Burning and freezing issues

My blogging last week concerned three Anglo males.

Today's references a Native American woman and an Anglo woman.

Chief Theresa Spence

of the Attawapiskat First Nation, Canada

What does a Canadian Native American woman who may die from her hunger strike have to do with a Chicano literary website?

The info below tells about her and her protest. That links with the weather we've been experiencing wherever we live. Burning forests in the Colo. mts. or Calif. and droughts on the Colo. plains and the Southwest, along with record cold in the Midwest and Lake region are only some evidence that has and will work its way into Chicano lit and writers' and readers' lives. A warmed globe for our literary, and realistic, backgrounds. If it warms up too much, our species will have neither reader nor writer.

Secondly, Chief Theresa shares in our indio half of Chicanidad and our racial/cultural heritage in a broad sense. ChicanAs can also identify with her as a sister. ChicanOs can do so at least from shared ethnicity.

Idle No More

"The Idle No More (INM) movement began in early Oct. by four women in Saskatchewan, Canada who wanted to bring awareness to upcoming legislation (Bill C-45) that would affect First Nation people and the rest of Canada's population, land and water. Idle No More has been calling for "peaceful acts of resurgence and reclamation of sacred sites. Colonization continues through attacks to Indigenous rights and damage to the land and water. We must repair these violations, live the spirit and intent of the treaty relationship, work towards justice in action, and protect Mother Earth."

"Round dance flash mobs have been the most common form of support for Idle No More. These forms of protest have taken place in large malls throughout Canada and the United States.

"The website idlenomore.com calls on people to, quote, "join in a revolution which honors and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty" and "protects the land and water." Spreading their message on social media outlets, activists with Idle No More have rallied in dozens of Canadian cities, held countless teach-ins, blocked major highways, organized flash mobs in shopping centers, even interrupted the Canadian legislature.

"Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation began a hunger strike on December 11 to force a meeting on indigenous rights with the Canadian government.

a nationwide movement for political transformatio 14 pieces of legislation. Some of the earlier protests were focusing just on Bill C-45, which was a giant omnibus bill which made amendments to tons of pieces of legislation."

In Denver, INM protested at the Canadian Consulate.

On Dec. 29, 2012, a round dance with drumming and singing took place in Denver's Cherry Creek Mall with around 400 people in attendance. Signs reading "No Tar Sands" and "Respect Indigenous Sovereignty" were waved while thunderous drumming, and singing echoed throughout the busy mall.

A Round Dance was held at Flatiron Crossing Mall, north of Denver.

  

On Jan. 11th, the Idle No More Global Action Day held 265 events around the world: Australia, Chile, Columbia Egypt, Finland, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand. Nigeria, Poland, Sri Lanka, UK and about 80 throughout the US.

San Anto event announcement

"The Idle No More movement called for a global day of action on January 28th, 2012 . Several mujeres of the San Antonio community have organized a solidarity action to be held on this day in front of the Canadian Embassy on the corner of Commerce and St. Mary's.

The Vision of IDLE NO MORE revolves around Indigenous Ways of Knowing rooted in Indigenous Sovereignty to protect water, air, land and all creation for future generations.

When: January 28th @ 11am

Where: The Corner of Commerce and St. Marys

What: Danza Mexica & Rally to pray and let the Canadian Consulate in San Anto know we are in solidarity with indigenous communities in Canada as well create a connection with environmental protests that are going on in Texas to protest the KeyStone XL pipeline. Our lands are being destroyed and our people are being displaced in the name of "progress"!

Also on this day of action, we will be delivering a statement to the Canadian Consulate demanding the government of Canada repeal all legislation; which violates Treaties, Indigenous Sovereignty and subsequently Environmental Protections of land and water.

What to bring:

Drums, Friends,Posters/Signs,

Weather Appropriate Clothing, Peaceful Intent!

This is a child and family friendly event - No weapons, booze or drugs!"

Actions have been held in OK, ME, GA, DCSD, IL, AL, Sacramento, East Los, Albu, AZ, Ft. Collins, CO, MT, NV, NY, MN, UN, TN, Santa Fe, SC, San Anto, TX, as well as other places around the world. To find out about events in your area, go here.

Rebecca Solnit

The second woman connects to Sedano's post earlier this week, wherein he reviewed Alma Luz Villanueva's novel, Naked Ladies, a review and book worth reading, especially by ChicanOs. Sex, rape, men relating to women themes are how Rebecca Solnit connects to us all in a different way.

In her article, "The Longest War," Solnit essays female abuse from a worldwide perspective. Below I highlight some points she raises, but recommend everyone read the entire piece. I doubt I have to encourage ChicanAs to read such an exposé. ChicanOs who have little idea of women's societal burdens would benefit from a read, as well. Don't imagine this is a man-hating article; it's quite the opposite.

• Violence like rape is first of all authoritarian, based on the rapist's premise: I have the right to control you.
• Thus a rapist's chosen victim has no rights or liberties; the rapist has the right to control and punish her.
• Murder-rape is the extreme version of authoritarianism. The murderer asserts he has the right to decide if you live or die, the ultimate control. Even if the victim acts “obedient,” the aggressor's desire to control originates in a rage that obedience can’t assuage. Whatever fears, whatever sense of vulnerability may underlie such violent behavior, rapists assert entitlement to inflict suffering and death on other people. Rape breeds misery in perpetrator and victim.
• Of 62 mass shootings in the U.S. in three decades, only one was committed by a woman. When the press says lone gunman, everyone talks about loners and guns but not about men.
• Men are unaware of all women's intricate ways they stay alert, their limited access to the world, precautions they take, and thoughts about rape that they have all the time.
• Colleges spend more time telling women how to survive predators than telling the other half not to be predators.
• 1 out of every 3 Native American women will raped. On reservations, 88% of those are committed by non-Native men that tribal governments can’t prosecute.
• 87,000 rapes occur in this country every year.
• 11% of rapes are committed by fathers or stepfathers.

Read the entire article here.

Rebecca Solnit's just-published new book, A Paradise Built in Hell (Penguin, 2009), is a monument to human bravery and innovation during disasters.

Es todo, hoy

RudyG