You may not have heard about it yet, but there’s a growing movement of youth from Saskatchewan who are muscling up for global justice as young global citizens. Certainly a foundational necessity of global justice is to recognize the dignity of all people and the right to self-determination.
Lindsay Knight, who’s emcee alias is Eekwol, has been kicking out the jams and organizing for the global recognition of Indigenous rights at home in the province for years. Eekwol is a Cree hip hop artist and a member of Muskoday First Nation. Having produced tracks with emcees including Stic.man of the political hip hop duo Dead Prez, her street cred is legit. Eekwol has also received numerous awards for her music, including Best Hip Hop/Rap Album at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
“Music is the voice for this generation and is a great weapon in the struggles that young people face today,” said Eekwol at the sound check for an event in Saskatoon in January called Exposing the Dark Side of Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic Games.
Eekwol’s many years of dedication to activism and hip hop have created something unique and powerful to give back to the community. The music that Eekwol and her crew at Mils Productions create display their activist roots as supporters of both hip hop and Indigenous culture and rights.
“Most people don’t know that Canada, the United States and New Zealand are the only countries around the world not to endorse the [United Nations] Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. There is a massive amount of work to do, and sometimes I feel like a reluctant warrior,” said Eekwol.
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples emphasizes measures that are indispensable to the survival and well-being of the world’s Indigenous Peoples, like the right of self-determination, land rights, rights to cultural identity and protection against genocide and discrimination.
After contributing to numerous campaigns that focus on Indigenous rights, Eekwol has seen some big wins. She participated in an international campaign that forced the multinational forestry corporation Weyerhaeuser to remove its interests from the territory of Grassy Narrows First Nation for failing to meaningfully consult and accommodate Indigenous concerns.
“Some governments continue to sell, lease and exploit Indigenous lands for the benefit of corporations, including mining, logging, oil and gas and even ski resorts. Meanwhile, Indigenous Peoples suffer the highest rates of poverty, unemployment, imprisonment, police violence, disease and suicide,” said Eekwol while getting ready to take the stage. “Vancouver’s 2010 Olympic Games are taking place on unceded and non-surrendered Indigenous territories. Everyone thinks the Olympics are just fun and games, but Indigenous rights are not a game. Everyone deserves dignity and self-determination.”
Jeh Custer works with the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation to help build a youth movement for global justice in Saskatchewan. Connect with Jeh through scicyouth@earthbeat.sk.ca or 306-956-0622.
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