Jails not needed if children raised right

Page 5

I HAVE SPOKEN

About three years ago, I had occasion to go to a wildlife farm. After being there for a while, I swore that I would never go to a wildlife farm again. I saw these wild animal in cages with hardly any room for them to move around. I saw owls and eagles in cages, also other birds. I did not feel good at all. These birds and animals certainly do not belong in cages. They should be out where they can be free.

I saw one eagle in a cage that had a damaged wing, I got a bit angry when I saw that. I wondered how people could be so cruel and selfish. Why can't people go out into the woods and see these animals in their natural environment? I suppose they have too much fear besides being just plain lazy. Some of these animals and birds would not live long if they were set free. They have been locked up for too long. It must be painful not to be able to fly and soar up in the clouds like the eagle was meant to do. Not being able to stretch its wings must do a lot of harm. The wolves and coyotes cannot run any distance like they're supposed to do.

It is no wonder that these animals cannot be trusted. They are bound to be angry and confused not being able to live a normal life. To take away the freedom of anything on our Mother Earth is something I cannot believe in. Taking away the freedom of a human being or a bird, animal or insects is not what our Creator intended. I think that our Creator wanted everything to be free.

It is up to the parents to make sure that the young ones know right from wrong. With the proper upbringing, a human being should not have to be locked up. Animals have done nothing wrong but they are also locked up. If you take a good look at nature, you will see how much love and attention that is given to the young. Animals make sure that their young ones will survive when they have to be on their own.

Our Native people did the same thing with their children. At one time, we did not have all kinds of laws or detention centres. Our young people did not have to do anything wrong or do anything to harm Mother Earth. The young man was responsible in any given situation. Some of them became great warriors. These warriors would have rather died than be locked up in jail. I am so grateful that we did not lose our Native spiritual ways. Without the Great Spirit, we would be lost. I believe that many of us were lost for a long time. I was lost in the bottle for quite a while. If I did not ask for help from the Creator, I don't think I would be alive today.

I feel sorry for our young people these days as I see more and more of them going to correctional centres. I do not blame them. If they had the chance to learn the way parents and elders once taught the young people, I don't think we would have all the problems we now have. It has to start in the immediate family. The place to bring up a well developed young person is at home. Until people start looking at what our true values are, things will just get worse. I have told a few big wheels that half of Canada would be in some kind of correctional centre in about five years. I don't know why people can't see this. Is it because they don't want to face the truth?

I have spoken.