Scribblings in chalk dust nothing but cowardice

Page 6

It's amazing that there are still people who think that assimilation is a good thing for Aboriginal people. The fact that it's been rejected by Aboriginal people for over 200 years should have made some impression on these people.

At least one church has already recognized the insidiousness of assimilation and apologized for it.

People throw the word assimilation around like it's a good and progressive thing. It's as if they think Aboriginal people haven't joined the 20th century. But to Aboriginal people, assimilation means the destruction of their culture and identity.

Would anybody willingly give up his culture, language and identity because some outsider thought it would be a good and progressive idea?

We didn't think so.

But to disregard another culture for the superiority of your own leads to intolerance. An example of this occurred on the University of Saskatchewan's campus early this month.

Some hero thought it wise to write "white power" and draw a swastika on the chalk board in the Aboriginal students' lounge.

This hero must be reminded about Aboriginal power. Two hundred years of attempted assimilation may have gone unnoticed by this perpetrator, but they haven't by Aboriginal people. They have endured warfare, disease and residential schools. They have inherited a legacy of substance abuse, broken families and suicide.

But guess what?

They have taken the best that you, Mr. White Power, have thrown at them and they're still standing and growing and getting stronger.

Pathetic little scribblings won't stop them from fulfilling the wishes of the Elders that Aboriginal people get an education and contribute to this world.

What's more, non-Aboriginal people have been embarrassed by this act. It's also embarrassed the University of Saskatchewan.

So to you, Mr. White Power, we say this: Aboriginal people aren't going anywhere but where they want to! So get used to the idea.

What you've done has made us sad because people like you still wish to remain ignorant when the opportunity to learn is right in front of you.