Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Issues Declaration in Support of Idle No More

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

HARBOR SPRINGS, MICHIGAN – To show support for First Nations of Canada and "Idle No More," the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Council on Sunday passed a Declaration that will be forwarded on to Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence.

“As Indigenous people, we do not see the borders to our north or to the south. During times that conflict occurs for our First Nation relations in the protection of the sovereignty and treaty rights, we need to stand together; both strong and unified. It is more than time to fight for the next seven generations ahead of us, as well as the seven generations that came before us,”

stated Tribal Councilor Belinda Bardwell who brought the Declaration before the Tribal Council on Sunday.

All nine members of the tribal council signed the declaration.

"Anishnaabe First Nations in Canada are at risk of injustice and exploitation as a result of recent legislation enacted by the Canadian Government," reads the Declaration, in part.

The Declaration continues: "The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians expresses support for the First Nations in Canada, including those Anishnaabek bands, as they seek to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their Citizens from unauthorized development and extraction of their natural and cultural resources."

“Maybe by our tribal council's actions of issuing this Declaration, other tribal governments and non-tribal governments will take the same types of action to show our solidarity with our First Nations relations,”

continued Councilor Bardwell.

1 | Read the full Declaration here »

posted January 8, 2013 6:00 am est