There are resistant forces in every system that you can work with.

The Lakota proverb “Force begets resistance” can inspire hope - and familiar frustrations - in any campaigner. When we look around we see that we are not alone in seeking change. Other activists, groups and alliances are also pursuing goals, which may align with or conflict with ours. 

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When you act, expect reactions. At every level of the system, there will be actual, potential, or emergent resistance by people and organizations with varying degrees of success. We call these shooting stars - they can be destructive, changing the orbit and structure of planets, moons and other stars - but in many cultures, seeing one represents good luck and hope.

With a systems change perspective, we recognize the important opportunity for productive disruption that might come from changing patterns of how interactions are happening, where information flows, and who is making decisions.  

Some of the most impactful campaigns have come from unexpected alliances across movements, when diverse actors join forces to create new shared narratives. Opponents’ apparent successes or overreactions can create important, unexpected opportunities.

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Some example shooting stars which campaigns have successfully collaborated with include:

• Direct action organizations

• Schoolteachers

• Doctors and nurses

• Unions

• Landless movements

• LGBTQI+ organizations

• Scientists

• Celebrities

• Transport workers

• Startup technology businesses

• Activist investors (investors who proactively seek to change how companies work)

• Pro-tax billionaires

• Factory workers, e.g. in munitions factories

• Women’s lawyer associations

• Older people’s movements

• Bank employees

• Fashion models

• Digital activist networks, e.g. Anonymous

It is essential to spot these shooting stars as disruptions and alternatives that we can work with to strengthen and build effective resistance and change a system’s health. A shooting star can create momentum for systems change, and the key is to work with it to change the system in a direction that advances toward your near and guiding stars. 

Often, organizations plan to achieve change assuming they can do it alone, even if they create a stakeholder map. A well-known global campaign organization is known to have had the theory of change that only it could make the difference. It has since diversified to support other local organizations better suited to handle conflicts and other issues.

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We need to focus on building power with and power within to dismantle or shift the power held over us.

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Change is not one directional. We cannot ignore those around us if we want to change systems. As extractivism worsens and morphs into newer forms to justify its continued existence (e.g.: mining for critical minerals on the African continent in the name of renewable energy for over-consumptive lifestyles in Europe and north America), cross-movement and unexpected alliances become more crucial for shifting systems. We propose that you look across the system you are targeting for shooting stars and proactively reach out to them to:

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• Share your goals

• Share your system analysis and approaches to change

• Discuss how you could collaborate now and in different scenarios

• Agree on joint commitments, collaborations, and how you will share resources

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The Idle No More campaign was launched by four Indigenous women—Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Nina Wilson, Jessica Gordon, and Sylvia McAdam—who were concerned about legislative changes threatening Indigenous rights and environmental protections in Canada. They built movement momentum through social media and grassroots organizing, mobilizing widespread support

across Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

The campaign aimed to address and oppose legislative measures such as Canada’s Bill C-45, which the movement argued undermined Indigenous land rights and environmental safeguards. 

The campaign took the following approach:

Recognition that systemic change needs system-wide alliances: Idle No More highlighted the need for systemic change and a respectful, nation-to-nation relationship between Canada and Indigenous peoples. This became a core part of its message.

Seek out shooting stars: The campaign knew it needed to build a broad coalition of supporters to challenge these policies and advocate for greater respect and recognition of Indigenous rights, so set out to work with other shooting stars.

Critical connections before critical mass: 

• The campaign emphasized the importance of collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, to tap into power within.  

• Idle No More built diverse alliances through building power with environmental groups, labor unions, and civil society organizations, to strengthen their advocacy and influence policy discussions. 

• The movement then used these connections to amplify its message.

Tactics to help people connect, learn and organize:

• Used social media to connect activists and supporters across Canada and globally. 

• Organized protests, teach-ins, and flash mobs to draw attention to issues of Indigenous sovereignty, environmental justice, and human rights. 

The Idle No More campaign became a movement, and succeeded in many ways:

• It brought Indigenous issues to the forefront of Canadian political discourse. 

• It helped catalyze a broader public awareness of Indigenous rights and contributed to the initiation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which was established to address the legacy of residential schools and promote reconciliation. 

• The movement’s efforts have had a lasting impact on Canadian society, influencing public opinion and policy on Indigenous issues. It has prompted significant discussions about the need for genuine reconciliation and systemic changes to address historical injustices.

Idle No More continues to play a role in the broader reconciliation process in Canada. It has helped sustain momentum for addressing Indigenous issues, including land rights, self-governance, and socio-economic disparities. The movement has also been instrumental in pushing for concrete actions and policies that support the TRC's Calls to Action and foster a more respectful relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian government.