Sailor's wrong turn shouldn't be celebrated

Page 7

Dear Editor:

Five hundred years ago, King Henry the VII ordered Giovanni Caboto to sail and discover the New World.

Five hundred years ago, King Henry VII assigned Giovanni to discover the Far East.

Five hundred years ago, Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) discovered New Founde Land.

Five hundred years resulted in the acknowledgment of a disoriented Italian sailor bound for China.

Five hundred years have resulted in pride and dignity for the Canadian governments for the genocide of the Beothuks.

Five hundred years of lies to the Aboriginal people.

Five hundred years of humiliation to the Aboriginal people.

Five hundred years of celebration of these negative deeds.

Five hundred years of celebration of ignorance about the Aboriginals.

Five hundred years of sinister smirks on officials' faces.

In 1997, the world, Canada and especially Newfoundland, will celebrate the courage and triumph of Giovanni Caboto. It is the celebration of lies and humiliations not only by the Canadian governments, but by the non-Aboriginal societies as well. It is the celebration of the genocide of the Beothuk since Coboto's accidental discovery.

Let us, the residents of this New Founde Land and Canada proudly acknowledge that Newfoundland and Labrador is the focal point of celebrating the negative impacts that are inflicted on the Aboriginals of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I say to the one and all who celebrate such discovery,the hell with Cabot, he was lost.

Yoo-hoo! John . . . John . . . You took a wrong turn. John, China's over there.

Some sailor!

Jim Nui

Mushuau Innu,

Davis Inlet (Utshimassits)