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Thanks for kindness

Author

Letter to the Editor

Volume

23

Issue

6

Year

2005

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I would like to offer comment on the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision on Indians and Crown land wood.

For any Euro-Canadian court to pass fair, unbiased and just judgement on Canadian natural resources it must begin from the standpoint of: the land that now is known as Canada is the homeland of the Beothuk, MicMac, Maliseet, Mohawk, Ojibway, Cree, Haida, etc. It must also take into account that our homeland was acquired by Euro-Canadians through genocide, deceit, religion and theft.

The court must also take into account the fact that, since English is the language of the Euro-Canadian, it follows that all of those treaties, agreements, constitutions and/or laws are the work of said Euro-Canadians. All such documents were written to promote, maintain and protect the interests of Euro-Canadians and went against the interests of our people for obvious reasons.

Another thing that must be taken into consideration is the fact that those treaties between our people and the transplanted Europeans did not sign away any land or resources. They were simply treaties of peace and friendship.

What normally happens when nation states have a disagreement over disputed land/resources is that parties take the issue to an independent third party or tribunal which is where this issue rightfully belongs. All right-thinking, fair-minded and reasonable Canadians know in their hearts that this is true.

Dan Ennis

Tobique First Nation, N.B.