Three cheers for Saddle Lake

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Re: Article "Boycott of town begins over councillor's remark" March 2005 issue.

I am writing to express my encouragement and support for the First Nation of Saddle Lake. I can only hope that there are more revolutionary Native leaders like Ed Makokis and the Saddle Lake council who stand up and defend their people and their people's rights not to be discriminated against. I am Metis and female. Consequently, I have to deal with racism from my surrounding communities as well, and I wish our leadership had the same courage as the Saddle Lake leadership.

I am tired of being discriminated against when I go grocery shopping or take my children out. And let me tell you that the RCMP will do absolutely nothing if an adult white man follows you around a grocery store or WAL-MART spouting racial slurs at you.

The RCMP told me that it is not against the law and there is nothing they can do about it. Seems to me that there is nothing they are willing to do about it, although I am sure that had it been a white women being followed around by a adult Native man there sure would be something done about that. What are my tax dollars being spent on the RCMP for if they cannot even protect me from harassment? Let's face it, discrimination is practically a way of life in Canada.

Way to go, Mr. Makokis and Saddle Lake! May all our other "esteemed" leaders take a page from your book and defend their people.

As for St. Paul councillor Guy Germain... What was he thinking? Was he even thinking at all? Discrimination does not and should not pay. I want to know if Councilman Germain is stepping down from his position? If not, perhaps for the sake of the town of St. Paul he should resign. As long as he is in council, I will not do any business in that town at all.

Sincerely,

L. Jacknife