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Alaska Natives Protest Development Projects"Idle No More" movement spread from Canada to U.S. and Latin AmericaANCHORAGE - Alaska Natives from across the state rallied in Anchorage today in protest of resource development projects they say threaten the environment, their lifestyles and even their lives. The event sprang from an international movement of indigenous peoples called “Idle No More.” Started in Canada to protest legislation loosening environmental regulations there, the movement spread to the United States and Latin America today. "It is a cry for all to uphold sovereignty, de-colonize ourselves, protect mother earth, honor treaties, protect water, ensure food security and food sovereignty" said Faith Gemmill, a Gwich’in from Arctic Village. “A human being, I'm trying to understand, what makes a human being with a different color think that's more of a human being than I," said Lee Stephan, an Athabascan chief from Eklutna. There were many grievances, including the potential for drilling in ANWR, military waste left on St. Lawrence Island, the potential for developing the Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay. But Shell's recent drilling program in the outer continental shelf provided fodder for fresh outrage. "If we don't take a stand, if we don't take a stand now, we're going to go hungry for our food. No matter what race you are, we all depend on the ocean," said Mae Hank, an Inupiat from Point Hope. "The ocean feeds every country, every human being." Added Allison Warden, an Inupiat from Kaktovik, "it was a like a sign when those drilling things got grounded on the way up and on the way down. And there's no clean way to clean up the ocean, right? There's no way to clean up underneath the ice." There was no clear action plan articulated during the rally. But participants said this will not be the only manifestation in Alaska of “Idle No More.'” "Because this movement is just starting,” Gemmill said. “It's just starting. There is an awakening. Just starting, now." Rally participants also expressed concern about climate change, with one predicting that millions of people ultimately will drown as a result of melting ice. |
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Not Standing said on Wednesday, Jan 16 at 12:16 AM
Nope, the only standing they do is for more free handouts. They need to start in the vills and clean up the mess they are making there, and stop using fossil fuels. Now that would be a protest worth seeing.
111425021If said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 11:34 PM
If you were them you would roll over for the almighty dollar and pollute the villages just like they are doing now, so save it. This protest is a farce. Hypocrites and everyone sees it. Until they live up to going back to the "old ways". They can, well you all know.
111423351but the natives are still STANDING... said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 8:03 PM
If I were them I would sue the shat out of the State of Alaska...took their land, their oil, and cheated them out of royalties...SUE THE STATE OF ALASKA!!!!
111414401TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 9:09 AM
Like any ethnic group, native people will avoid the unpleasant aspects of their idyllic culture. Descendants of Aztec will often talk about their advance civilization while avoiding human sacrifices of their faith. Tlingits and other SE natives used to imprisoned their females during their periods believing them to be uncleaned. Wars, raiding parties and slavery were all part of Alaskan native cultures from Point Barrow to Wrangell. Just the way Germans don't want to talk about the holocaust, Japanese about their behavior in World War II or white Americans on black slavery (or Islamic genocide of black Africans just to be fair), native Alaskans also got their own bane to carry. But it all water under the bridge isn't it? We are all Alaskans here and lands belonged to all who lives here.
111369401Native Writer said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 12:52 AM
Velma Wallis writes about these things in here book, and says she will avoid the topics because people will not understand. Maybe KTVA can interview her or just censor this message too.
111343172So, Again said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 12:42 AM
Sorry, but the people who call themselves "native" or "first people" were not first here btw.
111343011So said on Tuesday, Jan 15 at 12:36 AM
This infanticide and cannibalism has been documented, was wondering did the natives eat the babies after they killed them during famine? Can I learn about this at the Native heritage center? Kind of a bad tradition, but the young need to know what the whites saved them from. Also was incest always a tradition or just a more recent tradition since alcohol and home brew and being idle instead hunting and gathering all day started. The free handouts are ruining our villages and these "protestors" want more? Not to offend just no one ever answers the hard questions anymore. Maybe KTVA can do a story on this? AuroraLight can you direct us to some books that will enlighten us on all of this? Thanks
111342882TedtheBear said on Monday, Jan 14 at 6:56 PM
Sorry for your headache. But considered this, these natives are descendants of people who have pushed out people who came before them. There wasn't just one wave of people who settled the Americas but successive waves of immigrants. Last wave probably drove out the the wave before. You sound like Lakota Indians who cries over lost lands, lands they conquered from other tribes. And you forgot, there are others who lives here behind the tall blond and pale folks. Hispanics, Asians, Polynesians all have stakes in this state and this land. Its no longer the preserves of the natives anymore.
111330286paybacks can be legal Ted said on Monday, Jan 14 at 12:51 PM
god you give me a headache ted...and the natives were here first so sorry charley...the legal pay backs are when the money revenues go to the birthright owners...not some snot nose white boy...
111305781Human Being here said on Monday, Jan 14 at 12:12 AM
I am a human being what makes Lee Stephan think he should have more rights than me and play the race card. I have been here longer than he has.
111261506FreddyBear said on Monday, Jan 14 at 12:08 AM
10,000 years ago and up until 1700 and beyond the people residing in what is now Alaska, (not any more native than people entering the state in 2013) were killing each other for scraps of land, starving during times of famine, practicing cannibalism, infanticide, etc. So change is good. Some bad some good, but still. You would think a "chief" would show better leadership, but we get what we get.
111261361TedtheBear said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 10:14 PM
10,000 years ago, well whether they like or not, outside people was coming and like or not, they would have contacted these germs sooner or later. That is just plain awful truth. There is no need to explain to you how Europeans were dying like flies only a few centuries earlier for nearly 1,000 years. Plagues were coming into Europe on a regular basis. No one is special here. Alaska natives were due to meet outsiders and thus due to get the germs that they bring. Why argued with enviable? But we all Alaskans now are we not? Why talked about "payback", you sound like some Nazi talking about Jews in 1937.
11125805210,000 years ago... said on Sunday, Jan 13 at 4:38 PM
they were scratching their scruffs and deciding on dinner thank you...first was the great death - whites coming in with their GERMS and making them sick and they almost ALL die in the 1900's...nice visitors...then they turn around come back and lie to them and steal the oil...sounds like pay backs are coming...
111243442Truth is said on Saturday, Jan 12 at 8:50 PM
Well to be honest most of the racist remarks you hear in state are from Alaska Natives. Just watch that trooper show on tv. That aside, these "protesters" would be more effective if they were "idle no more" in their homes. They need to get rid of all the copper, fuel, rifles, nets, free medical, shares, pfd etc. and live day to day off the land. Be out hunting and gathering every day. Might be more useful to the cause than what they have been spoon fed to say. Someone should let them know also not to worry about millions drowning, Alaska has been getting cooler 2.4 degrees in the last decade alone. Western AK 4.5 degrees, so gather wood and dung fuel them homes.
111185942TedtheBear said on Friday, Jan 11 at 11:50 PM
AuroraLight, calling us names isn't going to change the situation. There are always two sides to every story. I have read Alaskan history pretty well. I am well aware of what has happened to the native people. Ability to adjust, adapt and overcome is inherited in every ethnic group. Coming of the Europeans made life better and worst of the natives. But like most native lifestyle all over the Americas, life before the whites were hardly idyllic. I considered everyone who lives in Alaska as Alaskans. You do not for some reason. I have no prejudices toward the natives but I also accord them no special favors. You seem to and that make you more of racist then most of us.
111131555AuroraLight said on Friday, Jan 11 at 11:32 PM
Fortunately, most of the racist comments that you bottom dwelling trolls leave on here are so moronic and come from such a bigoted and uneducated standpoint that you only make yourselves look like fools. Learn the real history of Alaska - pick up some books and read please.
111131292AK-OLDMAN said on Friday, Jan 11 at 10:13 PM
After following the Alaskan Natives struggle for many years, and having visited Canada's First Nations, I understand a number of their problems. It is not a question of being against progress, it is about protecting the environment. They realize that they can never go back to the way things were because when Western civilization invaded, everything changed (some for the better and some for the worse). What is being asked is not to bend to the will of BIG MONEY and BIG CORPORATIONS but to proceed with caution and to allow for meaningful input from those that know the best way to approach development. Alaskan Natives and First Nations have taken care of the environment for generations and their elders know a lot about it that is not known or is disregarded by a number of these development proposals. It was good to see representation of all over the State at the rally today, I only hope serious consideration is given to their cause. My best wishes to the "Idle No More" movement.
111129061jim said on Friday, Jan 11 at 9:18 PM
gag me. They want their welfare they better let somebody work.
111127381TedtheBear said on Friday, Jan 11 at 9:00 PM
It should be made clear that subsistence lifestyle of the native people of Alaska is unsustainable lifestyle. Second, native people of Alaska do not own Alaska, the people of Alaska should determined such thing and natives are just one of many. I don't believe in first come first serve rule. Third, native sovereignty is a myth. Something that liberal do gooders promote to erase white guilt. Natives are Americans and they should be treated like Americans.
111126831Better name said on Friday, Jan 11 at 8:17 PM
"Undereducated no more" Some complaints are valid some are brainwashed. If I was them I would boycott fuel, electricity, store bought items, plastics, medical advances, etc. That will show the world.
111125011Really said on Friday, Jan 11 at 8:14 PM
One example. A federal judge in Alaska has thrown out a plan designating more than 187,000 square miles as habitat for threatened polar bears. Blah blah blah...... A coalition of Alaska Native groups, oil and gas interests and the state of Alaska sued, calling the designation an overreach. Guess the natives should have talked to more natives instead of looking like fools for the media like the occupy nuts.
111124876umm said on Friday, Jan 11 at 7:38 PM
Sure
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