The Power of the Drum

The power of the drum,
of the drum,
freeing the primal being
within,
sets our hearts to beating, 
our feet to dancing,
our spirits
joyous
at being alive,
connected to the earth,
sisters, brothers
to each other,
connected
to all life,
to the heartbeat
of our mother,
by the power 
of the drum.

The power of the drum
makes us all warriors,
all sisters,
all brothers,
the power of the drum
makes us
all kin.

He stands up
with one heart,
and speaks for
the many,
this man of the people,
by the power of the drum.


Raymond Robinson, First Nations elder from Manitoba, who has accompanied Chief Theresa Spence on her hunger strike these many weeks, gave a stirring speech on Parliament Hill on January 11. The Idle No More movement, which has spread across Canada like wildfire, is calling for government leaders, especially Stephen Harper, to meet with First Nations leaders on  a nation-to-nation basis, to discuss coexistence in this country. 

Idle No More supporters  want Bill C45 repealed, a bill that First Nations feel violates treaty rights, gives federal government more control over their reserves and will reduce their ability to protect millions of lakes and rivers. (One's mind makes the immediate leap to the northern oil pipeline Harper is so enamored of.) 

sources:  Occupy Canada
cbc.ca
canadianawareness.org
priceofoil.org