'Ottawapiskat' Twitter tag satirizes Idle No More criticisms

[View the story "'Ottawapiskat' Twitter tag spoofs Idle No More criticisms" on Storify]

Storified by CBC News Community· Mon, Jan 14 2013 11:30:50

#ottawapiskat... Political Cartoon http://pic.twitter.com/q1xA0qvZYoda TurtleIsland

If Prime Minister Stephen Harper were a First Nations chief and Canada were a reserve, what questions would he have to answer to prove his honesty and competence?

That question inspired artist and author Aaron Paquette, who goes by @aaronpaquette on Twitter, to introduce some satire into the ongoing debate about the grassroots movement Idle No More by fusing the name of the struggling northern Ontario reserve Attawapiskat and Canada's capital city, Ottawa.

Can we get #Ottawapiskat going? As in, Parliament sure is wasteful in #Ottawapiskat ;) just some good natured satireAaron Paquette

#Ottawapiskat is a word that popped in my head last night as I was painting. I literally laughed out loud and had to share it. #idlenomoreAaron Paquette

Paquette took criticisms commonly lobbed against First Nations leaders -- including Attawapiskat's much-criticized leader Theresa Spence, who has been on a highly publicized hunger strike since Dec.11 -- and re-framed them to target the federal government and Harper.

It wasn't long before others followed suit.

#CPC blocking investigation of election fraud - subverting law and the democratic process. Leadership in question. #Ottawapiskat #idlenomoreAaron Paquette

#Ottawapiskat Chief refuses to talk to media.Su

#Ottawapiskat chief is living in a mansion while many of his people are homeless.J M

The #Ottawapiskat long form census is how our previous Chiefs used to determine the state+needs of the villagers. Chief Harper scrapped it.Org9

RT @Evolving: #Ottawapiskat Chief spent $300,000 on sunscreen n bug spray and $14,000 for glow sticks for G8-G20 summit. @marygkosta http://pic.twitter.com/uWxf427PAllison

(In one re-purposed image, Harper is seen wearing a headdress. The photograph was originally taken in July 2011 after the prime minister was made an honourary chief of the Blood Tribe in Stand Off, Alta.)

Have you seen #Ottawapiskat on Canada Day? They all gather in a tribal celebration and they drink so much!Melody McKiver

No accountability from #Ottawapiskat Chief and Council, a pass and permit system should be implementedRichard RH

A million people from their tribe use foodbanks each month, while their Grand Chief GG serves 10 course meals in his palace. #OttawapiskatChristine Myrden

#Ottawapiskat debt hovering around $600,000,000,000. Might be time for a third-party manager.Hayden King

Chief Harper of #Ottawapiskat spends $28M to commemorate the War of 1812, but cheaps out on funerals for the veterans of more-recent wars.GregorBurton

@artnapoleon Hey Art, how are you! I was in #Ottawapiskat last week encouraging the Chief to be Accountable! http://pic.twitter.com/HK6rOdTajrwrath

Paquette himself seemed surprised at how quickly the hashtag took off. It began trending across Canada soon after it was created on Sunday. 

Huh, you eat dinner, put the family to bed and find out #Ottawapiskat is trending only behind the Golden Globes. Good work everybody! :)Aaron Paquette

Several observers, including high profile Canadians like authors Naomi Klein and Margaret Atwood and columnist Andrew Coyne, expressed enthusiasm or participated in the trend.

I am hopelessly in love with the #ottawapiskat hashtag.Naomi Klein

Ha! #Ottawapiskat invites you to apply usual jabs at #FirstNations to Ottawa gov't financial gaffes+fashions. #idlenomore Lotsa good ones!Margaret E. Atwood

In #Ottawapiskat, vast sums of money are centrally controlled by the chief, who doles them out to his cronies and favoured interests.Andrew Coyne

Critics of Idle No More had a minimal presence on the #Ottawapiskat hashtag, which was mostly fueled by people supportive of its subversive intent.

There were, however, a few people who stepped forward to criticize the trend for a variety of reasons.

#ottawapiskat is the dumbest hashtag since hashtags were invented... fun fact; twitter was discovered by the germans in 1902kyle bazinet

@aaronpaquette our cultural ways hve nothing 2 do w/assimilation u r aware of assimilatory gestures of govt past/prsnt no room 4 humor hereduanelinklater

Criticisms of Idle No More are much more common within the larger discussion around the movement.

The comment threads below the three most commented-on stories on CBCNews.ca (at time of writing) show how polarized some Canadians are about the ongoing protests and the activists' tactics.

Can Idle No More comment threads be more constructive? - Your CommunityAre you satisfied with the level of discussion and debate in our threads about Idle No More? What can be done to encourage the most intel...

In this context, a lighter take on the movement came as a welcome approach for many on Twitter.

#idlenomore is what social justice movements should be - fed up with injustice but hopeful, joyful, and FUNNY. #OttawapiskatLiz Ludwig

Loving this #Ottawapiskat hashtag. Some condemn the management of Can's poorest communities, ignoring the mismanagement going on in Ottawa.Mike @ mbtrg

@aaronpaquette it was a fantastic idea! The double standard is beyond blaring for #Ottawapiskat I applaud you sir.\m/ MARLIN \m/

For a subversive & witty take on #FirstNations issues follow #Ottawapiskat hashtag via @aaronpaquette @windspeakernews #IdleNoMoreAndré Picard

What do you think of the #Ottawapiskat Twitter trend? Does it effectively re-frame the issue? Is it a fair comparison, do you think? Why or why not?

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