Idle No More still moving forward after 2 years, says Sylvia McAdam

Today marks two years since the Idle No More movement sparked protests against the government and celebrations of Indigenous culture across the country. 

Sylvia McAdam, one of the Saskatchewan-based women who founded the movement, said they're still working with communities to defend First Nation land rights. 

This is important to keep in mind as the Assembly of First Nations voted for its new leader today, she said. 

"Negotiations and agreements are happening with the Assembly of First Nations ... about the land claims policy," she said. "The land claims policy is going to extinguish and terminate indigenous sovereignty and treaties."

Sylvia McAdam on the Idle No More movement

10 years ago

Duration 1:11

Sylvia McAdam, one of the Saskatchewan-based women who founded Idle No More, talks about the movement as it marks two years since it started.Saskatchewan’s Perry Bellegarde won the vote in the first round. McAdam said it's fitting that the anniversary falls on the same day as the vote because there's a serious disconnect between first nations people and their leadership.

"The grassroots people are on the ground, doing these protests, saying defend the lands and the waters, and then you have more than half the leadership sitting at these tables and negotiating away these very rights."

Events to mark Idle No More's anniversary are being held today across the country, including a poetry slam in Saskatoon. The event takes place at Station 20 West at 6 p.m. CST.