officially” calling for help due to a suicide epidemic, and the lack of proper medical care in their communities. The harm being done is not only affecting the people living on reserves, but is harming all Canadians as we work towards resolving our past history. We must work towards a positive future that we can all be proud of and feel is nurturing to ourselves and future generations.
The quality of life that Indigenous people on reserves are currently receiving does not reflect the Canada that I want to support and I urge you to help make this right as quickly as possible.
The water quality in these reserves are pitiful and I am incredibly disappointed with the way our government has chosen to ignore the issues. It is racist, and by doing nothing to help with the suicide/health epidemic, you are helping to continue (and promote) the genocide that has been occurring for hundreds of years on this land.
Are you able to empathize with the people who have lost their children, mothers, elders and friends because of our “do nothing” approach?
What is being done to address these issues? Surely you would not enjoy living in these disturbing situations, and I hope you never do.
Sincerely concerned and interested to have a response,
David Zimmer
Email: dzimmer.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Address:
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
Suite 400
160 Bloor Street East
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2E6
Tel: 416-325-5110
Justin Trudeau
Email: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
Address:(No postage required!)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Tel: 1 613 995-0253
TORONTO — First Nations leaders from northern Ontario declared a public-health emergency on Thursday related to what they called a dire shortage of basic medical supplies and an epidemic of suicides among young people.
I cannot believe it! We have to put a stop to this injustice. Let’s all DO SOMETHING.
Contact David Zimmer, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, our Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne (directly from this link) or send our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau a letter with your thoughts. Share this information with people who may not have access to this kind of news.
If you want to speak up, but do not have the words or are not sure where to begin, use this letter I sent as a reference.
David Zimmer
Email: dzimmer.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Address:
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
Suite 400
160 Bloor Street East
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2E6
Tel: 416-325-5110
Kathleen Wynne
https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca/en/feedback/default.aspx
Justin Trudeau
Email: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
Address:(No postage required!)
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Tel: 1 613 995-0253
Source: First Nations declare health emergency – TimminsToday.com
Please click-through and watch the video on Vimeo!
Be mindful of the actions you partake in and if those actions help to continue life, or destroy it.
2 years after this film was made, fracking is still an issue. Do you think we will ever open our eyes and begin to make vital changes? Or is the future too far away to plan for…
—
Relevant posts:
Resource Extraction and it’s impact on peoples’ health
The intro to this music video pretty much sums up corporate news broadcasters.
I’m talking about you CP/24!
With climate talks well underway at COP21, where do the provinces stand on climate change and what are their strategies moving ahead?
So far it looks like Quebec is doing the best.
Source: Where do the provinces stand on climate change? | rabble.ca
The new Waste Free Ontario Act is a great step in the right direction towards a zero waste circular economy.
Source: New Waste Free Ontario Act – a great start – Toronto Environmental Alliance
“[…] recap video of the Rez Tour we did in August when we went to six reserves in Ontario to present the show that we perform around the world. The shows were free and all ages, and we also got to meet the local youth during workshops. It was truly special to be able to do this and to show the youth that they are important and that people just like them can succeed. It was important for us to be able to give back to our community that continue to be the inspiration for our music and especially to its youth that is currently facing a terrible suicide epidemic. It was a truly beautiful life changing experience that we will forever be grateful for. So here is the video, shot by our friend Jon Riera […]” – Copied straight from A Tribe Called Red‘s latest Newsletter
____
It is so great to see musicians working toward real change in communities. These men really stick to their roots. This kind of positive energy gives me a lot of hope for the years to come.
A little story about earth.
“Too many people in such a small place.
Over-population by this human race
They beat you down, say ‘Learn your place
As part of a statistic called the human race
Fat rats breed us toward our own annihilation
Hiding ideas that’d be our salvation”
Bad Acid Trip is the best. I want them to come to Canada!!!
ARISETOTRASH 