Ever thought of what it would have been like to wake up on January 1, 2013 (or any year) and find that everything was different? Not only was it a new year but everything was brand new.
Watching the thousands gather on December 31 in New York City’s Times Square, at Niagara Falls, Canada, and thousands of other gathering places around the globe, you’d think that people were expecting exactly such a change to happen. And while it is another year, life hasn’t really changed for most of us.
So if nothing really changes come January 1, why all the excitement and hoopla? Well, other than another chance to have fun and celebrate, all these people are doing is hoping—for a few hours—that everything will be brand new. And it’s all fine and dandy until they wake up on January 2 and realize that they’ve got to go to work, pay the bills, deal with impossible situations and hope for the day when “everything will be made new.”
Americans ended 2012 dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Sandy in the Northeast and the horrendously tragic killing of 26 in Newtown, Connecticut, including 20 innocent children.
The U.S. also faced what was being called “the Fiscal Cliff,” while many Americans are pretty certain that the government went over the cliff years ago.
Canadians on the other hand are hearing and watching reports of a growing movement known as Idle No More along with stories about a First Nations chief determined to go on a hunger strike for as long as it takes to get a meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister and the Governor General.
While these spontaneous demonstrations are popping up in more and more cities in Canada and the United States, many people, both Native and non-Native, have questions and concerns about what’s behind these “instant protests”.
For a little background, this grassroots movement started when four Saskatchewan women met in late October 2012 to discuss and share their concerns over legislation working its way through Canada’s Parliament. They were concerned in particular about Bill C-45, also known as an omnibus bill, that would erode indigenous rights and environmental protections. These women decided to organize an event in Saskatoon on November 10 and they let everyone know about it via Facebook. They called their page “Idle No More,” believing that it would motivate people to join their cause.
A week after that small meeting, events were held in Regina, Prince Albert, and North Battleford, Saskatchewan, as well as in Winnipeg. From there, spontaneous round dances have sprung up at shopping malls, in main intersections including Winnipeg’s famous Portage and Main (often referred to as North America’s coldest intersection).
While Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike didn’t start out as a part of this movement, her action has motivated many and she has become a sort of icon for Idle No More.
So when we look at all the events that have transpired in the last month of 2012 and what’s unfolding in this New Year, we can see that in many ways, these events are occurring because people are crying out for help. Sadly, the mass killing in Newtown was the result of one man’s cry for help. Yet regrettably, his cries weren’t recognized nor answered in time and a terrible tragedy resulted, affecting countless families and a whole community.
While there is no connection to Newtown, the flash dances, demonstrations, road and railroad blockades of Idle No More are also cries for help, cries for change, and we need to listen. Those that are in positions of authority and with the capacity to do something need to be willing to do what’s necessary to see that these cries are heard and action is taken to bring about good.
As we go to press, a quickly planned meeting between the prime minister and First Nations chiefs was held although there was disagreement over who should attend the meeting. Chief Theresa Spence refused to attend because the Governor General wasn’t included in the meeting. However, she did attend a ceremonial meeting at the official residence of the Queen’s representative.
Although some are saying this was a missed opportunity for the government as well as First Nations, we would hope that meetings to follow will be constructive and a bridge to open dialogue between the Canadian government and First Nations. We also hope that governments, including tribal leaders, will do what’s right instead of jockeying for what is politically beneficial.
While there is a lot that government can do, let’s not forget that these are more than political and societal problems facing us. First Nations people are a spiritual people and the issues we confront are above all spiritual.
Creator gave the ancient prophet Ezekiel these words: “‘Enough, you rulers of Israel [the U.S. and Canada]! Stop ruling in bad ways with your power and do what is right and good. Stop driving My people off their land,’ says the Lord God” (Ezekiel 45:9 NLB).
Government can pass a lot of laws and the authorities can enforce them but true change only comes with a change of heart. And that can only come through an intervention of Creator’s Holy Spirit.
Perhaps you were hoping that when you woke up on the first day of 2013 there would be real change in your family, community, nation, and in our world. For now, it can happen in small ways.
We hope and pray that God will turn mourning into dancing and heal broken and grieving hearts. We also pray that only good will result from the meetings in Ottawa between First Nations chiefs and the prime minister. We pray that all will seek to do only what is just and good.
As followers of Jesus, we do believe that the day is coming when God will change everything for the better. It’s something only He can bring about. Until then, we continue to press forward believing that in the end “everything will be made new.”
