My Brother, My Slave

The situation confronting Canadians as it regards our responsibilities towards the indigenous people has festered far too long without resolution. Oka, Ipperwash, and now, Caledonia. These confrontations between the first nations people and the people of Canada have their roots going back through history to the first settlers reaching these shores. If we are to honour our country's history we have to look at the manner in which we have governed our relations with the native people who lived on this rock before us.

The issue is complicated, especially knowing how diverse and distinct the numerous native cultures were and still are to this day. Not every "Indian" is alike another, as is so easily and readily resolved for the racist idiots among us to comprehend. The various cultures, Haida, Ojibway, Mohawk to name but a few are all separate and distinct from one another just as the Poles are distinct from the Danes. Lumping all indigenous peoples into the "redskin" category perpetuates an ignorance far exceeding the sophistication and understanding our modern culture now has. It's time Canada redressed the wrongs. It's time for the Conservative government to recognize and respect first nations people as autonomous and free them from the slavery of our forefather's ignorance.

We are capable of great committments to humanitarian justice, as is well demonstrated with our current mission in Afghanistan. If we cannot regard the horrendous conditions we have created amongst our first nations people with the same compassion, what have we learned?

Confronting the Caledonia reality, as it is seen from the eyes of our hosts, as Hillary Lindsay, managing editor of the Dominion reports in the above link, without continuing the square peg into round hole dogma of Canada's policy towards "Indian Affairs," would go a long way to establishing a renewed international credibility with the traditionally socialist humanitarian community. Resolving the national issue won't be an easy one.

With the strong leadership our new government seems ready to assume, hopefully, Jim Prentice, the new Minister of Indian Affairs, will have some fresh ideas to put forward. Continuing the status quo can only lead to ruin. However the nuts fall from the tree, it's time for a shaking.

Solidarity with Six Nations