It’s one year later and the Idle No More movement continues to earn recognition.
For its work in bringing Indigenous issues to the forefront, Idle No More was given a global citizen award in Saskatoon this weekend.
Sheelah McLean, one of Idle No More’s founders, says organizers are pleased the movement has helped many more people to get politically engaged than was the case a year ago.
“What we’re doing now, and what many people are doing, is educating the public, many people are planning strategic actions, many people are looking at what kind of legislation is coming across and what we can do about it,” she says.
Along with Erica Lee, Andre Bear accepted the award on behalf of Idle No More and he adds the movement has had a positive effect on both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal young people.
“It’s making a lot of the other kids more conscious, they think a lot more about what’s happening around the world because they see a lot of our people, and non-Indigenous people, speaking out,” he says.
The award was given out by the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation.