Native flag flies above Canada's Parliament.
(Image: Tigana/cc/flickr)
Oct 20, 2015
Over the last couple of years an urgency has invigorated Turtle Island.... a call to action that has awoken all the First Nations. Idling no more against the destruction of our mother earth. Rallying against broken treaties and fighting to secure the future of our seven generations.
First Nations' peoples have been standing up across Canada. Both the government's and big oil's attempt to frack the earth to pump oil up and pipe it across Canada, all in the name of making a dollar, shows no thought to the devastation it would cause. It will poison the soil, the water, the air, the plants and animals, and the people.
Being a traditional Mohawk mother, who grew up on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, I have always fought for the earth and our way of life with the rest of my nation. We have fought against the big companies Domtar, GM and ALCOA--corporations that surround our reserve and pollute the St. Lawrence River and the land. The pollution has been so bad our farm animals either could not reproduce or their offspring were so deformed they would have to be put down right after birth.
Currently, I live in British Columbia with my Squamish nation husband, actor and lacrosse player Wayne Baker. I've just done something I never thought I would do: I voted for the first time in the Canadian federal election. Many people I know will ask why I went against my beliefs and the teachings of the Two Row Wampum belt: "In our canoe we have all our laws, culture, and beliefs and in your vessel you shall have all your laws, culture, and beliefs, traveling side by side through life as equals never enforcing or interfering in each others affairs as long as the sun shall shine the grass shall grow and the rivers shall flow this will be everlasting."
But since this belt was made, the government of Canada and the Crown has not lived up to it or other treaties they have made with the First Nations people of Canada. This is why I voted. Who I voted for is no secret. After months of listening to election promises and looking at past track records of the candidates, and after the press conference the NDP had on the Enoch reserve that was broadcast live on APTN, I VOTED NDP with great hope that all Tom Monclair's promises to First Nations and to our environment are true.
With so many first-time Indigenous voters, I hope 2015 will bring a change for the good. I hope more treaties will be honored and the quality of life on reservations across Canada, particularly those with third-world conditions, will improve. Most of all, I hope Mother Earth can recover from the destruction wreaked on her and sustain our future generations.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Marlana Thompson-Baker
Marlana Thompson-Baker is an Akwesasne-born Mohawk Designer. She now lives in Squamish, BC with her Squamish Nation husband, actor Wayne Baker, and her 3 children.
big oilbritish columbiaelectionenvironmentfirst nationsfrackingidle no moreindigenousmother earthndppollutioncanada
Over the last couple of years an urgency has invigorated Turtle Island.... a call to action that has awoken all the First Nations. Idling no more against the destruction of our mother earth. Rallying against broken treaties and fighting to secure the future of our seven generations.
First Nations' peoples have been standing up across Canada. Both the government's and big oil's attempt to frack the earth to pump oil up and pipe it across Canada, all in the name of making a dollar, shows no thought to the devastation it would cause. It will poison the soil, the water, the air, the plants and animals, and the people.
Being a traditional Mohawk mother, who grew up on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, I have always fought for the earth and our way of life with the rest of my nation. We have fought against the big companies Domtar, GM and ALCOA--corporations that surround our reserve and pollute the St. Lawrence River and the land. The pollution has been so bad our farm animals either could not reproduce or their offspring were so deformed they would have to be put down right after birth.
Currently, I live in British Columbia with my Squamish nation husband, actor and lacrosse player Wayne Baker. I've just done something I never thought I would do: I voted for the first time in the Canadian federal election. Many people I know will ask why I went against my beliefs and the teachings of the Two Row Wampum belt: "In our canoe we have all our laws, culture, and beliefs and in your vessel you shall have all your laws, culture, and beliefs, traveling side by side through life as equals never enforcing or interfering in each others affairs as long as the sun shall shine the grass shall grow and the rivers shall flow this will be everlasting."
But since this belt was made, the government of Canada and the Crown has not lived up to it or other treaties they have made with the First Nations people of Canada. This is why I voted. Who I voted for is no secret. After months of listening to election promises and looking at past track records of the candidates, and after the press conference the NDP had on the Enoch reserve that was broadcast live on APTN, I VOTED NDP with great hope that all Tom Monclair's promises to First Nations and to our environment are true.
With so many first-time Indigenous voters, I hope 2015 will bring a change for the good. I hope more treaties will be honored and the quality of life on reservations across Canada, particularly those with third-world conditions, will improve. Most of all, I hope Mother Earth can recover from the destruction wreaked on her and sustain our future generations.
Marlana Thompson-Baker
Marlana Thompson-Baker is an Akwesasne-born Mohawk Designer. She now lives in Squamish, BC with her Squamish Nation husband, actor Wayne Baker, and her 3 children.
Over the last couple of years an urgency has invigorated Turtle Island.... a call to action that has awoken all the First Nations. Idling no more against the destruction of our mother earth. Rallying against broken treaties and fighting to secure the future of our seven generations.
First Nations' peoples have been standing up across Canada. Both the government's and big oil's attempt to frack the earth to pump oil up and pipe it across Canada, all in the name of making a dollar, shows no thought to the devastation it would cause. It will poison the soil, the water, the air, the plants and animals, and the people.
Being a traditional Mohawk mother, who grew up on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, I have always fought for the earth and our way of life with the rest of my nation. We have fought against the big companies Domtar, GM and ALCOA--corporations that surround our reserve and pollute the St. Lawrence River and the land. The pollution has been so bad our farm animals either could not reproduce or their offspring were so deformed they would have to be put down right after birth.
Currently, I live in British Columbia with my Squamish nation husband, actor and lacrosse player Wayne Baker. I've just done something I never thought I would do: I voted for the first time in the Canadian federal election. Many people I know will ask why I went against my beliefs and the teachings of the Two Row Wampum belt: "In our canoe we have all our laws, culture, and beliefs and in your vessel you shall have all your laws, culture, and beliefs, traveling side by side through life as equals never enforcing or interfering in each others affairs as long as the sun shall shine the grass shall grow and the rivers shall flow this will be everlasting."
But since this belt was made, the government of Canada and the Crown has not lived up to it or other treaties they have made with the First Nations people of Canada. This is why I voted. Who I voted for is no secret. After months of listening to election promises and looking at past track records of the candidates, and after the press conference the NDP had on the Enoch reserve that was broadcast live on APTN, I VOTED NDP with great hope that all Tom Monclair's promises to First Nations and to our environment are true.
With so many first-time Indigenous voters, I hope 2015 will bring a change for the good. I hope more treaties will be honored and the quality of life on reservations across Canada, particularly those with third-world conditions, will improve. Most of all, I hope Mother Earth can recover from the destruction wreaked on her and sustain our future generations.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.