Nations awake

Page 6

Native nations are pushing back, bumping bellies with the big boys, putting a collective food down and says 'We're just not going to take your garbage anymore.' And all there is to say about this phenomenon is "It's more than about time.'

If you've been paying close attention to Native news makers in Canada you'll notice the swell of protest that is reaching even the most remote areas of the nation. While we've come to expect strong words from the Mohawks of central Canada, and have never underestimated the arguments made by the James Bay Cree, it's the rest of Canada's First Nations that are beginning to put the screws to the status quo. 'Life as we've been living it juste isn't good enough. Our voice, even if it is but a small one from the wilderness, must be heard.'

This new resolve and empowerment was never more prevalent than in a small courtroom in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Oct. 16 when three hereditary chiefs of Bella Coola chose to remain behind bars rather than sign away their dignity and responsibility to their people.

By refusing to sign a release document that said they could not return to their land and protect it against unauthorized logging, the chiefs declared they were willing to make a sacrifice, to be held prisoner by the courts of Canada. Their goal was to make the point that this country had failed them, the government had failed them, the law had failed them, so now it was time to take matters into their own hands.

The wonderful thing about this day, was knowing that there was a room full of people, members of the community, who stood staunchly behind the chiefs, and each one of these people would have gladly taken his or her place beside their leaders. Bravo to the people of Bella Coola. Bravo to any other community preparing to draw a line in the sand.