Honor our own

Page 5

Dear Editor:

Re: The presentation of headdresses and naming ceremonies for non-Natives.

I believe the time has come for me to speak to this issue that I see as becoming an Aboriginal tradition.

Our history has shown that federal governments and their provincial counterparts cannot be trusted when it comes to dealing fairly and honestly with Aboriginal peoples. Our peoples, and those that we elect to office in our different Aboriginal organizations to represent us, have over many years fought with the governments and through the courts over land and treaty rights, self government, self determination, and inherit rights as Aboriginal peoples.

We have fought them on environmental issues (i.e. clear cutting, poisoning of waters, earth and air), on Aboriginal education and health care, or, in other words, our Aboriginal rights.

The disrespect they showed [Aboriginal people] continues into the present. The building of a golf course on sacred land at Oka, Que., [the standoff at] Gustafson Lake, B.C., the murder of Dudley George at Ipperwash, Ont., [the dispute over the] Caldwell First Nation land claim, clear cutting on unceded Algonquin territory in Ontario and the denial of a land base for the Lubicon Cree in Alberta are just a few of the many disputes the governments have thrown at Aboriginal peoples.

So how is it that Aboriginal organizations and communities continue to lavish gifts of chief's headdresses, buffalo robes and sacred naming ceremonies upon those that continue to deny our people's Aboriginal rights?

I have boxes and boxes of old Aboriginal newspapers that show many cases of this gift giving, naming and honorary chieftanships being presented to people who would love to see the assimilation of the Natives of Canada.

I wonder, is this a change in our culture of traditions? When will we cease to kiss the proverbial asses of those who still want to exterminate or exterminate by assimilation? Have Aboriginals closed their eyes to the fact that they are no closer to their quest for justice, respect, honor and equality than they were 100 years ago? Maybe we have been assimilated and have not realized it yet.

I believe the time has come to re-visit what our ancestors held so close to their hearts and what they fought for the right to be Aboriginal, first peoples in our own territories and country. If Native peoples, chiefs and Elders have the urge to give away gifts of culture (i.e. headdresses, beaded vests, buffalo robes, eagle feathers and names), then let them give them as gifts to our own people, our young, our respected Elders, our prominent, our warriors and, most of all, our women. Let them give the gifts of culture and tradition, language, spiritual beliefs and everything that has been taken from them and their ancestors from the time the first immigrant set foot on Turtle Island, instead of to those who would continue to subjugate, assimilate and eradicate our people.

Before writing this letter, I read the September issue of Windspeaker where DIAND Minister Robert Nault was being given another headdress, as well as a spiritual name and the status of an honorary Cree chief, even though he may have provoked the incident at Burnt Church, N.B. and has turned almost invisible in this dispute that falls within the sphere of his office. As well as Windspeaker, I read the September issue of Alberta Sweetgrass where Husky energy executive John Lau was given a chief's bonnet, a new name and an honorary chieftanship. It seems Aboriginal peoples have stolen a right back from the government because as the feds have said, only they can say who is an Indian.

Fred Loft

Hamilton, Ont.