Time to speak up, chief

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National Chief Matthew Coon Come has become the darling of the mainstream conservative press with comments made at the Assembly of First Nations' health conference in Ottawa in February.

Editorials in both the big nationals have lauded the chief's "courage" for being a voice in the wilderness willing to say that the Native leadership across this land has a problem with alcohol. What has resulted from these "brave" comments though, has been nothing less than nasty. The mainstream has latched on to Coon Come's words like leaches to a warm body, because the comments work to further their agenda, which is to disparage Native leadership and, in the process, any of the work that is being in done in the negotiation of land claims, treaties, resource sharing, or any of the other important business of our nations.

'Canada's Natives drink too much. Just ask the chief. We can't leave important decisions to a leadership that is "corrupt, nepotistic and incompetent,'" using the words of the editorial writers at the National Post who seem to have taken Chief Coon Come's words as license to dispense their particular brand of venom without having to provide any proof.

It's open season on all leaders across the nation, with the chief's blessing, it seems, because what would be courageous is for Coon Come to say, 'Look it, Bub. Stop slagging my people and get off my side, because with friends like you, I sure as hell don't need enemies.'

But he hasn't done that, perhaps because he's enjoying basking in the warm glow of approval, without a care from which direction the sun is shining.