Tell it like it is

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I am writing in regards to an article in the January 2004 issue titled "Youth should be heard on issues."

I am 23 years old and I do not consider myself to be a youth. I share the same ideals as the writer in last month's issue, but I am not scared to speak my mind and put my name with it. I also do not have all of the answers, but I have ideas; ideas that will one day change the face of Indian politics forever.

I feel that the youth and the people should know the reason why we are sending these "elected" administrators all over the country and to other countries. The "elected" go to meetings and conferences all over the place and when they get back, nobody but themselves knows why they went there. Waste of time? I don't know? Waste of money? Well, it's pretty obvious.

The people in any kind of "elected" power have to realize the people put them there. 'Work for them. Not yourselves. That is our money. Not yours. It doesn't come out of your pocket.'

The government was soooo kind to give us that money for our land. Let's use it for the youth and the people. Without our youth, our people will fail and give in to a society that set out to conquer us.

If you think I've lost hope in our people, you're wrong. I have nothing but hope and faith that our people can overcome the hand that has been dealt to us.

In the meantime let us ask 'What are you doing? Where are you going? Why are you are spending our money going to meetings everywhere, just to come back and tell us nothing?'

Our leaders went to Geneva in November. Sure, the confederacy paid for the rooms and airplane tickets, but our band provided spending money. What happened? That's pretty far for a meeting, just to come back and tell us nothing. Not to mention trips all over Alberta and the complete continental North America, for which our reserve picks up the tab.

These meetings are not discussed with anybody, let alone the youth.

Our youth today are everything but Indians, because our Elders and leaders forget that it is up to them to teach us our culture that was passed down to them.

It makes me laugh when I hear a politician say "We have to think about our children." Please, quit trying to convince yourselves. You know you don't care. I've seen it. You care only about your next vote, and who you step on to get ahead.

The next time your reserve has an election, vote for somebody who hasn't completely driven your reserve into the ground. Vote for somebody young. At the least, remember this always-There is no such thing as bad politics, just bad people. And always remember they work for you.

-Darren Gladue