The fledging country of Canada is barrelling down on all First Nation Indigenous who oppose their manmade laws of order and good government. Canadians continue to rewrite their true history especially with regard to Indian Residential Schools.
These are the facts. Children were forcibly removed from their parents, families and communities. The Indian Act covered the removal of children with the full force of legislation with punitive consequences for parents or communities who hid Indian children.
Mainstream writers continue to write that the finding of burial sites alongside these schools does not mean that the Indian Residential schools inflicted any harm. Mainstream writers rely on sketchy historical numbers citing tuberculosis as the main culprit responsible for child deaths. What the mainstream writers have overlooked, is that Dr. Peter Bryce did report on these harms when he was the chief medical officer for the department of Indian Affairs.
Mainstream writers, predominantly white middle-aged men write that the number of deaths reported or the findings of cemeteries adjacent to Indian Residential schools are not to be analyzed as historic findings of harms. In 1907, Dr. Peter Bryce could not get federal actions to remedy the unsanitary situations in Indian Residential schools.
Mainstream writers draw on the statistics that were recorded. They do not posit that there may have not been recordings due to the high number of deaths. Once Dr. Bryce wrote his report, the Department of Indian Affairs ignored the data because they had no desire to educate or assist the original people of this land. Dr. Bryce was attacked and his cries went unheard.
Is this any different than the reality faced by First Nations today? First Nations lead in shortened lifespans, diabetes, suicides, incarceration and generally poorer health than mainstream. The system has not changed.
Currently Canada is embarking on a strategy to pay minimal costs for inflicted harms to appease the First Nation peoples. Canada’s “Indian budget” boasts high numbers that often total in the billions because they cover a five-year period. What Canada does not post is the breakdown of these billions and the actual amounts that reach First Nations.
Canadians are tired of hearing about the “Indian” problem. Canadians are very much like their settler ancestors, always moving “forward” tearing down ecosystems while repeating their “greater good” mantra. The greater good seems to be race specific. The greater good denies allegations of harm, racism, disparity, inequity, and discrimination.
In the western education system, prevalence is given to a mythical bold and noble explorer story over the actual story that the First Nations or Indians were already inhabiting Canada and North America. There is no credibility to the fact that the early settlers relied on the Indians to survive. There is no understanding that the First Nations shared the land and resources because they believed the newcomers understood the delicate harmony that must be kept in balance.
Today’s settlers are finally realizing that the land, waters, plants and animals all co-exist alongside one another. When one part is destroyed, the destruction of all life is set into motion. But the mythical savagery of the Indian must persist.
If the Indian is seen as a human being, or an enlightened race, then the narrative of manifest destiny and the doctrine of discovery become the empty words of a few greedy men and their rulers. The world and its accompanying madness has been built on these misconceptions.
Greedy governments and their partners in crime, the churches have long been seeking to remake Indians into assimilated thinkers. Systemic control relies on Indian thinking regulated to staying within colonial boxes. This is colonization. Indians must think of themselves as individuals and place their centuries old teachings into garbage bins.
Further to the Indian thinking of only himself, Canada is also selling the Indians a brand-new approach to self-government. Words like democracy and duly elected have replaced First Nation spirituality and the collective work that should include the larger framework of all Creation.
This is the new First Nation reality. Canada does not talk about the failed section 37 talks that were placed in the Canadian Constitution to ensure that the international Treaties had constitutional standing and federal application. The federal government ghosted the historic Treaty and pre-confederation Treaty people by allowing the Supreme Court to step in and make self-government rulings.
This undermining and bad faith have continued in the sectoral attacks being made against historic Treaty people. Canada has divided its Indian Affairs department to appear to be more accepting but in reality, Canada has thrown all Indigenous together under one big bus.
How will Canadians know the reality of First Nations without actual authentic First Nations writing or speaking their truth? First Nations do not speak their truth to power. First Nations have power by speaking truth. Truth is not only heard by federal ears; it is heard throughout the cosmos and that is where real power is vested.
The spirituality and the connection to the land are guiding principles which guide the thinking of true First Nations. The peace and harmony of the land are held in partnership with the First Nation peoples. There is no separation. It is this thought that continuously plagues federal entities. First Nations who are land or water protectors cannot be swayed by jobs, titles, national recognition/awards or money.
First Nation land defenders and activists are the front lines for First Nations to protect themselves and to protect their partnership with the land and waters. This is why the First Nations got sick in the original Indian residential schools. These children were torn from their healthy time-honoured lifestyles and prayerful existence. Can Canada make First Nations well again?
What is the measurement of harm that is inflicted against an entire race? Is it satisfied by a one-time payout of carefully measured costs from a society obsessed with money? And where does this money go? Do the Indians who receive payments go buy food, clothing or daily living necessities on another planet? No. the Indians increased buying power feeds into the Canadian capitalist vacuum. So, paying for harms is actually a win for Canada without acknowledgement, apology or redress. Think of this as you celebrate National Indigenous day… this is your Canada.
