Youth concerned with success of Aboriginal people

In today's society we as Aboriginal people are looked down upon as the cause for crime, violence, gangs and drug users. In the media when a crime is committed by an Aboriginal person the article is to be sure that the people know that an aboriginal person is the one who is the cause of the crime. If a Caucasian person has committed a crime that is worse than the crime committed by an Aboriginal it is looked at and forgotten.
There are many people who are into drugs and alcohol, especially the youth who see that as the way of life because they do not have anyone to learn from.
There are many people fighting the government to keep our rights as treaty Indians. The right for free health care, dental care, education and land rights. They fight because they believe that we as the as aboriginal people are the rightful owners of Canada, but it was stolen from us.
With these issues among us, different cultures of non-Aboriginal people label us as "a problem". We feel that with this label we fight back because of racism, discrimination and bullying.
Many Aboriginal people can not get a good job because of their ethnic background. I see everyday aboriginal being put down.
They fight back and cause a scene because they were called a dirty Indian. They are the drug users, alcoholics, poverty stricken due to substance abuse in their lives.
The youth only know gangs, violence, drugs and alcohol as a way of life because that is what they seen while being raised. They know nothing else.
Many Aboriginal people who defend themselves are actually the drug users, alcoholics and street people. I ask myself when I see that happen, "should he/she even be saying something to their defense." I believe that they should not say something, because they are not taking care of themselves. They still have substance abuse, sexual, verbal, physical, and emotional abuse issues that have not been dealt with. They can not move forward because their past is not healed. It has to start with you. Only you can change your life and make the world better for yourself.
We envy every Indian that has done something with their life. Actors, musicians, social workers, lawyers, etc. But it is in our minds that we do not have the ability to accomplish anything except a reputation on the street.
The truth is that we do have the ability to accomplish these goals. The people who are fighting the government for our rights are succeeding, but there are only few and far in between taking advantage of these opportunities.
Education is FREE for us. Other people who are not treaty have to pay thousands of dollars to become successful. They do not waste their money that they put into their schooling. We have these opportunities and there are people who want to help us.
We can achieve success if we put our minds to it.
We can not let the past predict our future. Our past does affect who we are today as a person, but it does not mean that we have to continue living that way. We are the ones who have to stop these continuing cycles of sexual, physical and substance abuse.
I do encourage you to take these steps to better your life. There is help, but always help yourself. Only you have the power to control your life, do the right thing and make yourself better for you and your family. So once we accomplish these goals in life we can defend ourselves from racist comments and do it with truth. We are not dirty Indians.