#Oct7ProClaim I Stand With Idle No More

Today, October 7, is a Day of Action for the Idle No More movement:

The Idle No More movement has plans for over 63 protests and actions across Canada today, with solidarity events expected in over 12 countries.

...Idle No More began a year ago with an email exchange between four women in Saskatchewan, growing very quickly into one of the biggest protest movements Canada has seen in years. Idle No More uses social media as a key organizing tool, as it has for today's events.

Oct. 7 was chosen because that's the date 250 years ago that King George III signed the Royal Proclamation, which, in its concluding paragraphs, sets out policy for the Crown's relationship with the "nations or tribes of Indians" and the lands "reserved to them."

A "purpose of Idle No More was to reinvent the relationship between indigenous peoples and Canada," movement activist Niigaan Sinclair told CBC News.

Idle No More also formed to oppose federal legislation they see as further eroding treaty and indigenous rights, and to push for emergency situations at some First Nations communities to be stabilized.

The Day of Action also coincides with the arrival of UN fact-finder James Anaya in Canada, as he takes stock of Aboriginal rights. His visit comes in the midst of Mi'kmaq protests against fracking, of outrage at the Harper government's continued indifference to violence against Aboriginal Women, and ongoing barriers to basics basics like clean drinking water, education, and health care.

If you have not already made plans to support Idle No More and wish to do so, here are some possibilities:

You can find events across Canada, as well as in the U.S.A., the U.K., India, and Croatia here.

You can follow Idle No More on Twitter and Facebook. You can also follow Idle No More News on Twitter.

You can Tweet or Facebook your support with the hashtag #Oct7ProClaim.

You can read the Idle No More website for news, networking resources, a donation link, and much more, including a history of the movement.

If you are participating in the Day of Action, feel free to share your teaspooning in the comments below. If you have suggestions for other resources, feel free to leave those as well.