One of the Saskatchewan organizers of the Idle No More protests is calling for the movement stay with the grassroots.
Sylvia McAdam says she is worried the movement will stagnate if it falls under the control of chiefs and other leaders.
This week an appeal was made by Chief Theresa Spence for all the parties involved in Idle No More to unite.
Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn Atleo is also urging unity in the movement’s dealings with the federal government.
In a released statement, Atleo calls on Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston to join First Nations leaders in a Jan. 24 meeting on the one-year anniversary of the Crown-First Nations gathering.
Regardless, McAdam stresses key decisions in the Idle No More movement must be made by rank and file participants.
“The power of Idle No More is with the grassroots people,” McAdam says. “That has to be respected and allowed to move the way it has been moving and it’s the people that give it that power.”
She adds history has shown that when leaders take over grassroots causes these movements become diminished.
On the other hand, a member of the Peepeekisis First Nation in southern Saskatchewan says she fears the meaning and purpose of the treaties is getting lost in all the Idle No More campaigns.
Evelyn Poitras says each treaty is unique representing a different region and different concerns and for this reason she has decided not to take part in the broad based Idle No More rallies
In the meantime, First Nations chiefs have been meeting in Ottawa since last weekend.
Onion Lake Cree Nation Chief Wallace Fox says First Nations leaders are deeply concerned about the health of Chief Spence who has been on a hunger strike since Dec. 11.
The Chief of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is also throwing her support behind Chief Spence.
Chief Tammy Cook-Searson flew to Ontario yesterday to meet with Spence and commends her for taking a courageous stand on key issues affecting First Nations people in Canada such sewers, water and housing.
For his part, Chief Fox says he agrees with McAdam that the Idle No More movement should be led by the grassroots and the chiefs are not trying to take over.
Fox says the only way the government is going to listen is if it feels the pinch economically.
“The real time when the Prime Minister is going to take notice is when the economy starts to be in question, in terms of some of the things that may be happening on the National Day of Action on the 16th,” Fox says.
He says this day of action could result in blockades of major highways and railways.