"Why did we do this? It's not about the money. And it's not about getting re-elected. No, the bottom-line is we did this for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the future generations!" - Chief Ian Bushie
After almost 2 months, mutual understanding to move ahead has been achieved between the Chief & Council of Hollow Water First Nation and the Province of Manitoba, thereby ending the blockades...
...for now.
"Critics on both sides of the fence will likely be pointing fingers that either Hollow Water has backed down or that the Province has given in", said Chief Bushie. "But the fact is, there has been considerable discussions held between the two parties and there has been good faith demonstrated from both sides which facilitated progress and made it necessary that the blockades be removed." Had the blockades not come down, positive steps and movement down the path of conciliation could not be taken.
Way to go, Chief & Council, for standing up for the people of Hollow Water!
We celebrated the ending of the blockades at a feast two nights ago at the Hollow Water band hall where Chief Ian Bushie explained to us what some of the main points of this entire experience was all about.
In a nutshell, it's all been about the future of the community - for the grandchildren and the great-grandchildren and so on down into the generations. How's that?
Well, if so called "development" continued in the Hollow Water First Nation territory there would be nothing left for the children of tomorrow to inherit. No lands, no resources, no way to provide for themselves whether it be through traditional means i.e., hunting, fishing, trapping, or through contemporary means i.e., logging, mining, eco-tourism, etc.
When the people of the plains saw the buffalo being killed off they did take action to prevent it. Sadly, this was to no avail as the greed of swarming settlers moving in grew and grew and in one year alone over 6 million buffalo were exterminated. And society as a whole now laments the loss of those beautiful creatures that once roamed the land in plenty. It is that very same kind of greed that is gripping our territory as land is coveted (cottages), resources are being stripped (clear cutting, mining)... all whilst Aboriginal people continue to get next to nothing. So how could we stand idly by and watch it all happen? We are no different than the people of the plains from over a hundred years ago. We only hope we are not too late and that our efforts will succeed instead...
Chief Bushie used one example of a local pulp cutter. The big pulp and paper company of Tembec reaps millions each year from our land and provides many jobs to sustain the people of Pine Falls and Powerview. Small operators locally in Hollow Water do not get quotas to cut pulp, but small tracts of land where they can cut and then get paid so much for a cord of wood. Chief Bushie pointed out that the local contractors should be rich from cutting pulp if they had quotas that allowed them to prosper and be well off. Instead, Tembec reaps the lion's share of the profits and they are the ones that get all the benefits while the Province stands with them in their court to support everything they do. So, this is just one example of what is happening in the pulp industry.
The same is happening in the fishing industry, the mining industry, and cottage development. Everything is being taken away. The beneficiaries of the land are those from outside the community and not the rightful and original caretakers of the land - the First Nations people. What part of greed, injustice, intolerance, indifference, and ignorance do you not understand - you that oppose the steps taken by the Hollow Water First Nation?
I applaud the leadership of Hollow Water First Nation - Chief Ian Bushie and the entire Council - Jeff Bushie, Derek Bushie, Lynn Moneyas, and Ferland Barker. They have taken considerable abuse during this trial not only from strangers and non-Aboriginal folk from outside the community but from the local people - their very own community members! This was very difficult to take, indeed. But I thank them again for being vigilant and courageous. They've been wise to consider the generations of tomorrow in their decision-making. That's what real leadership is all about. The people of the community truly do watch how you lead....and I for one watched at the feast the other night how the leaders acted. The Elders were served first, then the people, and the Chief & Council stood off to the side to wait until everyone had eaten. I don't even think they took any food! They wanted the people to be taken care of first. Wow! That says a lot more than words can really say!
I'm proud to be from the Hollow Water First Nation!
Now then, do you think the Government of Manitoba will perk their ears up the next time Hollow Water's name comes across their desk? You bet! Will Minister's take notice when our Chief or our people have anything to say? A much better chance they will now. Will other First Nations be given notice when they tell the Province they will not allow development in their area without due process? I think they will. The Province's dirty ears have been cleaned. But alas, we know that clean ears eventually become dirty again...in time.
But so too did the Hollow Water and surrounding communities learn some lessons through this entire experience. We are not so naive or proud to admit that we have not also learned and grown as a people. As Chief Ian put it: "I'll never be the same person I was before this happened..." Those open to change and to learn will have grown through this trial and suffering. That is the way Creator allows it. Creator knows this land and this life is not our sole destiny and ultimate goal. We know that our ultimate goal is a land nobody can take away from us - in that spiritual abode with Creator forever. But we do have things to take care of in this world and on this land and we do need to be good stewards of what we have. As Chief Dan George once put it, "nothing belongs to me of what there is, but of what I have, I must share..." And we as First Nations people are a very kind and sharing people. We are open people. Like open books. But as we all know, being an open book has its risks. Walking around being an open kind of person or people makes one vulnerable and an easy target for those who would take advantage of you. And that's where the pain and suffering comes into the picture for those who've been abused throughout this experience. But, thanks be to Creator, for every negative there is a positive. For evil, there is good. For ignorance, their is understanding. For greed, there is sharing. For pain, there is relief. For anger, there is kindness. For hatred, love. For bitterness, the sweet taste of victory.
And for Hollow Water's despair, there is great hope. And for our weakness, there is now strength. For the storm and the raging winds, there is now calm and peace and tranquility. For our timidity, there is now pride - not self-centred pride, but the kind of pride that says, "I am proud to belong to the Creator. I am proud to belong to the land. I am proud to belong to the people. I am proud to just belong...
...the kind of pride that now says, "I am surely NOT a stranger in my own land."
Yes, it's a sad thing to hear when others condemns the people of Hollow Water for standing up for what they believe. We have been called, "greedy" and many other unspeakable names for doing this. How ironic when the poorest of the poor in the land are called "greedy"! But that's the sure sign for me that we are doing right. If we were doing the opposite and what the world loves we would not be bothered. But I'd rather be despised and stand for what is approximately right then be applauded by the world and be exactly wrong!
Yeah, we can really be proud - in a good way. In ways that do not abuse and threaten even when we are threatened. To stand in honesty when the whirlwinds of lies and gossip whisk around us. To hold our heads up with integrity when the man next door calls you a dog. To be at peace when the rage and dark murmurings of human nature rear its ugly head from places you never expected. To be able to hold a child and smile at them even when you know someone is ready to stab you in the back.
Yes, these are troubled times. But woe to those who bring the trouble. Be careful you are not among them. For the poor and the downtrodden have a special place in Creator's heart.
Hollow Water has only taken a step. There are many more steps to take. Many more challenges ahead. Nobody is so out of touch with reality in our community to think this is all over. The Province will try again to develop the east side of Lake Winnipeg in ways that do not include the First Nations. They will use their laws and their loopholes to do so. But the spiritual laws laid down by Creator will prevail. And we trust in that. That is our strength and that is where our real hope lies. Not in the laws that governments make or the so-called great things that people do, but in the Power of the Creator working through humble hearts. That is where our hope is in our country. That is where our hope is for our land...
So until the next chapter opens itself up to us, Peace and Good Will to all who will accept it!
Meegwetch!
Darrell Phillips
(Little Black Bear)
