Fed up at home

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I've been back to my community for eight years now. I grew up in the "white world" and the only lessons I got about Native culture were on CBC with shows like Indian Legends. I remember another show called The Rez and it gave me this insight that all Native communities were scenic landscapes with wise Elders, hopeful youth and a real sense of direction and calm.

Then I moved to my community.

As a full-blooded Ojibway I feel almost disgusted by what I've seen, heard and lived through thus far. Like I said before, I've only been back eight little years. I know this isn't just where I live, but pretty much everywhere. We, as First Nation people, just don't seem to get it. We whine about land, then fight with each other over it. We ask for compensation for residential schools, then blow it at casinos. We kill each other for the most stupid reasons, yet we talk about our future together. We hire chiefs, not because they are the best person for the job, but because it's a popularity contest and he or she might get us some liquor or booze or a new addition for our homes.

Am I stepping on some toes? Probably with those who know I'm right but don't want me to say this. We go on the news declaring our intentions to fix ourselves but meanwhile it's getting more and more obvious we can't. How long are we going to say the same things over and over? I'm sick of hearing it already. Imagine how the politicians in Ottawa are seeing this. Do you think they make bets on how we'll screw up again? How many reserves are gonna go to Third Party because we cant be responsibleYfor the little bit of government cheese we're handed?

It's time to smarten up. Now. Not next week, year or century. Let's not use the old 'We are a struggling race' line or 'The White man took our land.' Let's all get over it and start to get to work. Am I being a hypocrite? Do I say something then don't back it up? No because I used to be a partier, a womanizer, a welfare bum and those around me can vouch for that and then some. I'm now a single dad to a four-year-old. It took a lot of work to get my son into my custody. I've worked full time in Winnipeg and paid for my rent and hydro out of my own pocket. Now I'm back in Ontario to settle down and raise my boy out here.I had a bad upbringing but I don't use it to get sympathy. I've had stumbles in life, but I use the positive not the negative. So no one can say 'What do you know?'

But right now I'm wondering if living with my fellow Neeches is a good thing or not.

-sent by e-mail, no name attached