History was made, and Canada was watching

The United States made history on Nov. 4 when its citizens elected Barack Obama, an African-American, as their president.
He did it for his Democratic Party in convincing fashion as well, winning the popular vote handily, and the Electoral with more than 360 votes compared to Republican John McCain's 170-plus.
As that country worked to overcome its troubled racial history with the first person of color to be elected to their top post, the achievement leaves people wondering in Canada if such a thing could happen here. Many are now daring to dream of one day having an Aboriginal prime minister.
Betty Lafferty, an Elder at Ben Calf Robe Catholic Native School, said anything is possible.
"I think that just gives them a boost (to) say 'yes we can and we should'." Lafferty, who is also with the Council of Elders of the Edmonton Catholic School District said, "There's lots of hope. Without hope we don't have anything."
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy said Obama's election "sends a message of hope to people around the world." Obama's victory shows how far African-American people have come after facing years of discrimination and intolerance. He compared that discrimination to that which is still faced today by Canada's Aboriginal people.
"This is a great message for Canada, that our differences can become our strengths when we unite to work for a better tomorrow," Beardy said.
With his eyes on tomorrow, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Lawrence Joseph challenged Canadian leaders to follow Obama's example in terms of his dealings with Native Americans in the United States.
"Barack Obama plans to set aside time to meet with Native American leaders. He talks about treaty as paramount law," said Joseph.
Obama promised he would appoint a Native American advisor to the highest ranks of his administration.
The President-elect also said he intends to be a strong voice for Native Americans on their issues, and many hope that he will sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which is something that Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper refuses to do, following in the footsteps of outgoing Republican President George W. Bush.
"It was just easy to believe in him,' said Sandra Louie, a member of the Osoyoos First Nation with dual citizenship.
"He's all for change and that's what was really needed. I just had a lot of faith in him."
"He stressed quite a bit of Native American issues during the elections," said Joseph Pakotas, a resident of Washington. "He spent quite a bit of time in rural America and some reservations just being educated on some of the issues of treaties."
Pakotas did admit that during the primaries he actually voted for Hilary Clinton.
"I know when her husband was president, Bill Clinton was president, Native American needs were overseen quite a bit. He did help Native Americans quite a bit during his presidency and I was just assuming that Hilary would carry that forward," Pakotas explained.
The long race to the White House, including the run through the primaries between Obama and Clinton, had many exhausted by the process.
Pakotas' first reaction to the Obama win was that he was glad that the 2008 election finally had an answer and an end.
"After two years of politicking, it was great to have it over with. And it was great to have a new president and not necessarily what has been going on for the last eight years."
What's happened over the last eight years, of course, has been the presidency of Bush, and many believe he has made a mess of things, leaving wars to be fought, an economy in near ruin, and the American reputation in tatters.
"There was a comedian in the States saying that the country is in such a mess (that) no white man would want it," said Doug Cuthand, an Aboriginal writer and documentarian.
Although the comment was made in jest, it commands some thought, he has written. Does Canada have to be in truly rough shape before an Aboriginal person can call 24 Sussex Drive home?
"It's the combination of the times. What people are ready to accept (and) who's in power before you," said Cuthand. "Very often, one leader will pave the way for the other."
In Cuthand's article, featured in the Star-Phoenix, he put forth that now that the U.S. has done two extraordinary things­elect an African-American president and move to the left side of politics once more­Canada now looks like "northern red-neck country bumpkins."
"We can only elect Aboriginal people right now in constituencies of a clear Aboriginal majority voter base," he said.
Needless to say, Cuthand believes it will be awhile before Canada's Aboriginal population can look to have one of their own occupy this country's top political seat.
Cuthand said, however, there are plenty of sturdy Aboriginal shoulders on which to stand in Canada.
"You gotta look back on people like Harold Cardinal or George Manuel. These were pioneers in their own right. (They) fought for what they felt was right," he said.
Lafferty points to Elijah Harper as a modern maverick, but adds there is still not enough leadership or role models for Aboriginal people to look up to or fall back on.
"We need more," she insisted.