Working together the way to survive

Page 10

I HAVE SPOKEN

In the eyes of many spiritual leaders, we are now living in a very corrupt world. In this country if it is not bingo then it is people tripping over each other rushing to buy 649 lottery tickets. I was warned about gambling when I was growing up. I fully agree with these spiritual leaders that are saying these things. If you ask these people why they have to be at bingo every day, they'll tell you many things. Some will say it's entertainment. Others say they have to get out of the house once in a while. Still others say it's to socialize with other people.

I don't care what they say, it is still gambling. I wonder what these people are thinking when they have to feed their children macaroni and cheese every day, most of the time without the cheese. Then they wonder why the children do not do so well in school. If the children do not have the proper nourishment of course they can't keep up. I feel sorry for these kids.

I was very fortunate that I always had lots to eat. When I was going to school, my parents had more constructive things to do than sit somewhere and gamble. Children that don't have enough to eat are not going to develop very strong bodies.

These children do not have the strength to run and play like they should. When they come home from school they are too tired to do anything. There are many children starving to death in other countries at this time. We should not have to starve our children in this country.

I hear people saying they can't make a living. They say there is no work. There is still game out in the bush, fish in the rivers. Then why don't they go out onto the land and make a living there or at least plant a garden somewhere? These are still ways to feed our children. If a lot of groups went out hunting and just stayed in the bush until they had enough meat, I don't think any self-respecting judge would put them in some jail. After all, our Creator placed our wildlife on North American to feed ourselves.

If I had a family, I would not hesitate to go hunting. Maybe the judge would get tired of seeing me again and again. I am sure I would fight the law in every way. One of the things I would have going for me is that I would not have any fear. What I am trying to say, I suppose, is that it is time to start working together instead of always trying to be independent. If we worked in groups, then maybe things would change. Native people in this country are aboriginals and nothing more. I do not believe in separating our people. Now we have status Natives, Metis Natives and non-status Natives. Separating our people in this way has never worked and never will. We all have to work together if we are ever going to get anywhere. We have to feed our children. It is the law of the land.

I have spoken..