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Today’s reality, however, is so far removed in actual day-to-day terms from the memories inside the dream palace as to be almost unbearable. The obvious conflict between reality and dream pulls some aboriginals to warrior societies; others to a rejection of dealing with the “Crown” at all; others to fights for the restoration of “rights” that, even if defined, would make little tangible difference in the lives of aboriginal people; and still others, such as Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence, to go on a hunger strike.
True, it is the reality………however……..how has this ‘reality’ all come about?
In history which we can learn from, or suffer to repeat, there have been many societies that have been overrun, controlled and dominated by others. That was their ‘reality’, but that ‘reality’ is only in the minds of those who control them…..because 'their reality' is exactly what they want...slow total control.
The 'conquerer's definition of 'reality' can be defined as ….give up! But proud people in other countries in history and up to and including the First Nations people of Canada….refuse to be destroyed, controlled or manipulated.
The thing about most people in Canada is they have never felt this feeling because they have never gone through it themselves. Some people have had relatives who when faced with tyranny they fled their homes and homeland to come to N. America. But where do the Native people flee to? This is their land and they should be treated with respect. Others may want to be absorbed and integrated into another society but many do not and they have that human right!
From the onset longggg ago the First Nations people have had to deal with people and governments that made the rules and regulations that they were forced to live by. Some of these rules ruined and nearly destroyed their fabric of life from traditions to families and that destruction in many ways has come back to haunt them. Then today between the many sections and sub-sections of rules and regulations and the government and corporate need for more land the Native people are being slowly forced out….again.
It is amazing that we can mobilize a force of men and women to go to war and we have money for everything from jet planes to fake lakes and bathrooms out in the middle of nowhere and it can all be done in a short period of time. But when Natives on Reservations need help …..they have to go through a mountain of paperwork and government departments and politicians and beaurcrats for months and years just to get minor things done, even a school for kids.
The answer is .......life is simple….it’s people and governments who make the disasters.
To imagine that isolated communities of a thousand or so people can be vibrant and self-sustaining, capable of discharging the panoply of responsibilities of “sovereignty,” is to live within the dream palace of memory.
Why? We are one of the richest countries in the world. We have the second largest oil reserves in the world (unless Harper sells it all of)….we can spend millions hosting a one week event in Vancouver and millions holding meetings for the rich and famous and the list of more is long. There is no reason that isolated communities cannot be vibrant and self sustaining and children on those reserves cannot have as good an education as other children and homes can be warm and healthy and doctors and nurses can be there to help people. No reason at all…….except complacency by those in governmental power and the people who support them.
The First Nations people have been through enough.
My condolences about your grandchild puck. I knew a Native man who was going with a white woman. He had cleaned his act up years before and thought he could help her get clean. They were going to have a child but because of the woman’s drug problems it never even made it into the world (4 days short). Drugs are a horrible thing….not just hard drugs but including alcohol and it permeates all of our society and all races and religions.
