Gyasi Ross has a message that is crucial to understand the Idle No More movement. Ross is a member of the Blackfeet Nation but has lived in the Great Pacific Northwest, U.S. for much of his life. As a practicing attorney, his work is centered on economic development and the rights of indigenous groups in America. And as he watched as the Idle No More movement grew rapidly over the past two months, he saw the potential but also the danger.
Ross equates the buzz surrounding the Idle No More movement with the trailer to a Hollywood movie (see video below). There is excitement, there is expectation. But will the movie be a flop or a smash hit?
Earth Tribe – Activist News has covered the Idle No More movement extensively because as an organization dedicated to spreading news, information and insight on environmental activism around the world, this movement for First Nations rights and the environment has protection of Mother Earth at its core.
Ross refers to the Occupy movement, expressing concern that it gained a lot of support but failed to bring real change, at least up to this point. Idle No More has the opportunity to deal with real issues and make real progress if the people in the movement manage it well. And there is also the chance that it grows into a worldwide movement.
Largely due to social media, particularly Facebook, there is an increasing world consciousness that this is not just “an Indian thing,” as some commentators have pointed out. It is not just a Canadian thing, because what is happening to the environment in Canada actually affects us all. The basic principles and ideas behind Idle No More, with the focus on rights and the environment, resonate with people around the world.
Now it’s time for action, concrete steps to deal with the identified problems. That’s his message.
Gyasi Ross – The future of the Idle No More movement
