Surviving the holidays
This time of the year is supposed to be joyful and merry. Commercial ads in the media show us the happy family: all sitting together by the fireplace on Christmas Eve, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate.
Opinion
Pope Francis: A Gimmick or a Game Changer?
We are hearing much about this new Pope and his radical support for the poor, but the truth is there will remain a gaping hole in his posture until the papal bulls responsible for the Doctrine of Christian Discovery are addressed.
Kindness is who we are, don’t mistake it for weakness
I have been blessed with knowing many great teachers and Elders over the years. Truth is, I would not be the person I am today without the direction and leadership I sought from the Elders.
Honoring Idle No More
Last year on January 5th nations all over Turtle Island held events in support of the “Idle No More” movement. We proved to the world that we as human beings have recognized the struggles and hardships we share.
Love, Hope and Courage
There is a coin I keep in my wallet. It’s one of those inspirational tokens you can pick up in the hospital gift shop. On one side it reads ‘Survivor’ and on the other ‘Love, Hope, Courage’.
The myth of untaxed “Indians”
OHSWEKEN – Canadian media portrays us as greedy, lazy, crooked, thugs that are a burden on the poor Canadian taxpayers. Sun Media, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator, the Brantford Expositor, CKCO, and CHCH are all owned by corporations with interests in terminating Indian rights – by forcing taxation on Indian people and turning us into municipalities.
On the RBG deer hunt
A recent Facebook page set up by animal rights activists opposed to the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) deer hunt, referred to the hunt as an inhumane “slaughter.”
There is No Victory for Us in U.S. or Canadian Courts
The embarrassing failure of the U.S. prosecutor in the Three Feathers Casino trial is not a win. It’s not even a draw! Surviving the persecution and prosecution of their law enforcement agents, lawyers, judges and juries is a good thing, but it is not justice.
SIX NAY SLANG
It has been brought to my attention that our wonderful readers are not all from my rez and may be unfamiliar with my vernacular.
‘Teach for Canada’ Wants to Save First Nations Schools
Last month the Globe and Mail reported the launch of an organization called ‘Teach for Canada’ whose aim was to recruit new university grads to “fix Canada’s education gaps”.
On the Passing of Nelson Mandela
It saddens me to hear that a great man like Nelson Mandela has departed from this lifetime. He was a man who was truly inspirational and showed us the possibilities of how a continued struggle by indigenous people could manifest itself in levels of freedom that have been marred by centuries of oppression.
My way of life
My way of life as an Anishnawbek, is not evil or bad, it is not witchcraft or satanic, it is merely misunderstood.
Stop Trying to “Solve” the Great Mystery!
When you pull up my blog online , this is my intro: “People are free to be consumed with contemplating their existence, their origins, the origins of the universe, supreme beings, controllers of destiny or anything else.
Stolen children, forgotten elders
I am an urban Indian, some of the time, well at least half of the time. I am a major participant in Oshkimaadziig camp, but in order to pay my bills, and seek out the teachers that I need, I have to travel through urban centres.
Our children and CAS
One of the most controversial topics on Six Nations is our children. When we talk about matters pertaining to their future, things become complicated and political.