Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

The Idle No More movement began late in 2012 after the Harper Government passed their massive omnibus budget Bill C-45. Four women, Nina Wilson, Sheelah Mclean, Sylvia McAdam and Jessica Gordon all shared a vision in which people can help protect Mother Earth, her lands, waters and people. The women began discussing the possible impacts that some of the legislation would carry if people remained idle. To them, it became evident that women MUST do something about the apparent colonial, unilateral and paternalistic legislation being pushed through Canada’s parliamentary system. They began by calling a rally to inform the public that Bill C-45 intended to give the minister of Indian Affairs unprecedented power and they also informed the public on other legislation that may affect and ignore the treaties made with the crown, thereby impacting water, land and people in harmful ways. The women then helped other communities to coordinate efforts to hold similar rallies with the same goal in mind. These rallies to