Ignite the seventh fire

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I am not an elected representative of any organization, reservation or religious denomination. This letter represents no financial, political or spiritual gain. It is an attempt to be heard and my words come from my heart. My voice, from the love I feel for my people.

Once again, the government has decreed another act of war on the original inhabitants of this land. This time, like the young brothers they are, they mock and challenge all First Nations at once.

Foolish actions can be tolerated only for so long. We need to let them know it is time to grow up.

The First Nation governance act is not law yet. We must shield ourselves from this modified weapon they mean to strike us down with. There's sufficient information available to formulate an opinion, but the question is, "What white law has ever served our people?"

In my view, it is yet another lie disguised as concern. The government does not feel. It simply deals with the maintenance of a country stolen. Camouflaged as positive changes, the FNGA is designed to discourage independent control of our future and to undermine our right to sovereignty.

The moral fibres that are woven into the great nations that blanket this land have been weakened by a past horrid act of Parliament. Wounds remain unhealed and bleed onto another generation. Many remain lost and cold, in a winter of emotional void.

In brutal captivity, children were tortured because of skin color and language spoken, taught that our culture is evil and our beliefs immoral.

Parents and grandparents were left childless, forbidden to practice their spirituality. Our social gatherings became illegal. Vast amounts of traditional teachings lost.

The government's objective was to plant seeds of self-hatred and to set in motion a cycle of destruction. They attacked our nations at our spiritual foundations, through the vulnerable and the defenseless, our young, and to drive a wedge of distrust between our clans, our Elders, and our identity.

Although I was spared the horror and atrocities of residential school, I am not untouched. All are affected in the aftermath of an act of war.

Their failure at brainwashing the children has not deterred the effort. The tactics have become subtle, but persistent still. Education continues to be a form of assimilation. Our schools, on reserve are a half triumph. We are allowed to form committees, boards, select staff and administration, but must adhere to their curriculum standards and teaching methods.

The vast number of contributions that the First Nations people have made to this country remain unacknowledged and unrecognized. Are we to expect the government's attitude towards us to change? Five hundred years of oppression indicates it is not likely to happen any time soon. It is our responsibility, as it has always been, as it always will be, to teach our youth the way of honor and the way of truth.

Advancing technology dictates academic skills are essential. If you choose to live in mainstream society, they are a necessity. The benefits of education are obvious. Even so, a balance must be established. I envision our children mastering and reclaiming all cultural knowledge and identity. The objectives of elementary school curriculum must impart and preserve our inheritance. Concentrated instruction of dance, song, drum, language, ceremonies, values, belief systems, philosophies, all aspects of tradition, must be made a priority. It is the only way.

The FNGA mentions nothing of education. The government has fundamental direction over it. They are satisfied. The proposed act is about control. Our inability to compromise with one another inadvertently signaled a weakness and they are launching an attack. To finance their new campaign, our treaty rights will diminish more so.

That is our history with this country. The government continues to impose and dictate how we are to solve our challenges.

I am not an educated man. Does that take meaning awy from my words? I hold no diploma, no degree. Only my belief that the truth is uncomplicated.

As I step back into obscure poverty, it is with hope and a prayer that I am understood. The intention of this letter is to spark an idea in hopes of igniting the seventh fire.

Dean Henry