[OSList] Consider supporting Idle No More

[Chris Corrigan]

Hello friends.

Over the past three months in Canada a remarkable movement has been taking shape.  Spurred on by some legislation that threatens the environmental protection of our waterways, indigenous communities have been working to raise the profile of the historic relationship between Canada and First Nations and to bolster the voices calling for a proper accounting of First Nations rights in Canada.  A massive series of events have taken place called "Idle No More."  All across the country in large and small communities young First Nations leaders have been leading social round dances, flash mobs, and creating inclusive spaces for learning and conversation about the future of Canada-First Nation relationships.

Here in the Vancouver, British Columbia region where I live, young indigenous facilitators have been engaged in some terrific work to organize and host gathering where we can creatively continue the movement.  On the last weekend of February, we are hosting a 1.5 day Open Space Technology gathering with organizers of Idle No More from across the country.  Amongst the hosts of the gathering are Khelsilem Rivers, Pawasquatchilth Hayupis and Kris Archie, who have trained and worked with me in us Art of Hosting and in Open Space communities for many years.  I am at their backs, helping to facilitate the design of the gathering and the harvest of what we are learning.

We are now in the mode of soliciting donations to cover the costs of the event.  Specifically, funds that are raised for this initiative will go towards feeding and nourishing the people who are visiting this territory for the gathering.  We are also using funds to book spaces that are big enough to hold the hundreds of people who have been interested in learning more from the teach-ins that young leaders are hosting (space is very expensive in Vancouver). None of us are getting paid for this.  All of our labour is donated.   

We invite support from around the world for these young leaders in your professional community who are hosting a new way of being in our communities by creating the spaces for relationships to be the way we address power and challenge.  Any amount helps, and if you have nothing to give, please consider sending a note from your country of support and encouragement.  It means a lot.

To donate, please visit this link: https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/cPzNa

To learn more about Idle No More, visit the website: http://idlenomore.ca

here is a profile of some of the organizers, including Khelsilem: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=2c0d698b-9bad-4dab-a5cc-5bd95b3d0d6d

And to learn more about our weekend gathering, visit this link: http://inmgathering.com/home/

Chi Meegwetch!  (Thank you very much!)

Chris