Slow down, youth want time to listen to the elders

Page 6

Guest Column

As a youth, it is sometimes difficult to remain indifferent to what happens in the world and in our communities. Our minds are highly impressionable, and we often feel helpless during times of crisis. To us, it always seems as though adults (by this I mean the ones in power) are too busy trying to find solutions to take the time to listen to a less cluttered, more innocent point of view.

These are exciting times. Even for myself, I honestly cannot remember any single moment in my lifetime where so many worldwide changes were happening all at once. But I'm not sure if all these changes are beneficial.

At 23, I'm way past the age where I can rely on a gentle hug and whisper in my ear to tell me everything's going to be all right. And yet, I am still quite young and realize that life will likely teach me a lot more in years to come. There are however, many things I continuously question. In my opinion, they are issues others just blindly accept or refuse to do anything about. I'm revealing them.

For one thing, I decided last year to watch a minimum amount of television. It seems as though nothing is sacred anymore. People are only interested in money--or so

it seems. On sit-coms, topics like childbirth, rape and other emotional subjects are presented in such a way that makes you wonder whether human decency is still intact. Nowadays, it is likely that right after watching a documentary on environmental degradation a commercial on some oil and gas company will come on. One contradiction after another.

A long time ago, we buried our dead in sacred areas And when we visited with those who passed away, our thoughts and actions in these places were carefully monitored. We did this in respect for our Elders. Burial grounds were sacred places and a good source of guidance. The love and compassion that emanated from both sides filled our hearts with joy and pureness of spirit. I believe my Elders. They tell me it was a beautiful time to live.

Nowadays, it is not the same.

Calvaries southbound C-Train system travels at a rapid speed. As a matter of fact, it travels so quickly that I wonder if people have ever pondered over the fact that when they are going into one of the tunnels, for roughly a minute, they are directly underneath the city's main cemetery.

I ask myself, did these engineers even think twice before building a tunnel right below their ancestor's graves? Was even an eyebrow raised amongst the people when

the first heap of dirt was removed? Perhaps so. Yes. Perhaps.

But where else would we dig? We had no choice. To not go through with it was to stop improvement of city thoroughfare. We had to do it!

We live in a totally disconnected way from the earth. Kids in cities can't tell you where the food on grocery store shelves comes from. To them, a picture of a pig and a neatly wrapped package of bacon are two entirely different things. And don't even talk

to them about hunting or fishing, it's cruel.

Certain brands of music have become so explicit that to insert subliminal messages to reach young generations is unnecessary. Just come right out and say it. Don't worry, nobody will say anything. Everyone's too busy trying to earn a living to fight these issues. I don't know. My senses don't know where to turn with all this. I'd like to feel as if I'm playing a vital role in helping to change things for the better, but when I open my spiritual being to the realities of everyday life and compare them to the way it was long ago, my heart gets dragged down. Reading this, you may find it hard to believe I'm an optimist, and I don't blame you. I think too much and don't just let things be.

But I have questions for you. Answer them if you can.

Times change. You can't expect life to be the same way forever. Be a realist, not a dreamer. Conform instead of rebel. Yeah? Then answer this.

Comparing how things were in days past to how they are now, what will it be like in 10 or 20 years? I support post-secondary eduation. But eventually, if getting one means attending years of post-secondary institutions and spending vast amounts of money, what traits of humanity will we be left with? Will our Elders be able to teach us what they know? Will we consider it even relevant? And hunting--how much more sophisticated will it get? Lasers? Will the hunt fulfil a spiritual purpose in us? Music? Homes? Cities?

Drug and Alcohol problems? Will people see purpose in their lives? Hey--wait a minute! I was getting carried away.

But in my opinion, no matter what anyone says on this I know I am right. I am right because it is what my Elders tell me.

From March 27th to the 30th, I flew to Ottawa to attend the First People's Constitutional Congress. There, I met up with scores of other youths, I made new friends, laughed, listened, and generally had the time of my life. Plus an insight and some input into the workings of politics.

And I got ticked off.

An Elder was told he could only make his pipe ceremony last for half an hour. When he started, he had to light his pipe twice. The ceremony before the feast had barely begun when all of a sudden it ended. And yet right after, a Quebec minister of aboriginal affairs got on stage and was allowed a full forty minutes to talk about something half of the people (including myself) didn't even understand.

Elders, we, the Native youth are with you. Our minds and spirits are beginning to see the light. It isn't right to place the blame on an older generation than ourselves, but now we are beginning to believe the time has come for major radical change. We won't

be militant, but the time has come for political leaders worldwide to listen to us.

The proceedings bored us. We watched blank, expressionless faces at the podium recite their speeches. Too planned. Too organized.

A little room was reserved. Youth poured in. One Elder. Sweetgrass. An eagle feather. For five hours, feelings were openly revealed. No one took notes. A healing circle was formed. Funny,one of the main points that came forth was that we all wanted, if not to go back to the land, to at least make the connections a little more obvious. A sense of sincere spirituality (and not just for show) had to come back.

Outside this dark little room, in the grand hall, the adults began applauding. Where the youths were, in silence, an Indian girl cried......