"'Idle No More' movement visits Brant MP"

Brant Conservative Party MP Phil McColeman got a few uninvited guests to his Christmas party held at his constituency office on St. George Street in Brantford, Tuesday afternoon.

Around 80 first nation and non-Native supporters came to deliver a message to McColeman that his leader Ste­phen Harper's raft of Bills his party is trying to ram through parliament are unwelcome to First Nations here and across Canada. The protesters say all Canadians as well as Onkwenon:we people will be seriously and negatively affected by them.

Carrying signs and flags the group stood peacefully on the roadside at the entrance to McColeman's constituency office singing, drumming and talking to passersby about the dangers of Harper's bills.

"We are here in solidarity with Canadians," said Dakota Brant. "Our treaties are the last stand in the protection of the environment in Canada."

"Honouring and protecting First Nations Treaties is also honouring and protecting the land," she added. "Virtually every First Nation in the country is along a waterway. This is why we are standing with all our Native brothers and sisters across this land. Six Nations and Canadian allies of the Grand River care about Canada's waterways and we are all here to tell Mr. McColeman to carry this message back to Ottawa with him."

Brant, John Henhawk and Rhonda Martin went into McColeman's headquarters to speak with him, and to explain why they were there.

"We let him know we are here peacefully and respectfully just to have our voices beard," said Henhawk. "We asked if he had heard anything about Theresa Spence and her hunger strike. We also let him know that people are talking about this all around the world despite the obvious media blackout."

When McColeman was asked by Tekawennake what he has to say about the issues being brought forward outside his office, the MP would only wish them all a Merry Christmas and thank them for coming to his open house.

"I'm not going to make any comments today," he said. "If they want to meet with me and have a meaningful discussion, instead of interrupting a social event like this, I am open to do that. I just hosted a tri-councils (meeting) and have met with the Elected Council maybe 20 times in the last 18 months. I am happy to meet with people, but this is not the time or place today."

New Credit's Larry Sault, who has been actively involved with Native politics at several levels for many years, see's nothing new in Harper's suite of bills.

"There has been nothing change since 1969 and even before that," he said. "In 1964 a report to the Liberal government led to the 1969 'White Paper', the Penner report, and everything from 1964 to now. It doesn't matter which white government is in power. It doesn't change the direction in their termination policy and we have to make that very, very clear.

"We need to understand the times we are in right now. We are in critical moments for First Nations across this country and the Chiefs caught to start understanding that. The traditional people need to understand that. We need to come together, Six Nations and New Credit and all across this country. We all have our roles and I understand that. Nill Montour is doing his role, Bill Squire is doing his role, Six Nations Elected Council is doing their role. We have to let down our guard between us and come together."

After a couple of hours, the group peacefully left without incident, promising more protests as they join with so many others in the "Idle No More" Indian movement across Canada.