Alex Darocy Photography

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,"...

On January 27, In solidarity with First Nations and Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, Ohlone and other individuals of Californian Native American ancestry held a flash mob in San Francisco at the Westfield Mall to show support for the Idle No More movement. About 100-150 people joined Ohlone activists at the Westfield Mall on a busy Sunday afternoon. At the flash mob, people prayed and shared the songs and dances of, "the People of the Roundhouse, Earthlodge, and Dance Pit," and the Yelamu were honored. The Yelamu were the tribe of Ohlone Indians that inhabited a variety of locations within the SF area before the Spanish mission system was established. The singing and dancing inside of the mall lasted for 10-15 minutes. To clear people out, security used a bullhorn, at which time the group moved outside to the front entrance and then across Market Street to the small square near Powell Street, where they continued to sing and dance. Speak...