@Walter Hinteler,
The first misconception is that it's about 'free stuff'.
A lot of the 'free stuff' natives get most of us wouldn't want.
Idle No More began recently as a ground root answer to our government passing, yet again, an omnibus bill. Bill C 45 is a huge bit of legislation that covers many topics. It passed at the last hour, with very little discussion and even less warning. Buried deep among the mostly tedious stuff was, yet again, another kick at treaty rights. Mainly it changes the designation of thousand of lakes and water ways. Thusly changing the natives right to fish in clean water.
In turn, it has brought up many other areas of discontent, issues and other problems to the forefront. The movement has spread virally through the aboriginal youth, communities and then to the chiefs in this country.
Part of the reason Idle resembles Occupy is that there are a myriad of different issues, from housing, education, missing people, residential schools, land claims, jobs, water, the never ending erosion of traditional ways of life, the penal system, poverty, language, culture. Similarly, Idle is technology driven and protests are popping up all over the country, all the while, being watched by the rest of the world.
The big difference is that a) the issues are well known, not vague at all, and many are have been, will be or should be in front of the courts. In other words, they have history on their side. And b) the issues deal specifically with a identifiable group, unlike the 99% of Occupy.
So, while C 45 was an omnibus bill, the reaction is an omni-list-of-not-yet-dealt-with-complaints.
