The Idle
No More movement for indigenous rights started out in Canada last
year, and has been marked by protests across the country and similar actions
elsewhere, including in the United States. One of the tactics used has been the
staging of flashmob round dances in shopping malls and other public spaces.
Last
week the movement reached Salt Lake City in Utah, with 75 people staging a dance
in the Capitol rotunda in protest against official approval for tar-sands
minining in the state (pictued below).
 |
|
Source: City Weekly, 21 February
2013 |
One
of the biggest actions took place on January 13 2013 at West Edmonton Mall, the
largest shopping mall in North America. According to Indian
Country, 'a good 3,000 people showed up for an Idle No More flash mob at the
West Edmonton Mall, staging a full-scale Grand Entry, the ceremonial procession
that opens pow wow gatherings. Led by an eagle staff, equivalent to a national
flag for many First Nations, the giant procession included rows of dancers three
people wide, many in full traditional regalia and clothes, wrapped all the way
around the mall's ice skating rink. These were followed by hoop dancers and
accompanied by pow wow drumming'. In another action in
December 2012 people drummed and danced in the Southgate Mall in Missoula,
Montana. Supporters have talked of the movement as a Round Dance
Revoltion.
0 nhận xét