Stand up, speak up

Page 6

Dear Editor:

I'm interested in getting a feel for the Aboriginal voice on events in New York City. In this First Nation near Rice Lake, 16 miles north of the 401, there are American flags on some properties. Most of us, being of assimilated stock, certainly respect the fundamental principles that flow to us through the Canadian Charter, and to the south to our American brethren through their constitution.

Forget the Indian Act. Forget the 500-years-since-Columbus thing. We're now talking about freedom. Forget that you think you are not free on your First Nation in Canada, for there are probably no freaked out, fanatical, gun-toting holy warriors ready to kill you in an instant.

If you aren't free in Canada, it's probably your own fault, and that may seem unfair but I have a different feeling now since Sept. 11.

We're talking about freedom. Think about it. How about not having the freedom to press your Aboriginal claims at all, and being crushed like a grape, not run over in DFO boats but wiped out, murdered and incapacitated, your wives made widows and raped and shot. What, as an Aboriginal person, do you do now if your First Nation has a beef with the government?

We've seen recent events made bigger than anything we've seen so close to home, so do we continue to don fatigues and hold the roads ransom now? What we need is to come together, because we're talking about freedom and liberty.

Canada needs its Aboriginal people probably more than ever at this point. America needs us. What do we do, fight our own government at this time or take our lumps alongside everyone else to protect our freedom?

That's not to minimize our claims and beefs with Canada, but at this time a voice in Aboriginal Canada should come out to say to Canada that we as Aboriginal people will do what we can to assist should the world be drawn into a broader conflict.

This is the reality. Forget the healing and all of that beautiful stuff. That has its place, but right now we are dealing with an element in the world that only cares about meeting its objectives of destroying the foundations of America and the Western world.

Where are the warriors now? If for nothing else it might be very politically correct to show your voice for the very things that allow us to be who we are. Let other Canadians hear this in us. Speak up!

Dave Mowat