[Minnie]

All of this was posted just today, by my sister-in-law, just within a couple of hours. She claims First Nations status but I haven't figured out how yet because my understanding from a couple of years ago is that she isn't correctly qualified?




According to her, the 'other half of the story not on the news.'

Spoiler!

(bolded is her comment)
Everybody's support is needed, understanding is even more necessary!


Letter From a White Guy
#IdleNoMore has exploded on the twitterverse, so I thought, as a white guy, I'd write an open letter to anyone interested in #IdleNoMore and my own thoughts. I am not going to pretend I am an expert on the issues, just someone trying to understand and learn. Less so from the media, than by cultivating relationships with a wide range of indigenous peoples.

My life experiences and a mix of research and discussion have led me to support #IdleNoMore and I expect I will learn a lot more than even I could envision. At least I hope so.

I am not even going to pretend I have some kind of intellectual grasp of the many issues and challenges faced by First Nations in this country. I'm sure I am only scratching the surface, not because I don't want to know, but that the real truth of the history, treaties, abuses, and horrors lived every day by grassroots indigenous people are well hidden beneath centuries of lies and deceit, of deliberate attempts to eliminate the (please I find it disgusting to even repeat these words) "Native Problem", of governments and schools and media feeding the idea that our First Peoples were lazy and stupid and dirty and horrific, animal like beings who need to be exorcised from a civil society. It's difficult to try to find truth when so many are complicit in covering it up, and turning mainstream public opinion against people who did nothing but to welcome our ancestors and signed what they believed were honest treaties to share their bountiful resources with their new white friends.

They fought and died for us to be here, even before Canada was a nation. All we have done for them is cheated them out of their honest share of the resources of their nation which they have never given up their rights to it, never been defeated in a war, but we have screwed them, when we weren't attempting genocide by subjecting them to gifts of blankets infected with diseases they had no immunity to, we've been using up their resources as if we own them, and this doesn't even begin to address Residential Schools which existed in my lifetime. If you don't know what they are, do a bit of research. Better yet. Sit down, close your eyes, imagine the police coming and removing your children, taking them away to be beaten, raped, killed, and even tortured to remove their culture. Imagine your children being punished for speaking their own language. Now not even getting into conditions that exist today, has that ever happened to anyone in this country other than indigenous peoples? Absolutely Not. Attempted Genocide has only been a policy toward First Nations peoples in Canada. Whether you like it or not, if you don't admit that successive governments, in your name, have systematically been trying to eliminate native peoples and assimilate whatever is left, you have not yet faced reality.

I'm unsure exactly where #IdleNoMore got its start. That's not for me to debate. My understanding is it began as a movement to educate young First Nations people that they need to learn to embrace who they are, and to understand they have inherent treaty rights that it is important to know those rights. I've been told it was started by four ladies in Saskatchewan. I could be totally or partially wrong, I'm unsure, at least I'm trying to learn.

What I am positive of, is that is has become much more, and is growing. I understand Stephen Harper is the final straw that has broken the proverbial camel's back. It doesn't really matter which Prime Minister it was, this one, the last one, any previous one, our entire history is one of Canadian Government (and the British Crown before that) oppressing indigenous people in ways that, when exposed, should horrify any sane human being.

What I do want to say to the many showing leadership, and to the grassroots everyday person standing up for your rights, I apologize I have never been able to elect a government who would represent my personal wish to be an honest treaty partner with you. I am horrified at the ugly, racist, misinformed comments being hurled at you. I don't know what I can do, other than provide a voice of support, other than share my words with the world, and be there for you if you need me.

I'm not going to pretend to know your experience. I just want to make clear you know I can share one frustration with you. People we have put our trust in to lead us, have failed miserably. May we find our common goal and may you have unending strength in your struggle.

I am a white man. I am sick of my people getting ahead of everyone else because of a total lack of ethics.

THAT is why I support #IdleNoMore

@bigpicguy at 17:01
Share

18 comments
Anonymous5 January 2013 20:08
YOUR OPENESS AND INTELLIGENCE IS REFRESHING

Anonymous5 January 2013 21:31
Thank you so much! Your words and thoughts come from a kind heart & an open mind. Again, thank you soo much, I appreciate you!

Anonymous5 January 2013 21:35
thank you young man ,,,,meequetch oshkiinigii,,,,,I respect your words and continue to walk in PEACE on MOTHER EARTH,,,, wish the rest would at least make an attempt to try ,,,good luck in your life I wish you many ,many yrs of productivity,,,,,,

Anonymous5 January 2013 21:41
Thank you so much! Your sincerity, and humility are definitely refreshing! Made my day.

Anonymous5 January 2013 21:43
Tiniki, tapwe moyasin

Terri Larry5 January 2013 21:45
I really appreciate your letter of support and I applaud you for putting yourself out there in the midst of this movement! Thank you!

Anonymous5 January 2013 22:09
Thank you.

Anonymous5 January 2013 22:22
Shared on my facebook, hopefully your post will help some other people really look at Canada and what we need to all do.

Anonymous5 January 2013 22:48
Thank for taking the time to say these things and having the courage to face the pain of our horrible shared history. I shake hands with you, my brother!

Anonymous5 January 2013 23:23
Humbled and brought a tear to my eye. Thanks for being so caring and showing your support and concern. God Bless You!

Anonymous5 January 2013 23:52
welalin (Mikmaq for thank you.)

white.turtle5 January 2013 23:53
I thank you for the open, honest and courageous act of putting your thoughts out there, at a time when all words get skewed. I am proud of you doing this and join with you in educating the rest of Canada. Kitchi Meegwetch!

Anonymous6 January 2013 00:12
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. We need more people to be educated on First Nation issues. Being First Nation I felt a big lump in my throat as I thought to myself, "someone is getting it." Never feel responsible for our tragic history and the genocide that still continues today faced by my people. I've always been told, it is the SYSTEM not the people. At least that's what I learned in First Nation Studies. I still find it hard to look at in that perspective, but doing my best. It is up to us to educate those who are ignorant no matter where we are, store, restaurant, gas station etc etc. With that, I'm going to "Share" your article and hopefully it will help others understand.

Anonymous6 January 2013 00:26
Good for you and good for all of us, that you are opening your mind and your heart. We all benefit from from good words spoken and good energy shared.

Anonymous6 January 2013 00:39
wonderful words!!

Anonymous6 January 2013 00:46
Don't be surprised to find many Blessings will come your way for sharing your Voice and support thank you for your kind words.

Michelle6 January 2013 01:41
Reading this gave me the shivers... in a good way. Thank-you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts and most of all, for speaking from the heart.

Spoiler!

It is important to research both sides of a story. Listening to the media is not educational!(this accompanied the following):

It is so important that people research both sides of a story, a lesson we all learn young. I am sad that I have many friends on facebook that are so against Idle No More. I am a proud First Nations woman! I am not nor are my people looking at creating any animosity with the people we share this land with. That's right I said SHARE! I am not nor are my people looking for handouts. What we are looking for is the same rights that the other people share as a Canadian. Safe, clean drinking water for my fellow brother and sisters. Safe building areas for living. Saving the land from money hungry foreigners. And the right to get mortgages, will out our land, yes, we cannot leave our properties to our children. Anyways, if anyone is interested in knowing more about Idle No More, please research it before posting. Education will only come from your own abilities, the media and the government will not educate you. They will continue to pollute, not just the environment but the mind!