Struthers & Robinson Welcomed by Hollow Water Leadership

Not what one might expect, the exchange of words between Chief Ian Bushie (including other leaders of the Hollow Water First Nation) and the two Provincial Ministers, Struthers and Robinson, was conciliatory and respectful.

With all the speculation and anticipation by the media that talks between the Province and Hollow Water were heading for a showdown, there will no doubt be some stunned (translation: "jarred") folks out there.

In a move that can be described as a "class act", the leaders of Hollow Water invited the Ministers to partake in pipe and sweatlodge ceremonies at Hollow Waters' Community Holistic Circle Healing Centre. Although, it cannot be revealed what exactly was spoken of in the confidence of those sacred sharing circles, it has been observed the Ministers truly enjoyed themselves and walked away feeling they were genuinely welcomed and better informed of Hollow Water's perspectives.

It was stressed to the Ministers how important the land is to our people and how closely connected we are to Mother Earth. Every animal and plant and creature has its purpose and we must all live in harmony. To fail in that is to fail to live up to our responsibilities as caretakers and stewards of the earth. I'm sure the Ministers felt a great sense of peace as they participated in the ceremonies. It is a great testament to their own commitment and their openness to truly listen to the people of Hollow Water. I commend them for this.

So, the ceremonies were intended to bring clarity to the situation and to open up the channel of communication to the Province - "in a good way". In the Anishinabe way! When I say the "leaders" of Hollow Water, I mean there are others involved in this process that are coming to the forefront and using their gifts and talents to better advance this precarious situation in a non-violent and non-threatening way. Our traditional people and our women are playing a vital role in assisting this process to remain on a good track. Our youth are looking after the sites and displaying incredible restraint in not reacting to provocateurs.

Much like our brothers and sisters from across the ocean from the eastern cultures: whenever a negotiation process is to take place, they spend their time first talking about basic terminology and what is meant when certain words are spoken. When we say, "traditional land", we want to clarify what that means. It's not just the tiny box that the federal government forced us to live on, it's the wider area of land that our forefathers have lived and survived on since time immemorial. We know this because we still have an oral tradition that has passed information on to us for many generations. So, when we talk about our traditional hunting territory, it spans an area much larger than the acreage set aside by the treaties. We depend on that land and that area not only for our survival but for our entire way of life. When a way of life is threatened, naturally, any people will move to defend that. Try doing some development on some farmer's field and watch what happens. Let's be clear about this: there's been a lot of give and patience on the part of the Hollow Water people (and those in the surrounding area) over the years to allow for developers to encroach on our traditional territory. And that has been a steady process. The stopping of this had to occur now and if this intervention did not happen there would be a decimation of land and resources unprecedented in the history of the eastern side of Lake Winnipeg. That is precisely what has been effectively halted it is what must be examined closely before anything moves ahead any further from this point.

Some people may be confused and wondering: "why did the Hollow Water people go through all the trouble to blockade the road and now they welcome the Ministers?!" Well, remember that Chief Ian has maintained all along that this was a peaceful movement and that there would be no acts of aggression. That is a promise made and kept in spite of the aggressive, disrespectful, and shameful behaviour of a few cottagers and a madman developer. I want to highlight this person's behaviour because it speaks to an important issue at hand. The people of Hollow Water involved in standing up for their rights have not succumbed to unspeakable behaviour during this blockade; in fact, they have risen above all the abuses and negativity flying around from many sources, including some that don't understand the bigger picture locally. So, they have been above reproach and have clearly demonstrated their integrity. This takes a great amount of courage, respect, caring, and fortitude to stand with grace "for the people and their children's future".

Now then, contrast that with the behaviour of one man whose antics and negative sentiments have been given wide public attention through the media. I'm speaking of Ivan Saber and not in anger about the man but in great sadness. Here is a person who has committed numerous acts of aggression: he drove his skidder through the blockade and endangered the lives of those at the site - this was well reported and is public knowledge not hearsay. But what is not public knowledge is: a) he accused Hollow Water people of stealing his skidder and this was untrue; b) he's deliberately gone down to the sites and provoked the young men there on a number of occasions; c) and most recently, he pepper sprayed and physically attacked one of the young men!

In short, he's a violent man and a saboteur of anything good. And I note this only to underscore the significant differences in responses and not to take revenge on a pitiful man. Enough said about the dark side of this plot.

Back then, to our original story:

Now that the lines of good communication have been opened up with the Ministers, there can now be fruitful dialogue and the building of trust. That may take awhile to forge but forged it shall be with good leaders at the helm. The movement forward may be cautious but it will be respectful. And that, my friends, is a very good start...

Ministers Struthers & Robinson to Meet Hollow Water Chief & Council

Well, it's finally happening. Today, the two Ministers - Struthers and Robinson - will sit with Chief Ian Bushie and the Council at a pipe ceremony and initial discussions on how to move ahead from here.

It's been a meeting we've been waiting for; Chief Bushie has been successful in getting the Province to come to the table.

But what will become of this meeting? My guess is this is only the first of several meetings that will need to happen.

Some of the issues on the table from HWFN's perspective may be:

• Current Development in the area and it's impacts
• What are the Province's plans for this area and further up the Lake?
  
• Resource Sharing - for current and future initiatives

My expectation is the Province's goals will be:

• Access for cottagers into the development sites
• Complete removal of the barricades before any further steps are taken

It's going to be interesting to find out the outcome of today's meeting. I'll keep you posted. Right now, I have to get ready and head out there myself!

LBB

Great Spirits Always Encounter Violent Opposition

It was the esteemed Albert Einstein that uttered those words years ago. I think they apply to our Chief Ian Bushie.

With the recent community march to raise awareness of the issues being advanced by Hollow Water First Nation (October 3^rd) and the two page ad taken out in the Winnipeg Sun to explain his position (October 5^th), Chief Ian Bushie has demonstrated a quality of his leadership which will become more known throughout the country as time wears on: it’s simply called brilliance.

Why?

Is it because he walks the “high road” - the path of integrity? Is it because he stands with the people of the land who have said, “no more raping Mother Earth!” Or is it because he’s articulate and unafraid to speak his mind for the benefit of generations to come? Oh yeah, it could be all these things and much more…but I believe Chief Ian would be the first to object to being placed on any pedestal.

No, I say “brilliant” because in order for the government to come away from any of this and to be viewed in any positive light, they will have to demonstrate integrity and good faith as well. That's a far stretch for the government. Let's take a look at it for a second: so far, who’s side has the government been on anyway? Is it the poor and disadvantaged? Sorry. It’s rich fat cats that can afford a second home away from home in “the country”. Folks that can afford to build $2 million “cottages” in the woods and spend time “at the lake”. It’s Land Developers the government of Manitoba supports, clearly, that have no clue whether they just bull-dozed over an ancient burial ground of First Nation people that died from a small pox epidemic over a hundred years ago. Our Elders speak of the area of Clement’s Point as one that contains the remains of our dead ancestors that died of disease brought into our territory. Where is that burial ground exactly? Only archaeological digs would be able to determine that, but quite frankly, I don’t see our people asking Archaeologists to come out and start hunting for the bones of our ancestors anytime soon. For us, what is important is that our Elders speak for us and they know much more than we do. We listen to our Elders when they speak and they have told us so…that our people are buried somewhere in the Clement’s point area. Is anybody else out there listening?

As a matter of fact, people ARE starting to listen. Our non-First Nation brothers and sisters out there are starting to perk up a bit more and beginning to ask questions. Indeed, Chief Ian Bushie spoke last night at a gathering in Winnipeg and he explained the community’s position to them and answered their questions to clarify any misconceptions. Truly, there is a real groundswell of support that is emerging in the general public. The grassroots movement is getting bigger and moving across the land and whatever the outcome is from all of this will have implications that are far-reaching and “precedent setting”, as Chief Bushie explained last night. What he also clarified was that he and our people of Hollow Water are not militant types out looking for a fight. We are peace-loving and caring people but firm in our stand for our land and for all of Mother Earth. He said, “we are all Elders in training…we are youth too…and we are protectors of Mother Earth”.

The message of Hollow Water is one for the entire planet: Stop the selfishness and the greed that is sucking the life blood from Mother Earth. Can it get any simpler than that?

This message is much more encompassing and far beyond simply stopping a bunch of cottage lots from being developed. And Chief Bushie has been saying that from the beginning. Yes, cottage development is being stopped but that’s only the “tip of the iceberg”. Like an onion being peeled away you are only seeing the first layer. Everything that belongs to the Earth: the water, the land, the air we breathe, the animals and the birds of the air, the plant life and the little ones. Everything is on the table here. We look at the whole picture and not just one aspect of the picture. Chief Bushie is speaking about having something here for future generations and he cares enough to stand for that. If the government has their way…and the cottagers and the developers get their way…in the end, there will be nothing left for the people of Hollow Water and the surrounding communities. Over and over throughout history this same morbid theme has played out against First Nation people. There is an opportunity here to right some wrongs and to take a new path that actually has some honour and real integrity.

“So what about the cottagers that spent their hard-earned money to have a cottage lot”, you may wonder? What about fairness to them? Well, let me share with you my Chief’s response to that question: “Everybody knows what happens when you acquire stolen goods…you have to give it back.”

In closing, many more eyes are on Hollow Water. High profile First Nation and non-First Nation individuals are watching the developments with great interest. But more significantly, people are going beyond simply watching, they are starting to ask the question that I’m sure the good Minister and his government will dread; people are asking: “how can we help? How can we support you, Hollow Water?”

Well, I’m glad you asked because here are a few suggestions:

• Call the Minister of Conservation, Stan Struther’s office to voice your opinion – that you wish for his department to settle the matters raised by Hollow Water First Nation in a just and fair manner. His number is: 945-3750 and you can email him by going to Government of Manitoba's website: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/contact/index.php

• Call Premier Gary Doer’s office and let him know you have an eye on this and want it dealt with justly and for the benefit of the Hollow Water people and the surrounding communities. His number is: 945-3714 and you can also send him a letter at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/contact/index.php

• Call Oscar Latlin, Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, at 945-3719 and you can use the same site to contact him via email - http://web2.gov.mb.ca/contact/index.php

• Phone in to a talk show or write a letter to an Editor. Here is the Editor-in-Chief for the Winnipeg Sun: Stephen Ripley. His email address is: stephen.ripley@sunmedia.ca

• The Winnipeg Free Press has a letter to the Editor link on their website: www.winnipegfreepress.com/info/letters/index.html.

Take some action now...don't wait!

Peace and Justice!

Meegwetch!

Darrell Phillips

The Ante is up "ANOTHER NOTCH!"

Well, I'm just back after the weekend from the new Rice River road blockade site (just east of the Hollow Water turnoff from Hwy 304). It's another step taken by Chief Bushie and the Council...just to highlight to the province that they are very serious about this whole matter. Nobody's bluffing on the First Nation side of the fence.

But other than the added new blockade site, which actually went up last week, it's "steady as she goes" on the front lines. One of the guys had smoked his traditional pipe in the tipi on Friday night. Not long after that an eagle flew by screeching loudly. It's not that significant you might think but this was at 9:45 p.m. in the dark of night! That's not a very common experience even among us First Nation people...we took it as a positive and peaceful sign.

The hunters that have come up to that area (north on the Rice River winter road towards the First Nation communities of Bloodvein and Beren's River) were not pleased to be asked to leave. We expected all the hunters to be gone but drove up towards Rice River to scout the area in case anyone was still around. Lo and behold, we pass three non-Aboriginal hunters on one ATV with full hunting gear and totting their rifles. "Hmmm...", we thought, "these guys aren't going to a masquerade party at 11:00 p.m. at night are they?" And the government is worried that First Nations people are out there breaking the rules! But that, my friends, is another story altogether. But it does highlight something that is very much connected to the cottage development issue: that while the focus thus far has been on the cottage developments, there is much more to this entire matter than meets the eye. We are not only talking about the land but the natural resources that are of the land. After all, we are people of the land. And as Chief Seattle once said, "the land does not belong to us, we belong to the land..."

In fact, Chief Seattle apparently said more that is applicable to our current situation. The following words do not have complete historical accuracy as the Chief did not write or even speak English. But he is credited nevertheless with uttering these words:

"The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the dew in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man all belong to the same family.

The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each glossy reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father.

The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give the rivers the kindness that you would give any brother.

If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life that it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also received his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So if we sell our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow flowers.

Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.

This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself..."

Meegwetch (thank you), Chief Seattle, for your words which have withstood the test of time and apply to us here today!