'Idle No More' Round Dance New Mexico State Capitol

Jan 15, 2013 Photo Tina Garnanez

http://www.occupynewmexico.org/

Over 100 Native Americans, First Nations Canadians now residing in New Mexico, and non-native allies, including members of (un)Occupy Albuquerque, Occupy Santa Fe, and Occupy Taos, turned out despite freezing cold weather at the New Mexico State Capitol on Tuesday, January 15 to sing, drum, dance, pray and peacefully protest in solidarity with Chief Theresa Spence and what has now become the worldwide Idle No More movement for indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice. The 1/15 action coincided with opening day of the 2013 state legislative session at the Roundhouse, election of new House and Senate leadership, and Governor Martinez’s annual “State of the State” address. The sounds of prayer and protest were heard loud and clear on the other side of these doors (see image below) in the House chamber and gallery — where Gov. Martinez began her speech to a packed audience at about 2 pm, shortly after the conclusion of the Idle No More event. Note: So far we have not been able to confirm veracity of the rumor heard that noise from Idle No More was the cause for the hour-long delay of the Governor’s speech from 1 to 2 pm. This was the 9th documented Idle No More round dance to take place within New Mexico.