We need winners!

EDITORIAL

We need winners!

We need them alright, but it seems in Indian Country , whenever we find one we ourselves drag the winner down. Notice all the we's?

I don't know what it is, but it seems that we can't stand to see one of our own climb up the ladder to success or even to shine a little while volunteering his or her services to a sport, function or business.

I sometimes wonder if what a person I interviewed recently said does not have some truth to it. He said, "I never really knew my culture, lived in a non-Native environment all my life, but I have a wonderful career, although I knew I was Native." So maybe in order for one to move ahead without prejudice, one has to attempt his or her desire for advancement in a non-Native environment.

It's sad when you see a boxer quit his chosen profession because each win brought him above everyone else - leastwise that is how he began to be treated.

Now sure I know the story about how winners stay in there - to the bitter end. But wouldn't it be nice if we could all understand just a little how important common support is? You don't even have to know the person to give support. Just being a minority who have to struggle that much harder in this world to get ahead and being of

the same blood, Native, should be enough to lend a supportive hand.

Many of us probably drag down people who are out there doing something for themselves and, yes, others, because we are bitter about ourselves.

Another individual phoned me one day and said: "Rocky, I have been working at this centre for a few years now but it still is the same routine. People resent me because I work here."

Well maybe they don't know this person is doing it because no one else will and

is doing it without pay. But I wonder if it would really matter?

It would be nice if we lived in a world where everyone was equal. It probably would be boring, but at least no one could complain about the next person moving up because we could all move up together!

Advancement is like the guy sitting in jail. He decides in there that he is going to do something with his life. He is going to go after the big one. Maybe it's to be a logger in British Columbia or the best damn unemployed person on the street, but he has made up his mind that he is really going to do it!

So he becomes that. Then he becomes even more and people like him. A little bit more and then people begin to question him. Some more and then it's, "Aw, the guy stinks. He was always a nerd! Maybe he was better off in jail.."

You know, a person once called me and in an argument, a light one, it finally happened.

"You know Rocky, I never really did like you."

I said, "Yeah? " And then after a short while I said "you know I always like what you have tried to gain because I believe that you are serious. At least you are concerned about the things you talk about and want to do something."

At the end of our conversation this person said, "you want the truth, Rocky. I think from all the trouble you had in our life and now what you are trying to do is great.

I think you are doing good, so keep it up."

Now that's what I call support. I supported this person so this person returned

the favour. We don't have to always agree, but taking pot shots never solved anything.

I think winners want to return the favours. I do not think they are there for themselves.

Sure some are radicals, some are quiet in what they do, some shine, some twinkle but they all need to be supported.

We do it for our families. Are we not one big family?

Let's not drag down the winners because, believe it or not, we are all winners. So if you plan to drag down a winner then you re only dragging yourself down.

I know one thing about myself. With all my faults, I will never allow myself to some day look back to my world as a crabby old man....still dragging down the winners.