Akwesasne Drummers at State of the State

<p>[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"drupalimc_large","fid":"9428","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]</p><div class="post-details"><ul class="post-meta post-meta-post"><li class="date">Posted on January 9, 2014</li></ul></div><p>Idle No More at Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address: Mohawk Nation Drummers from Akwesasne assert their rights. This year, authorities ruled that no drumming would be allowed in the concourse under the state capitol in Albany during the governor’s state of the state address. That memo never reached members of the Mohawk Nation who came to Albany to add a first nations perspective to the call for a ban on fracking. The problem for the police is that this rule took no account of the religious and culture centrality of the drum to native peoples, nor the implicit understand of this on the part of supporters who instantly rallied. It was inspiring. Chants of “let them go” changed to “let them drum”. As first nation peoples struggle to assert both their autonomy as nations and fulfill a wider role as protector of mother earth for all her inhabitants, the attempt to impose a prohibition against drumming echos this larger struggle, particularly in Canada, where the Elsipogtog Resistance to Shale Gas Development on native lands in New Brunswick has garnered international attention. Before the drumming stars, ShaleshockMedia asked two of the Idle No More contingent from Akwesasne about the current situation in Canada.</p><p>For a truly excellent video documentary of the resistance to Southwest Energy’s compact with the Provence of New Brunswick to exploit native lands without prior consultation, see “Fault Lines: Elsipogtog, The Fire Over Water” that was broadcast on Aljazeera English: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWoRw_fYEGo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWoRw_fYEGo</a><br>Also, I have a page on shaleshockmedia.org with some embedded video by MsNativeWarrior and some background articles: <a href="http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/22/elsipogtog-frack-off/">http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/22/elsipogtog-frack-off/</a>.<br>As well, here is a report from a Christian Peace Maker volunteer upon his return home from a support role: <a href="http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/30/elsipogtog-resistance-to-shale-gas-development-report-by-sam-koplinka-loehr-cpt/">http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/30/elsipogtog-resistance-to-shale-gas-development-report-by-sam-koplinka-loehr-cpt/</a></p>

<p><div class="media media-element-container media-drupalimc_large"><div id="file-9428" class="file file-video file-video-youtube"> <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/9428">Akwesasne Drummers at State of the State</a></h2> <div class="content"> <div class="media-youtube-video media-image media-youtube-2"> <iframe class="media-youtube-player" width="620" height="480" title="Akwesasne Drummers at State of the State" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BnKDFlAsH9o?wmode=opaque&controls=" name="Akwesasne Drummers at State of the State" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>Video of Akwesasne Drummers at State of the State</iframe> </div> </div> </div> </div></p> <div class="post-details"> <ul class="post-meta post-meta-post"> <li class="date">Posted on January 9, 2014</li> </ul> </div> <p>Idle No More at Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address: Mohawk Nation Drummers from Akwesasne assert their rights. This year, authorities ruled that no drumming would be allowed in the concourse under the state capitol in Albany during the governor’s state of the state address. That memo never reached members of the Mohawk Nation who came to Albany to add a first nations perspective to the call for a ban on fracking. The problem for the police is that this rule took no account of the religious and culture centrality of the drum to native peoples, nor the implicit understand of this on the part of supporters who instantly rallied. It was inspiring. Chants of “let them go” changed to “let them drum”. As first nation peoples struggle to assert both their autonomy as nations and fulfill a wider role as protector of mother earth for all her inhabitants, the attempt to impose a prohibition against drumming echos this larger struggle, particularly in Canada, where the Elsipogtog Resistance to Shale Gas Development on native lands in New Brunswick has garnered international attention. Before the drumming stars, ShaleshockMedia asked two of the Idle No More contingent from Akwesasne about the current situation in Canada.</p> <p>For a truly excellent video documentary of the resistance to Southwest Energy’s compact with the Provence of New Brunswick to exploit native lands without prior consultation, see “Fault Lines: Elsipogtog, The Fire Over Water” that was broadcast on Aljazeera English: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWoRw_fYEGo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWoRw_fYEGo</a><br />Also, I have a page on shaleshockmedia.org with some embedded video by MsNativeWarrior and some background articles: <a href="http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/22/elsipogtog-frack-off/">http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/22/elsipogtog-frack-off/</a>.<br />As well, here is a report from a Christian Peace Maker volunteer upon his return home from a support role: <a href="http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/30/elsipogtog-resistance-to-shale-gas-development-report-by-sam-koplinka-loehr-cpt/">http://www.shaleshockmedia.org/2013/10/30/elsipogtog-resistance-to-shale-gas-development-report-by-sam-koplinka-loehr-cpt/</a></p>