Many California Tribes and Nations Represented at Capitol for Statewide Idle No More Rally
On January 26, a statewide rally was held on the north steps of the California State Capitol in Sacramento in solidarity with Idle No More demonstrations held worldwide to coincide with the Canadian MPs return to the House of Commons on January 28. Organizers in California hoped the rally would be a time to, "network, educate, and unite as one people." The day featured speakers, California Indian dancers and singers, Aztec/Mexica dancers, and an opening blessings from the local Miwok Nation. A sacred altar placed before the steps of the capitol building was continually maintained by women throughout the rally. Additionally, Sylvia McAdam, one of the four female founders of Idle No More, spoke to the Californian group over a cell phone from London , describing Idle No More to the crowd as, "the creative resistance of our people." "We are defending all of our land and all of our water, because our Mother Earth needs that protection and defending,"...