Grieving elder speaks out

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Garrett Campiou, also a member of the Chalifoux, Dumont and Lefthand families, died at 10:43 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15. For 12 days the strapping 14-year-old Cree boy had been in hospital on life support following a severe and brutal beating on Nov. 3.

His life ebbed as he was removed from life support. One of his three grandmothers sang a Cree death song she had learned from her grandparents, as family members and friends gathered to say their goodbyes.

Campiou's passing was tragic. His injuries left him in a coma and brain dead. Charges against two of the four people arrested for his assault were upgraded to second-degree murder following his death.

Rose Auger, a medicine woman and Elder, was rattled by the boy's death. She is a sister of the boy's adoptive father, Billy.

Although Auger faults the influences of television, movies and bad company for the violence that ultimately struck her nephew, she is quick to say that it is the responsibility of youth to take control of their own lives.

"It is your own self that can determine to stop doing drugs, to stop following these [bad] ones that are leading you," she said. "Stop it and look for good things, in your powwow, in your dance, language, songs and, most of all, your history."

She says a look to the ancestors, who and what they were, speaks volumes to their greatness and that of Aboriginal history and culture.

She lamented that young people have lost their culture, do not apply the traditions, demonstrate little respect for human life or property. She said many are caught up in gambling and dysfunctional homes.

"You cannot be a traditional person who lives good, in harmony with all Creator's laws, if you drink and you still gamble and you're home is full of violence and abuse."

Auger says sports and recreation programs help, but the real solutions run much deeper. Schools could help by bringing in traditional resource people.

"They don't want to be bothered. It's all just talk," Auger charges.

Healing centres and other Aboriginal organizations that could help are "all just window dressing," she said.

They need to work with real leaders and traditional people and government has to kick in more dollars for adequate programs, Auger argues.

"With the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, our government just gives us enough to survive as an organization. Our people need to venture further and ask for more funding, especially in the urban centres," she states.

Identity is so very crucial, Auger maintains.

"We need to immediately look at our lives, make that time for our children. Take care of them, love them, nurture them, 'cause down the road, if you don't do that, you're going to suffer.

"In the jails they have their sweatlodges, their Aboriginal Elders. Out here they have nothing. Everybody needs a sacred place in the city. We have to look for that help in our ceremonies, our traditions," Auger said.

"For sweatlodges and ceremonies, there's not much expense to it. Sweats have worked in the city and involve little expense. People and places need that sacredness. Then there's less violence and evil to take control of our children, our lives and the city. That's what's going to make it happen, those ceremonies. But who is going to make it happen? I don't see anybody doing the real thing."

People with the ability are disappearing and others are not being trained or educated in the culture and traditions.

Auger encourages people to take up the challenge.

"Come and understand that wonderful, powerful feeling of being connected to Creator and being able to acknowledge the spirit people when they're around you 'cause that is what life is all about. It's so wonderful, so beautiful," she states.

As for her lost nephew, Garrett, "I believe my beloved nephew was chosen by the Creator to bring attention that this life of young people is hopeless. That is a life of lost identity or no identity at all . . . no history, no nothing. If you do not have identity, ou cannot achieve a life of being well."