There You Have It

"The First Nations individuals they surveyed, they seem to [have] very similar [views] to the Canadian population in general. It could be that Idle No More appeals to a particular segment of the population, but not perhaps the broader group of First Nations individuals."
Lorne Bozinoff, president, Forum Research

Canadians, half of those interviewed for a poll sponsored by the National Post and conducted by Forum Research, claim not to be supportive of the Idle No More movement. Not in and of itself all that surprising, given the controversy that has accompanied all of the aggressive statements, the absurd spectacle of a subsistence-starvation-diet by a failed First Nations chief, and the many blockades and uneasy protests that have taken place of late.

What may, however, be surprising to many is that this attitude is largely shared by Canadians of First Nations ancestry. Canadians who have no aboriginal heritage in their backgrounds are not supportive of the movement, by 49%, while 39% did claim support. First Nations ancestry Canadians who took part in the survey claimed not to support the Idle No More movement by 52%.

It seems that road blockages and rail line stoppages across Canada in the last several weeks was not a popular gesture of dissatisfaction generally among both non-native and First Nations-origined Canadians. On the other hand, the Idle No More movement disowned these blockages. They quite deliberately and succinctly explained this was not their intention, to cause others to be discommoded, and to engender resentment as a result.

No one seems to be listening to them particularly acutely. The news media do accurately enough delegate to them the wish to have First Nations/Crown agreements finalized and settled. And their unequivocal call for several provisions in the omnibus budget bill overturned on the thesis that waterways will be threatened and easing up on reserve leasing agreements would imperil the rights of First Nations.

But protests of a loud and abusive nature, and roadblocks inconveniencing ordinary people going about their business, and rail stoppages impacting the economy, definitely not. Yet these issues are portrayed as part of the Idle No More movement. They are, in the sense that First Nations chiefs, whom the Idle No More founders emphatically iterated and reiterated did not speak for them, ignored their protests and claimed to be representing the movement regardless.

And, again, the poll figures came up with 61% of Canadians claiming that police should not allow Idle No More (!) protesters to block major highways, rail lines and border crossings. A mere quarter of respondents felt police should allow the blockages. Well, amazingly enough those who claimed First Nations ancestry concurred by 53%, while 29% felt police should allow protesters to halt major roadways and rail lines.

And the question whether or not First Nations people are poorly served by the reserve system; 44% of Canadians believed that to be an accurate assessment. Four out of ten Canadians felt the Indian Act should be abolished. There was an almost equal split in the 32% range of those believing elected chiefs should be responsible for reserve finances while the other 32% felt government could do a more credible job.