Thank You... White People

Thank you. You know who you are.

I was at a Ceremony tonight for a relative and a friend of mine. The Ceremony took place in the Winnipeg Health Science Centre.    It made me think about how good it is to be an Indian. It was a sad occasion, but also one of hope, kindness and sharing. People came to support a relative, Ndinawemaaganag (our relatives).
Pipes along with Bundles were brought out. The people prayed.

I was thinking, wasn't it good that in this big building of doctors, nurses, patients, that there was a place that Indians could go and pray. Not just a chapel, but a place that welcomed the Pipe, the Sage, the Bundles, the Drum.
Isn't that neat?

There are White people out there I want to thank.

The guy that got upset and outraged when a Indian person is harassed http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2013/03/21/video-surfaces-of-first-nation-man-being-bullied/while eating at McDonalds restaurant. Thank you to that woman who gave a friendly smile to my parents as they went about their business in the local store.
Thank you that family that made rocks/Grandfathers available to anyone who needed to pick them for the Sweat Lodge Ceremony.
Thank you to that Police Officer that was actually polite to that Indian guy.
Thank you to that teacher who spent an extra few minutes to help that boy/girl with their reading.
Thank you to the faceless beaucracy that made it possible to hold a Ceremony in a non-traditional environment.
Thank you to all those of you who stood and stand with the Indian people in protecting the Earth.
Thank you to all those that help out when no one else will.
Thank you for not judging Indian people based on misinformation and bigotry.
Thank you for showing that you are indeed kind.
Thank you for not following the masses in discriminating against us.
Thank you for fighting bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia, mysogyny and all those other bad isms. 

I do mean thank you. And for real. 

As they say "I mean that from a good spot in my heart". 

Something Is Amiss With Senate and Indians.

OTTAWA (November 14, 2012) Members of the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights will visit Western Canada November 19 - 23, 2012 as part of the committee’s ongoing study on the rights of First Nations people living off-reserve..

The committee’s study on rights of off-reserve First Nations people will touch upon a wide variety of topics and may include: demographics; health care; education; housing and mobility; income and employment; access to services and the role of friendship centres; representation by Aboriginal organizations; and participation in band decision-making.

Ginger Gosnell-Myers http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Com ... /ridr/press/14NOV12-e.htm

Media Advisory
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You know that is quite an undertaking by the Senate Committee, going around listening to Indians talk about racism, with the twist being listening to only those living off-Reserve.

Wonder why that is happening?

What do you think?

Is it benevolent reasons? Does the government really care about the Indian population? The government does not want the urban Indian to be subject to racism?  Seems kind of weird don't it? I mean if you look at the actions, policies of this Canadian government (and many Provincial governments as well), it does not seem like they are very Indian friendly. As a matter of fact some of the policies are down right hostile to the Indian population.  

So if history has shown us that the government is not being fair or is really still trying to get rid of the Indian problem, than why the big show (Senate Committee)?

I'll tell you.

Canada is still pissed at the Indian. After all of these hundreds of years, those damn pesky Indians are still Indians. What the heck is up with that?  I mean the government made it clear that the Reserve thing was just a temporary holding pen for them. They were suppose to become good workers for all the new "real" Canadians that were coming into Canada. Canada never intended to keep the bargain of Treaties and Land deals, heck.  In fact the government made it so the Indian wouldn't survive: they made Indian prayer illegal, they made travel illegal for the Indian, hunting was illegal, fishing, selling products illegal, and being Indian illegal. Shit, Canada even started kidnapping kids and started to indoctrinate them into the Canadian cult. They brought in the cult masters; Catholics, Jesuits, Anglicans.  These masters did the best they could. Sure they got some of those damn little pesky Indians, but they just couldn't get them all. After all those Indians breed like rabbits or rats. Now the Indians are the fastest growing population out there in Canada land. Wha the heck is up with that. Don't they know they cost the government some of its hard earn cash (or ill gotten gain)?

I know eh?  Damn Indians, spoiling the plot for Canada. Canada was suppose to get rid of the Indians by now and have all the riches of the land to themselves. Instead those damn rotten Indians are still here. Still fighting for the riches of the country. Man, didn't Canada do its best to shake down those Indians over the Land?  And still those damn pesky Indians are there. And look some of them even have the nerve to have business. In the resource sector yet? Now they are taking over some of our great Canada cities. What the heck?

So it comes down to this, Canada couldn't kill the Indian way back when and more recently either. So lets have them do it for us. Have the Indians start killing themselves. How does Canada do that. Simple. Divide. Divide. It has worked very well in the past, (you know with the Status and non-Status thing, the enfranchisement thing, the kidnap thing, the indoctrination thing) and now it will work again. This time we use the urban to turn against the Reserve Indian, or vice versa. Its brilliant.

You know how it is going to be done? Easy. Just say that money for Indians will be split. Reserves will not get cash based on their overall population (never mind that the land and treaty claims are outstanding, this will distract them). Instead say the money for those urban Indians is based in the Transfer payments given to the provinces. Let the provinces deal with that monkey. The resulting cash crunch in the Reserve will have a quick and drastic consequence. Services will suffer in the community and the residents will only have the off Reserve to blame. Creating more conflict to keep the Indians busy fighting amongst themselves.

Ingenious  isn't it (or is it ingenuous, never can get the two mixed up)? Not sure if this is the reason for the Senate Committee on Human Rights, but what a good outcome for Canada, don't you think? 

don't despair my friends

“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”

― Marcus Aurelius  

Had a pretty good conversation with this great lady today. She is in a state of despair. She is starting to meet a number of Traditional Indian people (Elders, Healers, Helpers) and learning about the Teachings.  However one the things she is having trouble with, is the character of people. She was raised in a Christian household (not sure but might have been non-Native). To her, the surrounding community of the Christian folk were very supportive to each other and they really loved God. To her these people really did try to live a virtuous and kind life. Now with the people in the Indian community there seems to be so much anger or maybe distrust for each other. She is getting disillusioned about the way people say they are and in the way they act. People are trying to live the "Red Road" but seem to be straying. She loves the words of the Teachings, but wonders why the word don't match the actions.

Don't despair my friend. People are flawed. We don't need to worry too much about the character traits of others. I know the old saying that "actions speak louder than words". People will speak good, but the way they behave reveals their character. We can judge and be disheartened by the selfish or bad actions of someone, who professes to live a life of virtue, or we can just try and control our own actions. I say don't let the flaws of others discourage your journey. Your journey of discovery. We may never know the lives the others have lived and what influences them. Perhaps they are damaged by a trouble past; poor environment; horrible instances; abuse; addictions; isolation. Maybe they are trying to live a kind and good life but are confused. That is the thing with any life. Myself, I struggle every day with my demons and the demons of my actions past. It is a hard thing.

Many of our people are going down the same journey as my friend is. A journey to discover their heritage. A journey to the connection with the Creator, to God. The journey is for many reasons; Adopted out, raised out of the Native community, lost heritage, denied heritage, residential school survivors. So they may be in the same situation. Loving the concepts, the intent of the Teachings. But they are faced with the fact that people are flawed. Peoples character traits are not synonymous with the way of life of a Traditional belief system. That's okay. Don't let the actions of others interfere with who you are. You will no doubt meet both people who are walking the Red Road in earnest and those that are struggling. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just take the good in all things. There must be some good in all people; at least I hope there is.

We all have our own traits, good and bad.

Standing Senate Committe on Human Rights: Winnipeg

Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee onHuman Rights

Issue 19 - Evidence, November 19, 2012 (afternoon meeting)

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WINNIPEG, Monday, November 19, 2012
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 2 p.m. to study issues pertaining to the human rights of First Nations band members who reside off-reserve, with an emphasis on the current federal policy framework.
Senator Patrick Brazeau (Deputy Chair) in the chair.
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A number of people presented to the Senate Committe on Human Rights in Winnipeg, MB this past November. I was fortunate to be one of those people. My view is that the government is just looking a more ways to divide the Nations. Continuous categorization of Indians to separate them even further. We cannot get caught up in playing that game. Instead we just spoke about Thunderbird House to give some context to the plight of Indians in Manitoba and Canada. Here are the words I spoke to the Senate.  There were a number of other speakers there that day. You can click on the heading to link to their thoughts.
Thank you for reading.

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Steve Courchesne, Member of the Board, Circle of Life Thunderbird House: Honourable senators, meegwetch. I would really like to welcome you to the area of Treaty 1. As an Ojibway person and signatory to Treaty 1 as our family was, thank you for coming here and allowing us to present.
I sit on the board for Thunderbird House and also Native Addictions Council of Manitoba. We are here to talk about some of the issues pertaining to urban Aboriginal people, especially within Winnipeg.
Let me start off with a story, this is the way the elders back home do it. I am from Sagkeeng First Nation. Back home, every year there are a number of sundances on our reserve. That was not the case when I was a kid in the 1960s. You would not know there was a sundance ceremony going on on our reserve when it happens, people know and they go. The sundance ceremony is a ceremony of sacrifice; you forego food and water and you dance for four days. The elders tell us that is the closest, while you are on earth, you will get to the Creator, who comes and sits. There is a tree in a circle. You stand and you dance and you look at that circle, and that is where Thunderbirds come, and that is where the Creator comes and listens to you. It is not about bravery, like the movies say, it is about sacrifice. You sacrifice for your people for your community. People come and do that.
After this one sundance in our community, after the ceremony was done, the flags were taken down, and people's offerings were taken away, someone from our reserve went to that tree and defecated at the base of it. Now, what does that have to do with Aboriginal people and us? Well literally, as Aboriginal people, we are shitting on ourselves, and pardon me for the vulgarity, my vulgar language, but that is a reflection of where we stand right now. The basis of where we stand is that, you know what? We are damaged people. Why are we damaged? Let us look at the history, and I am not going to go over the stats and rehash everything because our people have been saying it over and over here, and pointing it out quite clearly. I want to say that if you are going to step on the tundra, there is going to be a footprint there. That is what happened to Aboriginal people. The churches and the government stepped on the people and left a footprint. For some people, they have managed to succeed even though they have been stepped on, but many of our people have not.
Look at the city of Winnipeg. You have an exodus of people leaving the reserve and coming primarily to the inner cities. Why are they going there? For a lot of reasons: work, lack of housing lack and resources. There is another reason they go; it is a brain drain. People who are educated are going to look elsewhere for opportunities. There are some good people who stay and try helping the community, but opportunities are few and far between.
Here in Winnipeg, there are a lot of good people out there and a lot of organizations out there, like the Christian sect. If you look around this area here in the heart of Winnipeg, Thunderbird House is on the notorious Main Street, Main and Higgins. At one time, I remember in the 1970s there used to be a bar right where Thunderbird House is situated — the Patricia. Beside the bar there was a row of buildings. In that row, right where Thunderbird house sits now, a place of spirituality and a place of welcome, was a shooting gallery. It was like in the movies where you knock on a hard steel door and people let you in. There is no electricity. It is dark and it stinks. There is no real furniture there, but there are people everywhere, and there are spent needles all over the place. I happened to frequent that place when I was younger.
Anyway, it was an eye opener. People would curl up into a ball and try to find a vein just to get that Talwin, Ritalin — it was Ts and Rs. It was the cheap drug at that time. Indian people were poor. They had to make do. The drug of choice in the 1970s, early 1980s was Ts and Rs. I remember one girl, a friend of mine, they could not find her vein. What they did was there was an old mattress and they laid her down, tilted her head back so she could find a vein.
Thunderbird House and other organizations like it are ship havens in a sea of decay. You have a lot of people accessing the city for hope, but a lot of times there is no hope here. What you have is gangs and unemployment; you have no opportunities.
People talk about equality. Well, we want equality; we want to be equal. That is not the case. What you want is equity, the same starting ground. I will give you an example. When someone goes to race in the Olympics, say the 800- yard dash, what do they do? Nobody starts at the same place; they stagger the start so there is equity in the start, so it becomes equal after the start. That is the same thing with Aboriginal people. It is not equal because it cannot be equal, because there is no equity there. The starting lines are different based on White privilege, education factors, poor this, poor that, and all of that; you know that already. If we are honest with ourselves, we know the history of Aboriginal people and we know the history of the government initiatives. Rather than rehash that, we are going to talk about the realities of the situation.
I volunteer at a couple of places, at a lot of different places. A lot of my friends do. There are a lot of volunteers, a lot of good people out there in the Aboriginal community. There is also a lot of despair. We call it the "Indian factor." Do you know what the Indian factor is? The Indian factor is this: We are hardest on our own selves. Why is that? Like I said, we are stepped on; we are damaged. There are only so many resources out there. There is the Aboriginal Council, there is MKO, SCO. There is a whole bunch of organizations, but only a little bit of resources there. So what happens? Well, we try to step on each other to get on top. That is systemic, colonial mindset.
As my daughter says, "We are whitewashed." That is what happens — a lot of Aboriginal people become whitewashed. We do not recognize our own colonial attitudes towards each other and towards other people. Aboriginal people will be stepping on the recent immigrants because they get resources. That is the reality of fingers — little bits of resources, small pieces of the pie, but there are a lot of people that need it — not want it, but need those resources.
Thunderbird House was built in the year 2000. There has been some political history. Like I said, the Indian factor is there. We attack each other and we bash each other. One of the things about it, it is a safe haven. Aboriginal elders tell you that organizations working for the people are actually working for the Creator, because those are the Creator's children you are trying to help. That is synonymous with what happens with some of the organizations we have here, not just Thunderbird House, not Native Addictions Council of Manitoba, but a lot of the organizations that are here. I am here because I want you to feel what we feel. You know, we are goodhearted people, kindhearted people. We believe in that sharing, that kindness, that honesty and that faith. If you believe in those four things, at least a little bit, then that circle works for you.
I wanted to greet you in Anishinabe, Ojibway. I cannot. Why? Because I am damaged. Years ago there was the Heritage Language Act. Was Aboriginal language part of that Heritage Language Act? Of course not.
Aboriginal people are here in this situation because of the foundations of the roots of our relationship with the Crown, with the bureaucrats and with the church. The church acted as an agent. The story I told at the beginning here, it brings around what we are dealing with.
Aboriginal people have suffered an identity crisis, but there are strong people out there that are keeping that identity alive and people are grabbing at it again. They are embracing their identity. Those are the people you see standing up and saying, "We can do it as Aboriginal people if we look at being in an equitable position."
I will give you an example of what is not equitable. NACM is a native addictions treatment centre. It has been here for 40 years. It is poorly funded. It is in a building the government said itself is dead, basically you are on a life line. Yet, you have a comparable organization like Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, where they have an endless supply of resources. That is the reality of things. You have Aboriginal people down here and the main stream that are up here, and that is not equity.
I just wanted to say that what is happening with the Aboriginal people here, Thunderbird House and all of that, is that you are creating a service dump. In the big scheme of things the feds are getting out of the Indian business. What they are doing is doing a service dump. What they want to do with the service dump is dump their fiduciary responsibilities. Look at the transfer agreements that they started with in the 1980s. That is exactly all it was. They wanted to ease off and give responsibility to Aboriginal people. Really what it was was a "fiduciary dump."
Aboriginal people are not as dumb as a lot of people think. We learn the system just like anyone else.
In closing, I want to say that urban Aboriginal people need places like the Thunderbird House, like NACM. There are a lot of comparable organizations for Christian groups, non-native groups. You look at an example right across from Thunderbird House, Youth for Christ. They have huge money, millions, from the city. You look at Thunderbird House — my executive director here, Sasha, works for nothing. There are absolutely no dollars at Thunderbird House. Yet it shows the need and it shows that it is viable.
One other thing about Thunderbird House is they have a host of ceremonial aspects. A lot of Aboriginals say the city is dirty and they cannot do ceremonies in the city. Where are these people going to have access to do ceremonies? You see a lot of people in the city here, how many people have an eagle feather? I bet one of you have an eagle feather. You look at the average Aboriginal person and they will not have that eagle feather. It is out of their reach. They do not have the resources or they do not have the network to get that. Yet, that is something that is coveted and sacred. A lot of people do not have one. That is something that is basic. They do not have sweetgrass. It is just the way it is.
People like Sasha and a lot of my colleagues here, a lot of Aboriginal people here, are fighting to change that. I will give you an example. We are talking about a partnership with an organization called Comprehensive Community —

* end of time.
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Here is what Walter Wastesicoot had to say to the Senat Committee.


Walter Wastesicoot, Advisor Special Health Projects, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak: My name is Walter Wastesicoot. I have approximately 30 years of experience working with First Nations on issues that directly impact them. In my personal experience, I was at the same residential school that the previous speaker attended, the Mackay Indian Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba. I have that experience that I have always drawn on in pursuing and attempting to gain redress for First Nations issues.
I have a home that I own in a community in northern Manitoba, Thompson, Manitoba. I have been paying taxes for a long time already, and I know what that includes.
In terms of impacts of First Nations that are leaving reserves, in my personal experience I never had the opportunity to go by choice to live on the reserve because I spent much of my youth in an Indian residential school. Upon leaving that institution, I returned home to find my family all over. They too had attended different residential schools. I believe Robert was speaking to the dysfunction that is left by such an experience in terms of returning home to family.
One thing that we discussed in preparing this presentation was the fact that racism in this country is so normalized. An example of that is the discussion that we are here for today, the fact that we sit in this forum and talk about the difference between on reserve and off reserve in relation to the first citizens of this country. That is an example of how racism in this country is normalized. In our experience, when there is a discussion between on reserve and off reserve, that comes with a certain connotation that usually involves money. People are looking to offload responsibility in certain areas in an effort to save money.
Some time ago the leadership in our community spoke to the issue of on reserve and off reserve. In trying to understand that myself, I approached one of the community elders who happened to be living off reserve but had spent most of his life on reserve. The only reason at the time he was living off reserve was to access health care. However, when I asked him the question about on reserve and off reserve, he was offended because of his belief in the Creator's purpose. He said, "When I was born, the Creator prepared everything on this earth that I would need to sustain myself." The only thing that he had to do was respect everything that was prepared for his use. However, the Creator never told him you cannot go here, you cannot go there. Those were laws and regulations imposed by man.
I think I will leave it at that. Thank you.
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That last paragraph from Walter, says it all. A great presentation and emphasis on the Creator never told him you cannot go here, you cannot go there..."

Holy Man People,can you feel the love?

You know love is a funny thing. It means many things. It could mean the kind of love between you and your woman or man (in Bible speak, Eros), or the type of love you have for your friends and stuff (in Bible speak, Phileo), the love you have for you kids (in Bible speak Stroge) and of course the love you have for the Creator (in Bible speak, Agape).

Me, I was not really used to the word love. I always equated it with love between a partner/spouse. So it was not something I would say lightly. I would not say it to my friends, family or my Mom and never to my Dad. It seemed wrong. Seemed normal enough to me to not say love. Seemed weird if you would say it to your family member, whether it be Kookum or Mom or brothers and sisters. So when others say it, I would be uncomfortable. I know the thinking was due to the impact of the "schools" that my ancestors, parents and us, went to. Love was dirty I guess?

But I am better now. I know love means many different things and all equally powerful. My deceased Brother Poncho was cool like that. "I love you bro", was a common thing for him to say. He didn't even have to be juiced or drinking to say it. :0 I love my family, my kids, my grandkids and my Reserve as well. My wife I really like her and love her. I still think Like is a very powerful word. It was the word that I used as the word love for most of my life.

So as the immortal Tom Wait says, " I hope I don't fall in love with you", but if I do, its all good.
https://youtu.be/qOPhgikIoas

Terry Nelson supports NHL Evander Kane on Racism in the Sport

 The National Hockey League NHL is one of the few team sports in North America that is dominated by Whites. 

Native Activist and former Chief of Roseau River, Terry Nelson writes to the Winnipeg Sun to offer his point of view on the young Black hockey player and what is happening in the main stream media. 

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Winnipeg Jets left winger Evander Kane warms up during the pre-game skate prior to playing the Philadelphia Flyers in NHL hockey in Winnipeg, Man. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013. (BRIAN DONOGH/Winnipeg Sun files)

Evahttp://www.winnipegsun.com/2013/02/13/evander-kane-says-racism-fuels-some-of-his-critics

Evander Kane says some of the criticism he receives is because of his race.
The Winnipeg Jets forward made the comments for a story in an upcoming edition of the Hockey News Magazine, due out early next month.
“A good portion of it is because I’m black and I’m not afraid to say that,” Kane told the interviewer, according to the Twitter feed of Hockey News editor in chief, Jason Kay.
The publication will feature Kane and Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane addressing the off-ice controversy that’s dogged them early in their careers.
Since coming to Winnipeg from Atlanta, Evander Kane has been the subject of criticism in both social and mainstream media regarding rumours of unpaid restaurant bills, an alleged bar-room fight and his supposed desire to be traded.
During the recent lockout, he drew negative attention by posting a picture of himself on Twitter holding stacks of cash on a Las Vegas hotel room balcony.
He’s also not shy about getting flamboyant haircuts promoting boxers or rappers and posting those photos, his latest featuring the letters ‘YMCMB’ shaved into his head — an acronym for ‘Young Money Cash Money Billionaires,’ a company owned by rapper Lil Wayne.
“I don’t feel like a victim and I don’t want to be perceived as one,” Kane told the Hockey News’ Ken Campbell.
“It’s just the way I’m wired. Maybe my parents loved me the proper way, so I love myself.”
The Jets say they’ll wait until the entire article is published before offering any comment.
Campbell sent out the following message via his Twitter account, Wednesday: “Amid all the controversy surrounding Evander Kane’s comments to THN, I want to make one thing perfectly clear... the young man is engaging, intelligent and uber comfortable in his own skin. He should not be vilified for speaking his mind.”
Coming off a 30-goal season, Kane, 21, signed a six-year, $31.5-million contract with the Jets in September, just before the lockout.
He has three goals and six assists in 12 games this season, but hasn’t scored in his last seven games.
Patrick Kane’s off-ice behaviour has faced similar scrutiny in Chicago, an altercation with a Buffalo cab driver in the summer of 2009 the low point of his tenure with the Blackhawks.

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From: Terrance Nelson [mailto:terrancenelson74@gmail.com]
Sent: February-20-13 10:39 AM
To: paul.friesen@sunmedia.ca
Subject: Evander Kane

Refusing to be the "house nigger"

Evander Kane has every right to challenge racism in the NHL and in Winnipeg. Despite the attack by Don Cherry upon Evander Kane for using the "race card", there is no doubt that racism in the NHL is real. Not long ago Boxing, Baseball, Football, and Basketball were white only because blacks were excluded. The last bastion of white dominance in a sport is hockey, why wouldn't there be racist reaction to blacks in a "white" sport. Paul Friesen who initially wrote in the Winnipeg Sun about the complaint Evander Kane made should go see the movie Django Unchained. My 20 year son loved the movie so much, he went with me to see it a second time. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, the word "nigger" is used so often in the three hour movie, the shock wears off. The movie is cartoon-ish, something like "Kill Bill" but although I didn't initially like it, I got into it as I watched the reaction of the white folk in the theatre. Don Cherry would squirm in his seat if he watched the movie.

Dicaprio as the villain was a poor choice, he doesn't make the grade as a villain. The real Oscar role belongs to Samuel L. Jackson. Director Quentin Tarantino read what Malcolm X wrote of the difference between the field nigger and the house nigger. Jackson delivers an Oscar winning performance as the "house nigger". What Don Cherry wants for the NHL is gratitude from the black man that you have been allowed into a white sport. Cherry wants Evander Kane to "suck it up" and be another Jackie Robinson, a class act taking all the taunts and racial slurs without responding to the racism. Robinson, the first black man in major league baseball did what he had to do in his era, he was a great man. Howard Cosell on television at an NFL game calling a black man a "little monkey" and others calling the first black men in the NFL, "jungle bunnies" is what racism was. The NHL is no different. The white guys just don't want Evander Kane telling it like it is. Evander Kane deserves to say what needs to be said, the days of the house nigger are over, no more grovelling in front of the master, no more sucking it up just because someone paid for the ticket to see the game.

Thank you Evander Kane for not being quiet about racism. Remember Evander that even though 70% of the white people who voted in the United States election voted against Obama, there is still a black man in the White House. Obama is not a house nigger and you don't have to be either. Some people want you to be quiet, but you belong to a different era, you have every right to tell like it is. The indigenous people who live in Winnipeg have felt the racism and know that you are speaking the truth.

Terrance Nelson.

Circle of Life Gathering: Survivors of Suicide, Journey

This year will be our final year of a four year journey.  We are going to hold a Gathering for families, friends and anyone who has felt the pain of suicide loss. This year we will hold the Gathering without Elder Peter Kinew. We will miss his guidance, knowledge and Teachings. The journey began with Peter Kinew, Don Courchene, Ron McDonald and Sally MacDonald. The journey may have been started through common experience of pain, but the journey has resulted in renewed hope. That is what the journey is all about; hope that we can manage the hurt, that we are not alone, and that maybe others will not have to experience that hurt; the hurt of losing someone through suicide. The Gatherings do not belong to us. The Gatherings are meant for everyone. We are merely part of the journey.

This year the journey will be again a two day Gathering held at the Circle of Life Thunderbird House in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The date is set for June 25, 26,2013. Each year we have held the Gatherings with a theme in mind. This year we are thinking about "keep them alive".  Keep them alive is a feeling about our family and friends that have gone. We keep them alive with our love, our thoughts and our speaking about them, never forgetting them. Keep them alive is also about making sure we don't lose anyone. The first day will be devoted to Prevention of Suicide.

We need someone to facilitate the first day of the Gathering. Someone who will set the day for Prevention strategies and practices. Someone to host the first day and all that is required in a day Gathering. Please contact us and let us know if you are the person, or that group that can take on the first day.

The second day of the Gathering is for Sharing. Sharing our hopes about going forward after a suicide. We will ask people to come and share their life with us. We will close the day with a Thank You. We will Feast our Loved Ones and have a GiveAway for them as well.

The Thank You is to all those that have been part of the journey. Those that shared at the Gathering. Those that shared their experience, their time, their resources, their kindness to the Gathering. If not for all of you, the journey would have not been possible. There are so many of you that helped. We hope that you will come and take part in the Gathering. So we can say Kitchi Miigwich, Big Thank You.

Please contact: rightojibwe@yahoo.ca   or scourchene@hotmail.com  204-470-5207, Steve