With the recent community march to raise awareness of the issues being advanced by Hollow Water First Nation (October 3rd) and the two page ad taken out in the Winnipeg Sun to explain his position (October 5th), 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
1 comment:
Thank-you for setting up a very informative blog. I am glad that I read it all through. It seems that us pale-face just do not know when to stop pushing your people around -- what a sad commentary on our society.
Please be assured of my moral and spiritual support in this matter.
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