Natives Rate

Members of Canadian aboriginal communities and human rights activists have

rallied in several cities in Canada and around the world against Ottawa’s policies

violating the rights of the aboriginals. Supporters of “Idle No More,” a protest

movement campaigning for the rights of the aboriginals in Canada, demonstrated

Monday in 30 Canadian cities, including Montreal, Halifax, Ottawa, Vancouver, and

Calgary, despite the country’s freezing winter weather. Some 300 protesters

marched on Parliament Hill in Ottawa as MPs returned to the House of Commons

after the six-week-long winter break, urging the MPs to take action on the rights of

the indigenous people. Similar demonstrations were held in several states across

the United States, including Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Washington

State, and North Carolina. Also in Europe, Idle No More supporters rallied in

London, Paris, and the Swedish city of Malmo.

The movement began last November after Attawapiskat First Nations Chief Theresa

Spence began a hunger strike over the violation of aboriginals’ rights. Spence

ended her strike on Thursday after indigenous groups and opposition parties

signed a deal spelling out a list of demands they would present to the government.

The declaration calls for the government to improve housing and schools as well as

to acknowledge treaty rights for Canada’s 600 native tribes.

Many native

languages suffering

"In terms of the

First Nations going

off reserve, they

had reported a

lower proportion

who could speak an

aboriginal language

compared to those

living on reserves.

So that's the trend.

We've seen it for

about 10 years,

...