Andrea Landry: IdleNoMore is Maori, We are INM

Stepping into a country with a distinctly diverse history from one’s own, different Indigenous knowledge, and a separate oral tradition can seem quite daunting. Yet, one thing remains certain; ceremony dissolves those fears of judgement, those uncertainties of incorrectly following traditional protocol, and the ideologies of self-doubt. Because the reality is, things will unfold the way Creator wants it to.

Being in New Zealand, on Maori territory, to discuss the Idle No More movement and the assimilative legislation that has affected Indigenous peoples in Canada was nerve-wracking to say the least. Yet, seeing the solidarity, support, and knowledge of the movement within New Zealand provided a sense of how integral this movement is to Indigenous peoples globally. This movement has formulated a connection that grasps ceremonial roots and redefines the Indigenization of colonial tactics on the global stage.

The settings with the teach-ins which occurred in New Zealand had the familial atmosphere that I felt within the rallies in Canada of 30 people and rallies of up to 8000 people. The smiles around the room demonstrated the true, heartfelt, support that thrived within our Maori brothers and sisters. Most importantly, the understanding of how integral it is for the people of New Zealand to support the movement showed how united we truly are, even though we live on opposite sides of the globe.

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