Happy New Year

We head into the end of one year and the start of a new one. It is symbolic, really. Indigenous peoples this year have been moving ahead, gathering strength, and finding their feet and courage slowly but surely throughout the year of 2011.

Champions of Indigenous people have stood up and are achieving results:

• Sharon McIvor won her court case on the discrimination against First Nation women within Indian Act registration policies
• When Canada responded to the court case with greater discrimination, Sharon McIvor took it to the UN
• Canada was taken to task on missing and murdered Indigenous women and through the efforts of many Indigenous women and organizations, the UN has now stepped up to investigate Canada
• Chief Theresa Spence stood up against a goliath of bullies, Canada. Pamela Palmater has summarized this succinctly here
• The UN is now monitoring Canada's horrid treatment of First Nations people and housing, specifically in Attawapiskat
• Indigenous people have won victory after victory in the courts this year:
• Victory in the Caribou case
• Victory in a Tax case
• Victory regarding probe into lack of Aboriginal jurors
• Victory against Canada's secrecy
• Victory regarding unwanted resource developments
• Cindy Blackstock is leading the charge against internationally condemned Canadian practices of inequitable funding for First Nation children on the grounds of pure racism. Details can be read here.
• Pamela Palmater, champion of Indigenous people and Indigenous nationhood, released the book "Beyond Blood: Rethinking Indigenous Identity" as well as spoken on the behalf of Indigenous peoples on national television:
• 8th Fire Q&A
• Book Presentation during Edmonton tour
• On The Agenda
• On CTV
• There are many others, but I will not list them all.
• There have also been many joint ventures and new businesses and success stories from Indigenous communities building economies

The new year will prove to be interesting. It is poised to be an awakening for Indigenous people in Canada. It will also awaken those Canadians who have been far too comfortable hoarding the nation's wealth to themselves. These lands were meant for all to enjoy and benefit from... AND to care for sustainably.

In the new year, let us draw together even closer. Let us pool our minds and energies. Let us awake from hibernation together with fire in our eyes, passion in our hearts and freedom in our minds.

Happy New Year.