HALIFAX – Students in Nova Scotia have endorsed the Idle No More movement and will today participate in today’s ‘One Billion Rising’ rally calling for the end of violence against women, organized in conjunction with Idle No More. During a recent general meeting, membership of the Canadian Federation of Students-Nova Scotia voted unanimously to officially support Idle No More and offer resources to organisers.
“Students here in Nova Scotia, and across the country, have been inspired by this powerful, grass-roots, Aboriginal-lead movement for respect for treaty rights, Indigenous sovereignty and the environment,” said Elise Graham, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Nova Scotia. “Education is a right, and this is especially true for First Nations people, for whom access to post-secondary education is a treaty right.”
Aboriginal peoples’ rights and treaty rights are recognized and affirmed in the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982 and further recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada endorsed in 2010. Unfortunately the federal government has failed to respect those treaty rights.
Internationally, ‘One-Billion Rising’ events will take place today in response to the one billion women who will be directly affected by gender-based violence in their lifetimes. In Canada, these rallies have been organized by Idle No More and Sisters in Spirit. The Canadian Federation of Students has also endorsed the Sisters in Spirit campaign, established in 2004 to bring attention to the alarming number of missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
“Over six-hundred aboriginal women in Canada are missing or murdered,” said Graham. “These missing and murdered Aboriginal women are mothers, daughters and sisters. Today, students are standing with Idle No More and Sisters in Spirit to remember these women and call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.”
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Elise Graham, Chairperson
Canadian Federation of Students - Nova Scotia
Cellular: (902) 476-7257
Gabe Hoogers, Maritimes Organiser
Canadian Federation of Students
Cellular: (902) 880-9039
The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest students' organization, uniting more than 500,000 university and college students from all ten provinces.
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