Home Brewing 101

As a beer enthusiast that has sampled over 2,000 beers throughout the world, I always thought of getting into the brewing process myself.  The popularity of brewing one's own beer for consumption amongst friends is always appealing, but normally people are hesitant to try someone's home brew because they must force out a fib to reassure the over joyed brewer that it is great.

Mix this phenomenon with the growing popularity of the Craft Beer Industry, for example the commercialized Alexander Keith's has recently just released it's hop series in an attempt to tap into craft beer hop lover's.  Is this working?  I would have to say that the Hallertau is outdoing the Cascade, mostly because Canadians like hoppy beer, but not hoppiness that is intrusive to their regular tastes.

Watching new breweries emerge throughout North America, finally destroying the international reputation that North American beer is terrible has been inspiring, while offering a variety of experimental brews that are great.  Granville Island, Dogfish Head, Rogue, Liberty, Dieu du Ciel, Howe Sound, New Belgium, Allagash and this is to name a very slim few.

I have always been interested in joining this wave of new brewers, so when instructing courses was finished last April, my brother and I one day decided to go to Wine Kitz and were convinced to finally purchase our first beer kit.  Excited, our first beer we brewed was a Wheat Beer, naturally starting with pre-made wort, but nonetheless we were extremely delicate to the process.  We poured the wart into the primary fermenter, sprinkled on the yeast and waited patiently for a week to allow the yeast to do it's business.  Next we siphoned the alcohol to the secondary fermenter and again waited 2 weeks for it to ferment storing it carefully in a darkened room at room temperature (meanwhile sanitizing like mad men). 

After this, we were ready to bottle, so we shifted the brew back to the primary fermenter and while adding sugar to the process, stirred nicely and then bottled.  At this point, the excitement builds as we let it sit for 4 weeks.  A real nice surprise awaited me as I came back from Sweden, John and I tasted the brew and low and behold it was impressive, but naturally we will find it okay, so we took it to the critics.

At around this time, the Cream Ale (second batch) was also ready, so we had many people sample the beer, harsh critics, people we knew and people we did not know and it went over extremely well, even having people they would buy it in a pub.  Therefore, we stepped it up and brewed an Oatmeal Double Stout and John and my Father sampled it on Father's day and again it was a success and even though it was pre-made wort, it was our first time and we succeeded.

At this point, we have also brewed a Cerveca and a Pilsner.  I move to Lethbridge a week ago and already the Galt Museum wants me to run a home brewing demonstration, also potentially sell my beer as locally Lethbridge.  In that case, the next journey is making my own wort and experimenting with new ingredients, so challenge accepted, when I finally purchase a new home, I am going to turn the basement into a brewery, very exciting things are happening on the brew front, so hopefully within a couple years, there will be a Pogo Brew Pub in Lethbridge haha.

Brewing is Awesome!!

Time for Change

What can I say?  CHANGE has been a normal concept in my life since 2006, but like any classic story, there must be a moment of conflict that engages a life, so that change and growth can be made.  My story continues, as I have moved to Lethbridge to try and figure out exactly what i want to do with my life.  From managing a classroom to engaging in community development.

My roller coaster ride has left me with a Jeep full of worldly possessions, but a head full of amazing memories.  As I navigated through life: Student - International Intern - Master's Student - Professional - Fiance - Immigrant - Failed Relationship (Conflict) - Professional - Story continues to be written.

Is it true that I actually might have chosen a career over love?  Well I traveled to Belgium, lived in Belgium and adjusted me life to the point that I came out with a Jeep full of worldly possessions.  Not many people in life can say that they have ever had a do-over.

A do-over is an opportunity to explore the second path of the two diverged in a woods.  In the words of Robert Frost - he took the one less traveled by and it made all the difference.  That being said, I also took the one less traveled by, but by some crazy whole in the Universe, I have been sent back to the same decisions and paths.

Allow me to explain, in 2009, I started at ACL as the Diversity Support Coordinator, the only difference is I was dating a Flemmish girl from Belgium.  I constantly turned down opportunities to advance my career for the prospect of spending my life with this girl.  In 2012, I started instructing courses at the FNUC and then moved to Belgium.  After an unsuccessful attempt at immigrating to another country and a caught off guard dumping, I hopped on a plane to Regina to continue instructing university courses and try to get settled back at home.

The only difference between this tele-portal is Regina (my home) became a different place that was unsettling and hard to adjust to.  Mostly because I was single and alone now dealing with heart ache, curiosity and wonderment for that moment she would meet another guy.

Fast forward to a week ago, while I still held on to the hope that I would one day reunite with the love of my life, I receive an email telling me that I must move on because she has found another person to replace me and offer her the things that I could not.  This brings me back to Lethbridge to work back in Human Rights at ACL with opportunity to grow - a complete tele-portal do-over.  Same people, same city, same opportunities, but the only difference is I am older, wiser and broken hearted.

However, inspiration comes in many forms and I read a quote recently by Viktor Frankl (a man that endured so much pain, toruture and heart-ache), a survivor of the Nazi concentration camp of Aushwitz.  I remember him, he wrote a book on logo-therapy, which I wrote a paper on in University and this simply explains that people must find the will to live in the most dire situations if they want to survive.

He also goes on to quote and I paraphrase "if you cannot change a situation, then you must change yourself to fit into that situation" - he is referring to death.  In my case, it is a simple reminder that one needs to adapt to any situation if they are going to move on and be better.  I admire this quote because I have the ability to change myself, I have the ability to adapt to my new life and I have the ability to work hard and be better, not just for myself, but for the benefit of the people that have walked into my life.

This is the only part of ending a 7 year relationship and an engagement that is beneficial, is the opportunity to learn and grow and know that even though times get difficult, one must find opportunity within their own pain to better the lives of others.

"One day at a time"

Roy

A Rotten Hangover would have been easier to get through!!!

Hangover 3!!

This is going to be one of the most challenging and difficult blogs to write.  I have been a loyal and devoted fan of the Hangover movies.  I laughed through a torturous drug induced bachelor party in Vegas, I enjoyed the following (drug induced) bachelor party in Bangkok, so naturally I was looking forward to Hangover 3, where the movie will take us briefly to Tijuana Mexico and then back to Las Vegas (Sin City).

They were their for a bit

The trailer has been repeatedly assuring loyal fans of Helm, Galifianakis and Cooper's return to sheer Hangover beauty.  However, the movie fails it's loyal fans in many ways and also offers very little from a writer's perspective.  The movie starts with Ken Jeong (also known as Chow, or Chang on the television series Community) escaping from a high security prison in Bangkok.

Bangkok prison 

He pulled a Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption and tunneled into a sewer system, then he ran like the fugitive he was and made a heroic dive towards a 100 foot fall.

Then we go to Alan (Galafianakis) driving down a California freeway with a Giraf in a pulled trailer.  Bragging and acting cocky, the viewer already knowing from the previews witnesses the Giraf get decapitated causing a massive accident.  A theme is starting to develop, the movie has taken on an American Pie trilogy approach that also failed, it makes Alan and Chow

My giraf just got decapitated!!

focal characters.  The comparison being the complete focus on Stifler and Finch.  As well, it sets up a fairly predictable, uninteresting and slapstick humor that suffers from poor writing and plot confusion.

Chow & Alan

Stifler and Finchmeister

Max Bialystock would have been proud because the Hangover 3 is a flop and much like "The Producers", one can make a lot of money by producing a flop.

Leo and Max producing Flops!!

Next, Alan is very uninterested in his father's anger towards the Giraf incident, which leads to a fatal heart attack while Alan is listening to music, thus the event that will unite our party trio at his funeral.  Again, the surprise of a splendid opera voice singing quite romantically leads us to the predictable trailer moment of it being Alan singing.

Apparently Alan has been off his meds for six months and concerned family and friends need to get him some help in a Arizona based mental health facility.  The idea is that they will drive there setting up a non-hangover scenario, but a case where old decisions will come back to haunt this group.  Phil deciding he is gonna be in attendance makes Alan yell in a very crazy, weird and happy way, which sets up the barrage of terrible Alan in love with Phil jokes.

As there vehicle get's rammed of the road by John Goodman (Marshall)

John Goodman (Marshall)

Black Doug 

and Mike Epps (Black Doug - head of security and the original drug dealer that got the original; hangover started in Vegas with roofies), the trio are attacked, have bags placed over there heads and are explained by Goodman, why they have been selected as targets of criminal activity.

The long winded explanation that aims at connecting all three hangovers creates an unreal scenario that will create the opportunity to briefly see Tijuana.  What made this scene hard to sit through was the continued reminiscing explaining to the audience why exactly we are currently sitting through another Hangover, where their is no alcohol at this point.

In Part 1, we are introduced to a character named Leslie Chow

Leslie Chow (Super-hero)

by him leaping naked out of the trunk of car onto Phil, hilarity ensues when Chow kicks their ass mixed with the confused reactions of the trio.  The audience is also wondering who the hell that was, but the action tells us something occurred and that we will see him again.  The explanation and descriptive analysis by Marshall was for lack of better terms predictable and uninteresting, it took to much of the wonderment out of the script.

Again, Doug is selected by Marshall as a hostage until he get's his 22 million of stolen golden bars that Chow impersonating a police officer was able to steal.  Episode 1: Doug on the roof, Episode 2: Doug get's lame and stays at resort, Episode 3: Doug held hostage.

Doug goes AWOL again

The movie then continues with the most hilarity coming from Phil's and Stu's reaction to the rather problematic and strange lifestyle of Alan.  Stu continues to freak out at every moment or shift in the adventure, Alan is starting to make fun of Stu (even implying he should be picked as a hostage instead of Doug) and admiring Phil to an uncomfortable level; finally and Phil has a relaxed, confident and almost veteran understanding of all the criminal activity that is about to happen.

Eventually, we see Tijuana for a few moments and Chow makes an appearance.  Now Leslie Chow is not the same gang leader as before, he has formed a pen pal relationship with Alan and has the qualities of an independant superhero as he tricks the trio into assisting him to kidnap the other 22 million from Marshall.  However, Marshall being rich lacks any form of security protecting his 22 million dollars, which sits behind a weak wall that Chow knows exactly where everything is.  Naturally, the newly formed superhero Chow ditches the trio and takes the 22 million equaling all 44 million from Marshall.  Someone must pay and that someone is Black Doug.

The mission now is simple, track down Chow and get the 44 million
, or as Marshall states "I am into killing Doug\s today" implying that their best friend Doug, who they want to give a best friend hug, will die.  This leads the trip to trace Phil's cell phone to their stolen mini-van in (you guessed it) Las Vegas.  This sets up Stu jokes on how he would never go back to Sin City.  The Van is located in front of a money for gold store and questions about Chow begins.  The lady working is uninterested until Alan seduces her, licks a sucker and then provides some sucker for the women.  Stu gags again (maybe 4th time), Phil maintains and awkward look (maybe 10th time) and Alan's fantasy thought is broken by the crunching of the sucker.

At this point, it was an hour and 20 mins into the movie and I was getting less and less interested, knowing that I should be prepared to revisit all the former characters that graced part 1, I decided to leave the movie.  I am glad I did because after reading the ending, it sounds chaotic and to unrealistic. It was painful to see Cooper, Helm, Galifianakis and Jeong type cast into roles that were overplayed, predictable and lacking a character consistency.  It was painful to watch a story, where the main highlight was when surprise cocks attacked the trio because they were fed crack and chicken.

I was not impressed

Todd Philips (Director) 

with Hangover 3, a money making flop that aims at box office results, but not delivering a wild chaotic party experience that makes the viewer want to escape reality and grab a piece of the painful looking hangover.  The detective nature of part 1 & 2 are gone, the constant thought of piecing together a crazy night was gone.  I stifled a few chuckles, but nothing offered a real comedic relief, the same old belly hurting laughter that we witnessed in parts 1 & 2.  Enjoy your money Todd Philips, I just hope they found their best friend Doug and naturally gave him a best friend hug.

I would not pay the money to view this in the theater, might be more okay if it is viewed at home off of your Netflix account, that is why we pay 8 dollars a month, so we can stop watching when the writing loses it's focus.

Till next time,

Roy Pogorzelski

Craziness

Currently, as I write a blog post about my last 24 hours, I am sitting in the sky city lounge at the Stockholm Arlanda Airport sweating and trying to stay awake.  The jet leg is sinking in and I still have about 8 hours left in my trip to Northern Sweden, a long wait time has me sitting in the airport for another 4
hours before I fly to Vilhelmina in the North of Sweden.

I have been through this before, the jet leg, feeling your body adjust to increasing drowsiness.  Internal organs deciding to give it the old college try, while you shove another sandwich into a digestive system that is screaming for a little piece and quite, not to mention the airport food.

It started okay, my mother drove me to the airport in Regina.  How I have come to love the hospitality, friendliness and promptness of our home airport.  A quick jolt over to Calgary, not a problem for a well traveled vet, I laughed this trip off, as I even got an extra seat to myself.

Calgary airport is nice, I have been there so much that ot can be considered a second home, the good memories mixed with the bad memories, but all in all we still remain close acquaintances.  I now have 5 hours before boarding my flight to Amsterdam, so I sit down and watch Nazi Hunters on netflix, at this point, the fresh level is still at a high level and I am focusing on keeping my body refreshed and ready for a long trip.

As I settle in, I start to rethink my life.  It has been an amazing ride, full of travel, worldly friends and new experiences.  Including this experience, as I would have never fathomed being a facilitator in Northern Sweden for Sami rights, still does not feel real.  However, i also start to slip into a slight depression as I think of my lost love, the break up and my move from Belgium back to Saskatchewan.  I message her on facebook, the sad ex-boyfriend message, wondering why things turned out the way they did, but truly knowing I am more then partly to blame.

Every time I travel to Europe, I think of her, the beauty she possesses, the influence she had in my life, how I long for her touch, the chance to see her and be with her.  However, the thought of never knowing her thoughts leaves me filled with doubt.  Has she moved passed it, does she wonder about me? will I ever see her again?  When will she meet a new person, one that will provide her the missing piece of her life that I somehow could not.  Will this individual thank me for providing them an opportunity to meet the most loyal, trusting, honest and wonderful person in the world.  Future dude, I expect at least a "pintje stella".  

Suddenly sound breaks through my life altering train of thought and interrupts my sub-conscious with a call for me to head to gate 44, apparently they need to talk to me.  They provide me the missing boarding card to navigate through Amsterdam, so I can get to Stockholm.

As the people gather like a pack of hungry lions fighting over the last scrap of meat, we start to get on the plane.  However, a customs agent pulls me aside and asks me where I am going, what I am doing, how much Euros do I have, etc - the mini-interrogation lasts a brief moment, but a passenger behind me states that they are totally profiling people.  It must have been my army style shorts, hiking boots with bright neon laces, striped blue party shirt and my backpack accompanied by airplane neck pillow - I have been targeted a wild risk (Cool).

I am seated at the back of the plane beside this lady with crying babies all around us, needless to say, the accent of the Stewardess reminded me of many friends I have met in Belgium and The Netherlands. I try to sleep, but this is an impossible task, airplanes appear to be the most uncomfortable place to rest in the world.   I struggle to get a few hours, but decide to watch movies starting with a classic (The Hangover).

After 8 hours and 10 minutes I arrive in Amsterdam, what a familiar feeling.  I have been here many times before for parties with friends, but naturally the first time was 6.5 years ago with her, as we toured Ann Frank's house, Madame Tousseau and enjoyed the culture of Amsterdam.  However, this time I will only see the airport, but I do manage to speak some Dutch and some German, as the customs guard questioned me in German in the EU line based on my passport. He snickered as his German was far superior to mine.

After 2 hours of waiting and the fresh level entering dangerous proportions, I am finally boarding to head to Stockholm.  I have been to Stockholm before, again with her, but also with some friends, I remember very little from the 2008 visit, but I do remember the Swedish party boat that took us over night to Tallinn Estonia.

After a 2 hour flight where I am crammed in between two people, I am at a dangerous level of freshness, fatigue is running through my body, I am over tired, now I understand sleep deprivation on soldiers and admire their strength for fighting through it, I just want to sleep in my bed right now.  However, i still have 4 hours till boarding time and then a 1 and a half hour flight to Vilhelmina in the North of Sweden, then my friend Per Jonas will pick me up and take me to Saxnis, not sure if even Swedish people know where this is, so do not know how much time I must be in the car.

Traveling alone is not an easy task, having someone to converse with, watch your stuff, keep your mind fresh, bounce ideas off of is fantastic, the loneliness of these long flights is wearing me down.  In the past, my reason for flying to Europe and living here for 3 years was to see her, but since Geneva (Feb) and Sweden (Present), the lonely travel is becoming a tad bit more difficult.

Roy "the overtired"

Number 42 - Jackie Robinson (American Hero)

      

     In the last year, it has been a difficult task to find new Hollywood flicks that have even attempted to create a "wow factor" and provide a feeling of money well spent.  When I was flying to Switzerland, I got to see Abraham Lincoln, and needless to say, Daniel Day Lewis is a genius in this film.  Abraham Lincoln  is an iconic and inspiring American president, his quotes and belief in change drove him to be assassinated by Southern white folks that gained their wealth off the lands of Native Americans and the tears of African Americans.

     Any threat to these early immigrants upper class status often warrants outrage and hatred directed at some quote/unquote "minority groups" and the original inhabitants of the land.  Currently, a tragic bombing has occurred at the Boston Marathon, and what will be even worse is the future treatment of Muslim individuals in USA.  I can imagine in these communities there is fear, for America needs a scapegoat to justify the death of innocent American citizens.  However, during the years of segregation and draconian law in the states that created separation and pitted "white" people as a superior race, it was fair game on Native or African Americans.

    Looking for inspiration during an uninspiring long Saskatchewan winter, I decided to attend the

Hollywood picture, 42.  Jackie Robinson has always been a hero of mine, a man that encountered the brunt of America's rage against it's African American citizens.  Post World War 2 and the apparent end of Facism did not deter countries from continuing on with Jim Crow law.  Measures were still in place to segregate, intimidate and keep inferior those determined less then the "white elite".

    After my latest Hollywood victory, watching Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook.  The inspiring and intense acting of Cooper & Lawrence, not to mention the veteran savvy of a Robert de Niro, the cinematography and professionalism created a Hollywood masterpiece.  In that case, I had high expectations for 42 and waited for opening weekend to be inspired

and motivated to create change in this world.

    Robinson had a larger then life responsibility, much like Nelson Mandela using Rugby to unite a South African apartheid system; Jackie Robinson was a social experiment by General Manager Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers, a testing of the strong racial divisions that existed in America.  Robinson's introduction into the Montreal Royals, a minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers, tested the fabric of society.

  In the movie, the viewer gets a Hollywood feeling of a lovely family man (which Robinson was) in an uncomfortable situation.  The racial tensions are lightened by seeing a supportive African American community, a minor league coach that quickly comes around and amazing play that immediately impresses the teammates and wins their affection.  The racial tensions are

encountered when a police officer kicks Robinson out of a game for being black, this transpires into Robinson joking on the street with his wife while another white gentlemen walks up looking irritated.  In an intense moment, the viewer is led to believe that this gentleman is going to cause trouble for Robinson, instead he states that he is rooting for Jackie and that most of the folks are cheering for him.

   This is a recurring theme, as a racially intense moment occurs, we are brought back to humorous light-hearted moments, or the portrayal of Caucasian counterparts that defend, or want Robinson to succeed.  

Signing the Contract

  Robinson is then called up to the big team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, assisted by the assistant coach, he learns how to play first base.  It must be considered that Robinson's failure, or poor play might have set back the push for civil rights, or African/White relations in America.  There is no option for him to fail, his own community and the African American community needed a 1940's hero, one that can be compared to a Harriet Tubman.  Robinson is on this level, the movie does not portray the true hatred he would have encountered from his team mates, umpires, fans, or opposing team mates, but it attempts to capture moments of discrimination in a comedic light hearted method.

  As Robinson is training to be on the Dodgers, his team mates start a petition to have him thrown off the team.  This sparks the true character of Manager Rickey, who informs Lou the head coach in a rather humorous dialogue to tune those boys in.  The manager provides a late night passionate, slightly humorous speech informing the players Jackie is the first of many, so they better start playing, or their jobs will be taken.

  During Robinson's play with the Dodgers, he encounters moments from an opposing coach on the Phillies,

Alan Tudyk as Phillies Coach

who taunts Robinson at every turn.  He uses offensive language, this is a moment when the audience feels tension and we see Jackie break down for the first time in the film.  Not surprising, but this being the first time is impressive, but it allows the viewer for the first time to truly feel Jackie's pain.  However, General Manager Rickey appears to be the only one concerned and offers Jackie a passionate speech.  Robinson then responds just in time to take the field.

   During his next at bat, the opposing coach again starts in on Jackie with racial taunts, this sparks a time out moment and a fellow team mate of Robinson's to have enough.  He walks over to the coach and let's him have it, to where the coach stops the taunting allowing Robinson to hit a lazy off field single.  However, with Jackie's blazing speed and unorthodox base running, he is able to successfully steal second and third base, eventually being hit in by his teammate for the winning run, with Jackie providing a victorious glare at the opposing coach.

Malcolm X

  This Hollywoodized undermining of racial tensions in 42 is expected, Hollywood is in the capatalist world of making enormous profits.  In an independent film their would have been more emphasis on the political ramifications of Jackie Robinson's bravery.  He is iconic in the sense he opened the door for other players of African decent, but he also inspired civil rights movements and important leaders like Martin Luther King Jr,

Martin Luther King Jr

Malcolm X and Rosa Parks.  These leaders would also have an effect on civil rights in Canada, as many Aboriginal leaders would take example from King Jr and Malcolm X.

Rosa Parks

   This Hollywood picture does offer justice at the end by announcing where the players ended up and low an behold the racist coach of the Phillies was fired the year after.  As well, the only player that never came around to accepting Jackie, other then the one pitcher traded to Shittsburgh (oops I mean Pittsburgh) in an ironic twist was also traded to Pittsburgh, which provided a final laugh.

   Another important aspect of the movie is provided when Manager Rickey has a meeting with concerned future Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reece informing the Manager that he can not play at his hometown of Cincinatti because his family will see him play with an African player.  He received a note from a fan stating he was a newly acquired N word lover and this concerned Reece deeply.  However, Rickey in one of many passionate discussions displayed the letters sent to Robinson threatening the life of his family, this act itself inspired Reece in front of his hometown crowd to run up to Jackie and provide a powerful gesture of wrapping his arm around Jackie and in a strong southern accent provides Jackie with hope.

Reece sharing a moment with Jackie in front of his hometown Cincinnati fans

   Another light hearted scene is when one of Jackie's more liberal teammates approaches him sitting outside waiting to use the shower.  Hilarity ensues when at the persuading of his teammate, he inquires if Jackie would shower with him, this slightly awkward exchange becomes more hilarious as awkwardness prevails.  However, Jackie decides it is time to shower with his team, it is a very liberating moment as it portrays the move from discomfort to comfort, but there is a reluctant teammate beside Jackie that immediately ends his shower, portraying that not all teammates had fully accepted Jackie.  This being the same teammate that Jackie almost got into a physical confrontation with when they were refused a hotel in Philadalphia.

    Overall, the movie 42 is an inspiring brief cinematic glimpse into the life of an iconic American figure.  It provides light hearted humor, while attempting to capture the racial tensions.  This is a great family oriented movie, or even a movie to take the significant other too.  It encompasses baseball, friendship, family and the struggle for equality and equity in a racially divided world.  The movie fails in portraying the real racial tensions that were encountered by Jackie Robinson.  In lieu of the audience, the movie provides a lot of white heroes and humor that deflects uncomfortable racial moments.  However, can anything less be expected from Hollywood?  

    Chadwick Boseman plays a great rendition of Jackie Robinson, physically matching the part, he also provides a sense of emotion in the character that allows the audience to sympathize with Mr. 42.  Harrison Ford portrays General Manager Branch Rickey and really puts on a performance, always in character and inspiring.  The supporting cast also had some notables mixed with new comers to the Hollywood scene, but all gelled together well.  I would rank this film a 8 out of 10, mostly for inspiration, acting and creating a positive emotional feeling.  I believe it failed slightly in capturing the immense difficulty that Robinson encountered, unllike Maris who was played by Barry Pepper in *61, in that film one could feel the stress that Maris was encountering while chasing Ruth's home run record (much more conflict) with the same positive ending and light hearted humor.

  "A movie to go see for those needing a positive inspiring pick me up from the real world"

   Roy Pogorzelski

Idle No More 2012 (The Pogo Perspective)

It has been awhile since I turned to the blog to express my opinions.  However, arriving back from Europe in December to start teaching at the First Nations University, I realized I came at a very important political time for Indigenous Canadians and Concerned Canadians (I say concerned because unfortunately Canada is full of people that take no interest in political movements, but are the to first to air their ignorant opinions).

The Canadian government (or Harper's government as he would rather it be referred to) decided to pass undemocratically through parliament an omnibus Bill C-45.  This bill passed through so quickly it would make kidney stone patients jealous.  The idea behind the bill is that it eliminates the protection of 2.5 million lakes and rivers, it also eliminates the environmental protection from unscrupulous development companies that enjoy filling our waterways with nuclear waste.

Protecting our Water should be important to ALL CANADIANS!!

This has also become a violation of the rights for First Nations people entrenched in treaties that were signed on a nation to nation basis on mutual trust and sharing of this land.  Another important element is that the treaties only covered 6 inches under the ground, anything deeper would have to be re-negotiated and make further arrangements for those natural resources.

The Harper government has also declared to make amendments to the Indian Act that would open up lands to privatization, corporate development and national capitalism.  He is also interested in a new method in which we negotiate modern treaties, which would endure the same capitalist effect.

Arriving back, I heard of a Chief named Theresa Spence from the community of Attawapiskat who would endure a hunger strike, even willing to die in order to get a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Lloyd Johnston to discuss Bill C-45 and the current colonial relationship between Stephen Harper and Aboriginal people in Canada.

Idle No More (Chief Spence)

A movement organized by 4 strong Indigenous women (Idle No More, 2012) sprung into action sweeping through the nation and capturing the attention of not only Canadians, but the entire world.  A movement resembling the strong political organizing of the 1970's when Trudeau's Liberal government tried to pass the White Paper of 1969 (an Act to assimilate First Nations treaties, reserve lands and culture into the mainstream).

Taiaiake Alfred stated in his book "Peace, Power and Righteousness" that it would be unrealistic in the present to see Canada create another Bill that would undermine Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.  However, a man that made a Residential School apology to all those that survived a shameful part of Canadian History (Harper's minority government) is now attempting to develop our resources to the highest bidder, so that Canada can grow into a capitalist, every man for them self society.

Harper at Residential School apology (June 11, 2008)

Harper getting his face painted on the Blood Reserve as a show of mutual respect!

This runs deeper then just the neglect for Aboriginal and Treaty rights, Bill C-45 deliberately tells all Canadians that the current administration is willing to destroy the environment, the drinking water and the beauty of Canada without consulting, being accountable or caring about the voices of all Canadians.

When I am travelling and representing proudly overseas my identity as a Canadian, I am informed by many new friends that they love Canada's nature and the beauty of the environment.  Much like the Scandinavian countries with amazing nature, especially Norway and governments that better represent a functioning democracy bound on protecting their lands for future generations; most Canadians stand "Idle", scratch their heads and start pointing fingers at the First Nations people (often time in generalizations).  First Nations people are referred to this because of their diversity as nations, as their eco-systems change from the Northwest Coast to the Eastern Woodlands, the political structures, needs of the community and traditions are different.

However, instead of some Canadians understanding what our capitalist conservative government (that has ran a deficit into the billions over the last 6 years) envisions for this great country; they start to point fingers at First Nations leadership and start attacking the personal finances of Chief Theresa Spence.

In my opinion, Chief Spence is a symbolic figure of this grassroots movement, she is an individual that put herself forward to gather the attention of the international community.  Whether or not people believe she is on a real hunger strike, her symbolism is gathering responses to the issues of environment, nation to nation relationships and treaties.  Indigenous people have always been intricately connected to Mother Earth and have emerged as leaders against capitalism, corporate greed and consumerism to ensure all Canadians understand what exactly is at stake.

It is easy for ignorant people to make this about race, ignoring the concept of "national solidarity".  However, my people the Metis fought hard to protect Canada, as they brought Manitoba into confederation (against a Prime Minister that wasn't even Canadian, but Scottish).  They fought gallantly for their rights in 1885 as Canadians against a paramilitary police force (NWMP) made up of  "foreigners" that had no connection to this land.

John A Macdonald (Born in Glascow Scotland)

However, our people got deemed terrorists, rebels and traitors and our patriotic Canadian born leader (was hung by a Scottish Prime Minister).  I am a patriotic Metis Canadian that embraces the idea of "functioning democracy", but what is happening at the moment is not a country based on equal, or equitable rights, it is a conservative country based on division, generalizations and capitalist greed.

Canadian Patriot Louis Riel (Born in St.Boniface, CANADA)

It is easy for certain Canadians to point the finger and generalize Indigenous leadership, it is easy to start bashing Chief Therese Spence, it is easy to express your words in an anger and hate filled way, but if you decide to speak against the movement, at least have the courtesy to be informed, aware and open-minded.  That is why I am "Idle No More", I am encouraged to see the youth rise up with a modern day grassroots movement to bring all Canadians together to say in a democratic way to our government "it is time to start governing for Canadians (all Canadians) and not just the 1-2% that will benefit from corporate greed in the development of our natural resources".

I am proud of my First Nations brothers and sisters for standing up for the rights of all Canadians, now it is time for all Canadians to fight with us to protect what we love most about Canada (the nature).

Roy Pogorzelski