Canadian Roots Exchange

Who are the Canadian Roots Exchange?

"Ever thought that a group of youth could change our country?"

We did. Still do, actually.

We are the Canadian Roots Exchange, a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth who believe that in order to bridge the gap between Canada's peoples, we need to become educated and aware of the teachings, triumphs, and daily realities of our Indigenous communities. 

So, together we gather, travel and bring together youth in cities, towns, and traditional territories across Canada in an effort to break down stereotypes, open a dialogue, and build honest relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people living on this land.

The Program

The Canadian Roots Exchange is registered charity (registration number 832296602RR0001) that provides Indigenous based leadership, learning and reconciliation experiences to every youth that participates in our programs. CRE organizes three main types of activities:  exchange programs, workshops and conferences.  Central to CRE programming is the need to bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth.  Regardless of the activity, we believe that having dialogue is necessary to foster understanding and reconciliation.

check out there cool video from vimeo. 

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http://canadianroots.ca/en/photos-videos/?gallery=videos#!prettyPhoto[videos]/2/ 

Grand Chief Derek Nepinak and (Human) Treaty Rights

On September 18, 2013 the Grand Chief Derek Nepinak of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs came to the University of Manitoba to give his vision for treaty rights and relations between First Nations (or Status Indians - there was a whole debate surrounding this term) and the federal government.  GC Nepinak has been very controversial in the past year having very closely aligned himself with the Idle No More movement and has presented a opposing vision of the relations that should exist between First Nations and the Federal government. While some have accused him of trying to destroy the Assembly of First Nations when you hear CG Nepinak speak you hear someone who is concerned that the current system is not working for First Nations peoples and the current approach in dealing with the federal government is in fact not allowing First nations to be strong and self-reliant peoples, but peoples living in dependence. 

GC Nepinak has now set up another national organization of a Treaty Alliance which hopes to bring recogogniztion and respect of the treaties that have been signed by the crown and First Nations. He was introduced by Dr Niiganan Sinclair (UManitoba). He partially addressed the idea that his work is not only so he may challenge for the position of GC of the Assembly of First Nations, but promote greater understanding between Aboriginal peoples and Canadians. He certainly demonstrates that he does not beleive the approach used by current AFM leadership is working. I should note he never actually said he was interested in being CG of the AFN, but there seems to be an undercurrent pushing him to this position.

CG Nepinak is asking for a return to a original understanding of the treaties. It is a very difficult line to walk between building and destruction An Elder said to me it is easier to destroy than to build or we can live in two ways, the path of chaos or the path of the good life. It will certainly be an on going debate for years to come. If the work of GC Nepinak in Manitoba and all treaty territories to change the way First Nation peoples deal in their relations with the federal government and all Canadians starts gaining greater traction, we must remember where it started. 

To Learn More (Video)

http://youtu.be/wUh0pEkp3ek

A Sacred Journey For Future Generations: Marching for Human Rights



Nancy Greyeyes, Winston Wuttunee
& Robert-Falcon Ouellette
Earth Day Celebrations
Thunderbird House, Winnipeg MB

21 April 2013







Nancy Cycil Greyeyes originally a marcher with A Sacred Journey For Future Generations (under the guidance of Bruce McKenzie)  is now walking with another group Journey for Earth going into the populated areas of Ontario. These groups have been marching from Stanley Mission (Saskatchewan) to Toronto to Ottawa; a trek of over 3450 km between March 16-June 21.   



In an interview with Nancy Cycil Greyeyes (Cree) from Muskeg Lake Cree First Nation we talk about why she has put her life on hold to march to Ottawa. She is concerned about Idle No more and the lack of consultation that federal government has used to pass laws which she terms illegal. She feel that there is an illegality in the governments actions in passing Bill C-45 which will lead to the destruction of the environment, because there was no free and informed consent on the part of First Nations people. Nancy talks about how it will be the seven generation who will have it hardest because when the water can no longer be used or you can no longer feed yourself on the land, that generation will have nothing. We had our conversation during the groups arrival in Winnipeg on April 22, 2013 during earth Day celebrations. They had marched from Central Park to the Forks (Oneda Circle for a ceremony) and on to Thunderbird House where a feast was held late into the night. We talked beside Winston Wuttunee (Cree Elder) and Arden Ogg (photo taken Arden).

I asked Nancy about Idle No More (INM) and wanted to know if she felt that INM had made an error in talking about treaty. Many Canadians see the idea of treaty as special rights and some are very opposed to treaty for this reason. I asked should INM have been talking about Human Rights translate the terms into something that the average Canadian can understand. Nancy said "treaty is not just about the land, between men it is between all of creation. We have Treaty with the animals, the moose, the birds, the water, the land. We have broken our part of the Treaties" and we will suffer for breaking the Treaties. This is why Nancy walks.

Why is it that Natives March? Why do they not stay at home and protest, why do they walk thousands of km to go and see the "Great White Father"? As an anthropologist this is perhaps the most interesting aspect of INM. Instead of having a riot and destroying property Natives they walk and bring an angry message based founded on peace about promises that have not been respected and the injustice of the system. In 2010 I walked with Michele Audette and her Marche AMUM (Quebec City to Ottawa) marching for changes in the Indian Act and the rights of women and the children. I have interviewed Leo Bastawang about his March4Justice (2012) and the Indian Act as a colonial piece of legislation or the The Journey of Nishiyuu (2013) from the Cree community of Whapmagoostui walked to Ottawa inspired about INM and Bill C-45. 

As the Indigenous peoples we continue to march and demand justice through action. 



Sacred Journey Walkers
on the banks of The Assiniboine River.
16/04/2013 Idle No More
photo by Nancy Greyeyes



To Learn More (podcast)

http://archive.org/download/NancyGreyeyesASacredWalkForGenerationsApril212013Interview/NancyGreyeyes27June2013.mp3 

Buffy Sainte-Marie Inspiring Generations of Canadians & Idlenomore



Buffy Ste-Marie &
Robert-Falcon Ouellette
Aboriginal House U of M
29 January 2013



I heard perhaps one of the most important speeches I will hear this year (Jan 29, 2013) by peace activist, artist and Cree woman Buffy Sainte-Marie about her thoughts on Idle no more, Indigenous rights and how we have a positive role to play in improving the lives of those around us. Buffy's message was one where we must stay positive and connect with others to build bridges in a non-violent manner. She discussed her role in the 1960-70s American Indian Movement and how that era has laid the ground work for the current movement to come forward and start addressing these issues and educating Canadians both individually and collectively on the rights of all Canadians to have a decent life based on human values without hierarchy. We each have a role to play according to our skills and desires and we are each important in moving our nation forward. It will not be the leaders who will change the system, but individuals who collectively, one by one, who will bring about improvements in the lives of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

One of Buffy's words of wisdom related to the idea that European when they first arrived in North America had come from the Spanish Inquisition, they had been engaged in dreadful warfare that had and still was killing millions. When they came here they knew nothing else and simple perpetuated what they had been doing for a thousand years on the Indigenous peoples of North America. While it does not make it right, it makes it easier to understand that they are also victims of themselves and their own culture. We need to help them as well.

“Idle No More is a dream come true for a lot of us across Canada who have been involved with decades of Aboriginal community efforts to make things better,” states Sainte-Marie. “Last week I did a quick iPhone video [of the protests] and it’s gotten tens of thousands of views so that tells you something about the Idle No More team, their expertise in social media, and the many people worldwide who agree with Idle No More. Bill C-45 must not stand” ( The Manitoban).

To Learn More
http://archive.org/details/BuffySte-marieAndIdleNoMoreInWinnipegJan292013 

Longest Blockade in Canadian History - Grassy Narrows First Nation, 10 years on

The longest running blockade in Canadian history still continues today in Ontario. In December 2002 members of the Grassy Narrows First Nation blocked a logging road to impede the movement of timber industry trucks and equipment within their traditional territory. The story of the blockade is a story of convergences and relationship. There has been a growth among the people of Grassy Narrows about their own identity and that of their relationship as a community to the dominant culture and to other Indigenous Nations and peoples.

In Strong Hearts, Native Lands, Anna J. Willow demonstrates that Indigenous people’s decisions to take environmentally protective action cannot be understood apart from political or cultural concerns. By recounting how and why one Anishinaabe community was able to take a stand against the industrial logging that threatens their land-based subsistence and way of life, Willow offers a more complex “and more constructive” understanding of human-environment relationships.

To Learn More (interview & Podcast)

http://archive.org/download/StrongHeartsNativeLandsGrassyNarrowsBlockade/MixdownAnnaWillowGrassyNarrows.mp3

Citations

Leo Baskatawang, March4Justice: dragging the Indian Act into the 21st century

Researcher and activist Leo Baskatawang (Anihnaabek) is back to discuss how he has taken applied research to new level. Leo is a Masters student at the University of Manitoba in the Native Studies department. Leo looks back at his March 4 Justice where he marched over 3000 km across the country in his efforts to abolish the Indian Act and replace it with Indigenous Laws that respect Aboriginal people. He marched across Canada from Vancouver to Ottawa.  

 

To Learn more (podcast)
http://archive.org/download/LeoBaskatawangMarch4JusticeAndTheIndianAct/LeoBaskatwangMixdown.mp3

http://archive.org/details/LeoBaskatawangMarch4JusticeAndTheIndianAct

Leo Baskatawang, Applied Research, Marching from Vancouver to Ottawa

Leo Baskatawang is taking applied research to new level. Leo is a Masters student at the University of Manitoba in the Native Studies department. He will be conducting a March (March4Justice) across Canada from Vancouver to Ottawa to discuss and force awareness about the issues surrounding the Indian Act and the inability of the federal government to work meaningfully with First Nations and Aboriginal peoples. Support Leo and his applied research in contacting him as he drags the Indian Act to Ottawa.

APTN Story
http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2012/02/16/iraq-war-vet-set-to-walk-cross-country-for-first-nations-issues/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/#!/march_4_justice
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/people/Leo-Baskatawang/1172088564#!/March.4.Justice

To Learn more (interview & podcast)
http://archive.org/details/LeoBaskatawangAppliedResearchMarchingFromVancouverToOttawa