You just can't be that stupid?!?
This Older Native woman asked me if the Midewiiwin was part of a cult. She is old and so just can't be that stupid. She was upset over the topic I wrote a while back and said that I was spreading hate. I guess I was a trying to be a "smart ass" and slapping religion, specifically, Christianity. Which I know is a bad thing. However the lady did get me thinking, when she emailed and asked if Midewiwin was a cult. Really? How stupid is that. An Indian woman yet? (Shaking my head)
It would be like me, when I never, ever questioned that the news paper printed the names of people who couldn't shop at Sears anymore. My friend would say, as he was reading the newspaper, that he was going to look at who is not allowed to shop at the store anymore. I used to think, "oh they print the name of shoplifters". Now really, how stupid can I be?
Or it is like me, when I make up scenarios of what people are doing or thinking as I encounter them. Like this one time, My wife and I were a traffic stop light and a transit bus went on by, a pedestrian was trying to get the attention of the bus driver, so he could get on the bus. The bus driver was a slightly over-weight woman. She looked at the guy waving and running. I told me wife that "this woman will pick up the guy because she will feel bad, as she knows what it is like to be picked on, ignored and bullied because of her looks, so she will be compassionate." My wife said, "no she is angry and bitter because of how people are and how people treated her, so she is going to act out like that". I said, "really?!?". My wife turned and looked at me like I was crazy. Or in this case like I was really that stupid.
Or when I was watching television and this news show was talking about the size of potatoes in Prince Edward Island. I saw this potato the size of a person. I called my wife and said "look how big that potato is!" She said "that's a sign, a replica, a novelty item, it is not real". "Oh", is all I could say.
I bet you must have heard some things that you just had to shake your head and say, "you can't be that stupid".
As for the Native lady, I think she is just being mean. Or Trying to get my goat (is that the right saying?) Anyway, she is the true embodiment of Religious indoctrination by Christianity and a long standing policy of the Canadian government. She is considered a success story in those circles. :)
By the way, my friend was referring to the obituaries. It took me years to figure that out. That bastard.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Don't tell me stuff, I am a gossip.
Holy Heck! I am a big gossip bag. Don't tell me nothing cause I will spill my guts.
Just like this time this guy told me about a boy from Cross Lake that killed a moose. Killed a moose with his sling shot. No it's true.
Murray told David and David told me.
I guess this boy was out hunting with a sling shot. He came to the river and a moose was eating in the marsh. The moose would put his head under the water and eat the plants under the water. Then the moose would lift his head and look around to check if it was safe. The boy would stand still and not move. The moose would put his head back under the water and keep eating. The boy would then sneak up closer and the moose wouldn't hear because his head was under the water. As the boy got as close as he could, he took out his sling shot, aimed and fired the sling shot. The rock hit the moose right in his nut sack. The moose went "uuuph". The moose gulp water and drowned. You tell me, if you got hit in the nut sack while your head is under the water, you wouldn't gasp and gulp up all the water. You would drown too.
Another guy Dennis, who is from Pukatawagan told me about his grand-dad.
His grand-dad, Mishoom liked to keep a garden. In his garden he was growing potatoes. Strange thing started happening in his garden, his potatoes were disappearing. The Mishoom thought it was some rodent or animal that was eating his potatoes. There was a path going from a hole in the fence to his garden. So the Mishoom was going to be smart and put up a trap for the rodent. Next morning the Mishoom came and checked his trap. Stuck in the hole in the fence with their arm trapped was a woman. One of the home-brew bootleggers. Guess she needed potatoes to make home-brew. Dennis told me the woman lives down the river from his house. It's true.
Laurel told me about the guy from the Swampy Cree region who demanded information. This Band Councilor (Band Councilors are elected representatives for Indians on an Indian Reserve, sort of like your Mayor and Councilors) of this one Band (Indian Group in a specific area or Tribe) wanted information from the Tribal Council. The Band Councilor went to the Tribal Council office and demanded to see the "Purple Agreement" that took place on his Reserve. The lady looked and looked for the Purple Agreement. She went to the Councilor and told him that she could not find it. He was furious; "find me the Purple Agreement". She looked again and still no luck. She asked around and sought information from the Councilors Reserve. The people at the Reserve told the lady that there was not purple agreement but there was a verbal agreement. It turns out the Purple Agreement was really the "Verbal Agreement". It's true.
And there was this time...
Just like this time this guy told me about a boy from Cross Lake that killed a moose. Killed a moose with his sling shot. No it's true.
Murray told David and David told me.
I guess this boy was out hunting with a sling shot. He came to the river and a moose was eating in the marsh. The moose would put his head under the water and eat the plants under the water. Then the moose would lift his head and look around to check if it was safe. The boy would stand still and not move. The moose would put his head back under the water and keep eating. The boy would then sneak up closer and the moose wouldn't hear because his head was under the water. As the boy got as close as he could, he took out his sling shot, aimed and fired the sling shot. The rock hit the moose right in his nut sack. The moose went "uuuph". The moose gulp water and drowned. You tell me, if you got hit in the nut sack while your head is under the water, you wouldn't gasp and gulp up all the water. You would drown too.
Another guy Dennis, who is from Pukatawagan told me about his grand-dad.
His grand-dad, Mishoom liked to keep a garden. In his garden he was growing potatoes. Strange thing started happening in his garden, his potatoes were disappearing. The Mishoom thought it was some rodent or animal that was eating his potatoes. There was a path going from a hole in the fence to his garden. So the Mishoom was going to be smart and put up a trap for the rodent. Next morning the Mishoom came and checked his trap. Stuck in the hole in the fence with their arm trapped was a woman. One of the home-brew bootleggers. Guess she needed potatoes to make home-brew. Dennis told me the woman lives down the river from his house. It's true.
Laurel told me about the guy from the Swampy Cree region who demanded information. This Band Councilor (Band Councilors are elected representatives for Indians on an Indian Reserve, sort of like your Mayor and Councilors) of this one Band (Indian Group in a specific area or Tribe) wanted information from the Tribal Council. The Band Councilor went to the Tribal Council office and demanded to see the "Purple Agreement" that took place on his Reserve. The lady looked and looked for the Purple Agreement. She went to the Councilor and told him that she could not find it. He was furious; "find me the Purple Agreement". She looked again and still no luck. She asked around and sought information from the Councilors Reserve. The people at the Reserve told the lady that there was not purple agreement but there was a verbal agreement. It turns out the Purple Agreement was really the "Verbal Agreement". It's true.
And there was this time...
Thursday, December 15, 2011
"From a Good Place in my Heart"
From a good place in my heart; I said to my wife today. But I laughed. It is a common phrase Indians use when they are making a public prayer or speech. It's not that I don't think it is sincere. It can be quite sincere when someone uses that phrase. But it is a little common and so some Indians like to make fun of each other for using that phrase. It gets a little played out, just like one of those songs on the radio. It is quite good for a while and then it loses its luster. Not that it is not a good song (or phrase) but its been used to the hilt. So we kind of make sport of it. Like when the song Achy Breaky Heart hit the airways way back when. Everyone was nuts over that song. And then bang it became a song to mock. (Not that from a good place in my heart should be mocked). But sometimes we can laugh at ourselves. I bet lot of people laugh at themselves for being Achy Breaky Heart dancers.
We can laugh at each other. Just like these old guys at a Sweat Lodge from Piapot Reserve in Saskatchewan. They were all sitting around during one of the Sweat Lodge rounds (at some places the people who conduct the Lodge allow breaks between the Sweat rounds, usually there are four rounds to a Ceremony). As they were sitting around they started to tease each other about Sweating and singing in the Lodge. One of the old guys says to Art, "Oh even the Creator is tired of Art's singing; that Art again same old songs". Art and the other old guys just laughed. There is sincerity in his singing, but the guys knew how to tease.
Same with the phrase I say this from a good place in my heart.
I was thinking about that phrase and about sincerity. It came to mind as I started to remember an incident a while back. About 20 years ago about this time of year the local news story was about some unknown person who had cut down a fir tree in someones yard. A fir tree is used for Christmas trees. The home owner was upset about someone cutting down the tree in his front yard (and rightly so), but the home owner also went on to say, "he should have asked me , I would have bought him one". Meaning he would buy a tree for a perfect stranger if he asked. My friend Earl and I laugh about this, still to this day. It is a common phrase we use when the opportunity permits itself. Because the phrase sounded so funny, insincere that it must have sounded absurd to anyone who heard it, or to the person himself for saying it. But hey who are we to question sincerity?
So we use the phrase ourselves at opportune times in a not so sincere manner. :)
But anyway, I hope you do have a great day, and I say this from a good spot in my heart. :D
Oh by the way there are some more phrases being used these days by the Traditional gurus. "Come if your intentions are good." This is when they post invitation for a ceremony they are holding. Or "all are welcome that come with good intentions". I wonder who they know which ones to turn away?
Do I look like I got bad intentions?
We can laugh at each other. Just like these old guys at a Sweat Lodge from Piapot Reserve in Saskatchewan. They were all sitting around during one of the Sweat Lodge rounds (at some places the people who conduct the Lodge allow breaks between the Sweat rounds, usually there are four rounds to a Ceremony). As they were sitting around they started to tease each other about Sweating and singing in the Lodge. One of the old guys says to Art, "Oh even the Creator is tired of Art's singing; that Art again same old songs". Art and the other old guys just laughed. There is sincerity in his singing, but the guys knew how to tease.
Same with the phrase I say this from a good place in my heart.
I was thinking about that phrase and about sincerity. It came to mind as I started to remember an incident a while back. About 20 years ago about this time of year the local news story was about some unknown person who had cut down a fir tree in someones yard. A fir tree is used for Christmas trees. The home owner was upset about someone cutting down the tree in his front yard (and rightly so), but the home owner also went on to say, "he should have asked me , I would have bought him one". Meaning he would buy a tree for a perfect stranger if he asked. My friend Earl and I laugh about this, still to this day. It is a common phrase we use when the opportunity permits itself. Because the phrase sounded so funny, insincere that it must have sounded absurd to anyone who heard it, or to the person himself for saying it. But hey who are we to question sincerity?
So we use the phrase ourselves at opportune times in a not so sincere manner. :)
But anyway, I hope you do have a great day, and I say this from a good spot in my heart. :D
Oh by the way there are some more phrases being used these days by the Traditional gurus. "Come if your intentions are good." This is when they post invitation for a ceremony they are holding. Or "all are welcome that come with good intentions". I wonder who they know which ones to turn away?
Do I look like I got bad intentions?
facebook takes on suicide
Not sure that I could add anything to what is said here, so I just copy it and let you read. Thanks. I wanted to keep the page because of the information on here. I had the opportunity to speak about the facebook site on CTV. I post the link here.
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/suicide-chat/#clip585519
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20111213/facebook-chat-service-suicide-prevention-111213/
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/suicide-chat/#clip585544
"Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of youth death in Canada." "Most preventable of all deaths."
Dr. Regina Benjamin is the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America’s Doctor, she provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation.
For anyone who has lost a loved one due to suicide, it is one of the most painful issues they will ever face; sometimes leaving an overwhelming sense of doubt, guilt, and silence enfolding the circle of friends and family like no other experience can. In the wake of this tragedy, we are painfully forced to question- What could I have done? Could I have made a difference? Why didn’t I know?
We don’t have a life to lose in this world. We must confront suicide and suicidal thoughts openly and honestly, and use every opportunity to make a difference by breaking the silence and suffering. Ten years ago the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention was launched. Its objectives galvanized the country around a common goal. As a result, we have advanced the science and support for suicide prevention programs nationwide. New suicide prevention work has emerged across the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services and others. One notable achievement is the establishment of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a number that can be dialed anywhere in the United States to connect the caller with confidential and expert help.
To accelerate the action needed to prevent suicide, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius launched the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention with the charge to advance and update the National Strategy. The Action Alliance brings together public, private and nonprofit partners to engage every sector of society with a vision of ending the tragic experience of suicide in America.
Facebook is an important part of that partnership, and I’m excited about the new initiative to augment its response to potentially suicidal members by offering the opportunity for a private chat with a trained crisis representative from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in addition to providing the Lifeline’s phone number. This service will be available to people who use Facebook in the United States and Canada. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site. The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker.
Preventing suicide is everyone’s business. Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide every day, and in the past year, more than eight million Americans 18 or older had thought seriously about suicide. As members of a family, a school, business, neighborhood, faith communities, friends, and our government, we all need to work together to solve this problem. We simply can no longer allow those we live, work and play with to ever believe that suicide is an acceptable solution even in the worst of times. I ask everyone to help by learning about the symptoms of mental illnesses and substance abuse, the warning signs of suicide, how to stand with and support someone who is in crisis, and how to get someone you care about the help they need. Most of all, we need to be open to talking about these issues in our communities. Once we begin to support those in need, and whenever possible treat their mental and substance use disorders with the same urgency as any other health condition, we will reduce the rates of suicide, advance health and improve the use of limited health care dollars.
Learn more about the partnership between Facebook, SAMHSA and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: http://1.usa.gov/t00eiH
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/suicide-chat/#clip585519
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20111213/facebook-chat-service-suicide-prevention-111213/
http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/suicide-chat/#clip585544
"Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of youth death in Canada." "Most preventable of all deaths."
New Partnership Between Facebook, SAMHSA and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
13 December 2011 No Comment
Cross-posted from Facebook Safety Dr. Regina Benjamin is the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America’s Doctor, she provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation.
For anyone who has lost a loved one due to suicide, it is one of the most painful issues they will ever face; sometimes leaving an overwhelming sense of doubt, guilt, and silence enfolding the circle of friends and family like no other experience can. In the wake of this tragedy, we are painfully forced to question- What could I have done? Could I have made a difference? Why didn’t I know?
We don’t have a life to lose in this world. We must confront suicide and suicidal thoughts openly and honestly, and use every opportunity to make a difference by breaking the silence and suffering. Ten years ago the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention was launched. Its objectives galvanized the country around a common goal. As a result, we have advanced the science and support for suicide prevention programs nationwide. New suicide prevention work has emerged across the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services and others. One notable achievement is the establishment of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a number that can be dialed anywhere in the United States to connect the caller with confidential and expert help.
To accelerate the action needed to prevent suicide, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius launched the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention with the charge to advance and update the National Strategy. The Action Alliance brings together public, private and nonprofit partners to engage every sector of society with a vision of ending the tragic experience of suicide in America.
Facebook is an important part of that partnership, and I’m excited about the new initiative to augment its response to potentially suicidal members by offering the opportunity for a private chat with a trained crisis representative from the Suicide Prevention Lifeline in addition to providing the Lifeline’s phone number. This service will be available to people who use Facebook in the United States and Canada. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site. The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker.
Preventing suicide is everyone’s business. Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide every day, and in the past year, more than eight million Americans 18 or older had thought seriously about suicide. As members of a family, a school, business, neighborhood, faith communities, friends, and our government, we all need to work together to solve this problem. We simply can no longer allow those we live, work and play with to ever believe that suicide is an acceptable solution even in the worst of times. I ask everyone to help by learning about the symptoms of mental illnesses and substance abuse, the warning signs of suicide, how to stand with and support someone who is in crisis, and how to get someone you care about the help they need. Most of all, we need to be open to talking about these issues in our communities. Once we begin to support those in need, and whenever possible treat their mental and substance use disorders with the same urgency as any other health condition, we will reduce the rates of suicide, advance health and improve the use of limited health care dollars.
Learn more about the partnership between Facebook, SAMHSA and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: http://1.usa.gov/t00eiH
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Bullying is ugly. Are bullies monsters?
Sorry about this post, but holy heck! People are taking their lives because of monsters out there. Some of these monsters are just everyday kids. So awful. I had a dream about my boy last night and it the dream I was trying to save him from the future. I was sitting with him trying to give some items (totems) to help him. I was hugging him crying for him. That is how I woke up. I went to watch my nephew play hockey and I told his Dad about the dream. We visited and talked about time and how it flies but doesn't seem to erase what happened and how the pain is still there. We talked about the loss of a child and how in the heck do people cope after that? There are people in the media spotlight that have endured the loss of a child but yet they still seem to go on? I wonder how they do it? My cousin was mentioning the death of NHL Luke Richardson's daughter, she took her own life. So when I was at home, I was again reminded of suicide while reading the news; another teen was put to rest. That is why I am posting about bullying.
Growing up in a Reserve, I sure saw a lot of bullies. Today many of those bullies are old and feeble. Some are not so feeble but sure live a life of misery. Bullying is all over the place. We see it in the face of our politicians: Prime Minister Harper is a bully with great power. All bullying upsets me, regardless if it is the powerful countries picking on poor countries or even the bullying that goes on with their own people.
But the bullying that upsets me is the bullying at this moment is the bullying that causes a young person to take their own life. Can you imagine how awful a young child must feel, that their only way out is to end their life? What the fuck is wrong with this picture. Not sure of what could be done to stop this. The government can pass laws to ban bullying or to punish the people who are bullies. But is that really the answer? I don't know.
I wish it was easy to say don't do that, or do this and issues could be taken care of, but that is not how the world is really like. What causes bullying anyway?
This is really sick, even after this young man (boy) took his own life, the bullies still continue to bully him. What the fuck???
A young girl of 15 was buried the other day. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/11/30/teen-suicide-bullying.html
It sure must be awful to be her family; anger, hurt, immeasurable sadness. I wonder if those that bullied her
will ever understand what they have done?
An Ottawa Teen suicide linked to being bullied.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/17/hubley-ottawa-teen-suicide-bullying_n_1016828.html
"The disturbing rash of LGBT teen suicides began receiving attention last fall. Among those who took their own life was 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers University student who jumped off the George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York after his roommate allegedly filmed him having sex with another man."
The latest suicide linked to being bullied.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/12/03/marjorie-raymond-suicide-teen-bullying.html
Growing up in a Reserve, I sure saw a lot of bullies. Today many of those bullies are old and feeble. Some are not so feeble but sure live a life of misery. Bullying is all over the place. We see it in the face of our politicians: Prime Minister Harper is a bully with great power. All bullying upsets me, regardless if it is the powerful countries picking on poor countries or even the bullying that goes on with their own people.
But the bullying that upsets me is the bullying at this moment is the bullying that causes a young person to take their own life. Can you imagine how awful a young child must feel, that their only way out is to end their life? What the fuck is wrong with this picture. Not sure of what could be done to stop this. The government can pass laws to ban bullying or to punish the people who are bullies. But is that really the answer? I don't know.
I wish it was easy to say don't do that, or do this and issues could be taken care of, but that is not how the world is really like. What causes bullying anyway?
This is really sick, even after this young man (boy) took his own life, the bullies still continue to bully him. What the fuck???
A young girl of 15 was buried the other day. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/11/30/teen-suicide-bullying.html
It sure must be awful to be her family; anger, hurt, immeasurable sadness. I wonder if those that bullied her
will ever understand what they have done?
An Ottawa Teen suicide linked to being bullied.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/10/17/hubley-ottawa-teen-suicide-bullying_n_1016828.html
"The disturbing rash of LGBT teen suicides began receiving attention last fall. Among those who took their own life was 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers University student who jumped off the George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York after his roommate allegedly filmed him having sex with another man."
The latest suicide linked to being bullied.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2011/12/03/marjorie-raymond-suicide-teen-bullying.html
Quebec teen suicide victim laid to rest
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Marjorie Raymond, 15, killed herself last week. (Facebook) 
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sabrina is hitchhiking,
I had the good fortune of picking up a hitch-hiker today. She is Sabrina. She and her dog Ally are going back home to Quebec. A young girl with a very friendly and trusting personality. I was only able to give her a short ride from the west end of the city to the east end of Winnipeg. I dropped her off on the East bound Trans-Canada highway.
She is fortunate that the weather is not as cold as it usually is for this part of the country. I understand that by Thursday the weather will change and become it normal cold. By that time she should be in Ontario and closer to Quebec.
It was a good feeling for me to give this young girl a ride. Even if it was short. It made me feel good, kind of proud of myself. I know that is selfish to feel good about doing nothing really. But that's it, isn't it? We need to feel good about ourselves even if we don't really do extraordinary things. It should be normal to do a kind deed of some sort, no matter how small.
She was very nice and shared some of her experiences with me. She is quite a traveler. Been to South America, Mexico and the West Coast of Canada. I worry about the safety of trips like, backpacking. I guess there is a large number of young people that do that. Travel around, work here and there, make friends and see the world. I wish in my youth I could have been adventurous like that. Never occurred to me in my wildest dreams. But now I wish for my daughter to be able to travel. Maybe not by herself but with a group.
So to all the Sabrina's out there. Have a great adventure, make friends, and most of all be safe.
http://www.backpackers.ca/
http://www.couchsurfing.org/
She is fortunate that the weather is not as cold as it usually is for this part of the country. I understand that by Thursday the weather will change and become it normal cold. By that time she should be in Ontario and closer to Quebec.
It was a good feeling for me to give this young girl a ride. Even if it was short. It made me feel good, kind of proud of myself. I know that is selfish to feel good about doing nothing really. But that's it, isn't it? We need to feel good about ourselves even if we don't really do extraordinary things. It should be normal to do a kind deed of some sort, no matter how small.
She was very nice and shared some of her experiences with me. She is quite a traveler. Been to South America, Mexico and the West Coast of Canada. I worry about the safety of trips like, backpacking. I guess there is a large number of young people that do that. Travel around, work here and there, make friends and see the world. I wish in my youth I could have been adventurous like that. Never occurred to me in my wildest dreams. But now I wish for my daughter to be able to travel. Maybe not by herself but with a group.
So to all the Sabrina's out there. Have a great adventure, make friends, and most of all be safe.
http://www.backpackers.ca/
http://www.couchsurfing.org/
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
RCMP: sick and distasteful harassment towards fellow Woman officer
I just had to share this story. In Canada a pig Farmer had been killing women for years and the police failed to act on it. Numerous tips about the pig farmer were ignored by the police in Vancouver British Columbia, Canada. After his arrest and conviction it became apparent that the police did not act in the best interest of the citizens of BC. Now an inquiry into what happened is taking place. That inquiry has been stacked against the citizens of BC (Women) and many believe that the truth of what took place will not be found. Their fellow office, Galliford is speaking out on the conduct of the police. It will be interesting to see how she will be portrayed by the police media.
Female RCMP officer says male colleagues told her they fantasized serial killer Pickton would gut her like a pig
(Cpl. Cahterine Galliford.Photo by Renegage98 Flickr)
APTN National News
VANCOUVER–The female RCMP corporal who announced the arrest of Robert Pickton says fellow male officers told her they fantasized that the serial killer would break out of prison, track her down, strip her naked, hang her from a meat hook and gut her like a pig.
RCMP Cpl. Catherine Galliford, the former face of the Missing Women’s Task force, said RCMP officers also made jokes about sex toys and gave each other fist pumps after details began to emerge about what happened to the women Pickton butchered.
Police found a gun with a dildo strapped to the barrel in Pickton’s trailer.
Galliford, in an interview with the Vancouver Province newspaper, said RCMP and Vancouver officers watched porn and left work early to “go drinking and partying” instead of investigating the disappearance of women in the Downtown Eastside.
Galliford, who has been on sick leave for four years, told the Province she would be testifying on behalf of victims in January at the Pickton inquiry which was tasked with finding out why it took so long for police to catch the serial killer.
Galliford said she faced years of harassment from male officers and superiors on the force.
Her allegations are contained in a 115 page statement submitted to the RCMP.
http://www.firstperspective.ca/news/3462-cops-watched-porn-skipped-work-instead-of-investigating-missing-women-galliford.html
Monday, November 21, 2011
Aboriginal Veterans Day November 8
zhiimaaganishii-giizhigad - pronounced zhee-maa-guh-ni-shee gee-zhee-gud and meaning Veterans Day.
Veterans held a Ceremony of Honour at Deer Lodge in Winnipeg, November 8, 2011.
In attendance was Tommy Prince Jr. The son of the Great Warrior Tommy Prince.
Shane Patterson a Dakota Traditionalist was also in attendance to talk about the Warrior Society and the meaning of "Deed and Merit".
He said to always to think of those Veterans and to "blow your Whistles".
Melvin Swan is a warrior, an Ogichidaa. He was on hand to speak about the Aboriginal Veterans, such as George Mann, Leon Fontaine, Ray Rogers, Tommy Eagle, Lawrence Morrisseau, who have passed on. He told the people that today it is not easy to know who we are. The youth do not speak the language, and our greatest battle lay within our selves. He wants us to thank those Veterans for their gifts, their commitment, their scars. Remember those who sacrificed and to keep on celebrating life. Remember a "warrior wears many hats to serve the people".
Dr. Solange Lavack spoke of the way of the Warrior and the difficulties facing them. Never minimize the experience of those that have come back. Some "people are broken". "You don't get to integrity without falling". Just ask how can I help.
The most inspiring quote came from an old Veteran in the crowd. He said "Thank God for Tommy Prince. Tommy Prince told me 'keep your head down and listen, and you will go home'. I am home" said Murry Trench, a Veteran.
http://www.turtleisland.org/news/news-veterans.htm
http://www.interlakespectator.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3365530
http://wherearethesheep.blogspot.com/2011/11/aboriginal-veterans-day.html
Veterans held a Ceremony of Honour at Deer Lodge in Winnipeg, November 8, 2011.
In attendance was Tommy Prince Jr. The son of the Great Warrior Tommy Prince.
Shane Patterson a Dakota Traditionalist was also in attendance to talk about the Warrior Society and the meaning of "Deed and Merit".
He said to always to think of those Veterans and to "blow your Whistles".
Melvin Swan is a warrior, an Ogichidaa. He was on hand to speak about the Aboriginal Veterans, such as George Mann, Leon Fontaine, Ray Rogers, Tommy Eagle, Lawrence Morrisseau, who have passed on. He told the people that today it is not easy to know who we are. The youth do not speak the language, and our greatest battle lay within our selves. He wants us to thank those Veterans for their gifts, their commitment, their scars. Remember those who sacrificed and to keep on celebrating life. Remember a "warrior wears many hats to serve the people".
Dr. Solange Lavack spoke of the way of the Warrior and the difficulties facing them. Never minimize the experience of those that have come back. Some "people are broken". "You don't get to integrity without falling". Just ask how can I help.
The most inspiring quote came from an old Veteran in the crowd. He said "Thank God for Tommy Prince. Tommy Prince told me 'keep your head down and listen, and you will go home'. I am home" said Murry Trench, a Veteran.
http://www.turtleisland.org/news/news-veterans.htm
http://www.interlakespectator.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3365530
http://wherearethesheep.blogspot.com/2011/11/aboriginal-veterans-day.html
 |
| Melvin Swan & Murry Trench |
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Try a Little Kindness...
Kindness is sometimes viewed as being weak. You know like an old country song, you know, like the coward of the county by Kenny Rogers. Kindness is the hardest thing you can do or be. It is easy to be mean.
The being kind is bothering me quite a bit lately. I made a pledge to help people a number years back. And with the death of my Son, I know that I was leading a life that caused problems. I want to sincerely be nice to people. That is the trouble I am having, trying to think kind. I remember when I was told about Kindness and how it is one strand on the Sweetgrass braid. (I don't know the other strands) And I try to remember about being kind.
My 29 year old daughter is being harassed by some people in the Reserve. Over a guy yet. (Ever sick! :0, a Reserve colloquialism) She has been on the receiving end of harassment and even physical attacks for some time now. And the attacks are coming from both young and older people. She was telling me about the events for some time now. I just told her to ignore them and let it go. Lately it is getting out of control. So I went on spoke to one woman about it. I asked to her to stop. Just like that, no anger involved but concern. I thought it went well. I thought wrong. My girl was attacked by the sister of the lady I spoke with. Thing is I know these women well and am related. The lady who attacked my daughter said I was threatening to shoot her and was going to get her uncle to shoot me. I called my cousin, the Uncle to talk with him to explain myself. He was angry at his nieces and knows me well. So I was tempted to go to the Reserve and speak with the women and the "guy" who started all this trouble. The other thing is why am I getting involved with my adult daughter's problems? I guess that is my being over protective Dad.
I went instead to visit with one of my Teachers. She is great. She told me it is easy to go and "settle things like Fort Alex" (a teasing saying about how things are done in the Reserve, i.e. fight it out :-D ) She told me it is easy to be kind to people you like. "Try being kind to someone you don't like". Being kind to others is the real challenge. She said all you can do is try to be kind to them; give them gifts and if that is not possible say nice things about them if you can. And don't use kindness as a weapon. Like the saying "kill them with kindness". In this manner you are not being kind, you are trying to get at someone using fake kindness. I don't want to be fake. I really want to be kind. It's really hard at times I just want to go out there and put some hurt on people. You know use money to get some "assistance" from old acquaintances or get some of my kids old friends (the ones that are living hard lives now), or just get some pipe, or get armed and go shoot some legs or stab some legs. Ho wa, now that is a sick way to think :-0. My wife always gives me heck, "who in the hell thinks like that". I am not sure I guess lots of people?
So I am going to think about the situation and in the end try to be sincerely kind.
Reserve life is so funny but not really. I guess living in all that social dysfunction over the years does have a compiling negative affect. Hard to be happy in that environment.
The being kind is bothering me quite a bit lately. I made a pledge to help people a number years back. And with the death of my Son, I know that I was leading a life that caused problems. I want to sincerely be nice to people. That is the trouble I am having, trying to think kind. I remember when I was told about Kindness and how it is one strand on the Sweetgrass braid. (I don't know the other strands) And I try to remember about being kind.
My 29 year old daughter is being harassed by some people in the Reserve. Over a guy yet. (Ever sick! :0, a Reserve colloquialism) She has been on the receiving end of harassment and even physical attacks for some time now. And the attacks are coming from both young and older people. She was telling me about the events for some time now. I just told her to ignore them and let it go. Lately it is getting out of control. So I went on spoke to one woman about it. I asked to her to stop. Just like that, no anger involved but concern. I thought it went well. I thought wrong. My girl was attacked by the sister of the lady I spoke with. Thing is I know these women well and am related. The lady who attacked my daughter said I was threatening to shoot her and was going to get her uncle to shoot me. I called my cousin, the Uncle to talk with him to explain myself. He was angry at his nieces and knows me well. So I was tempted to go to the Reserve and speak with the women and the "guy" who started all this trouble. The other thing is why am I getting involved with my adult daughter's problems? I guess that is my being over protective Dad.
I went instead to visit with one of my Teachers. She is great. She told me it is easy to go and "settle things like Fort Alex" (a teasing saying about how things are done in the Reserve, i.e. fight it out :-D ) She told me it is easy to be kind to people you like. "Try being kind to someone you don't like". Being kind to others is the real challenge. She said all you can do is try to be kind to them; give them gifts and if that is not possible say nice things about them if you can. And don't use kindness as a weapon. Like the saying "kill them with kindness". In this manner you are not being kind, you are trying to get at someone using fake kindness. I don't want to be fake. I really want to be kind. It's really hard at times I just want to go out there and put some hurt on people. You know use money to get some "assistance" from old acquaintances or get some of my kids old friends (the ones that are living hard lives now), or just get some pipe, or get armed and go shoot some legs or stab some legs. Ho wa, now that is a sick way to think :-0. My wife always gives me heck, "who in the hell thinks like that". I am not sure I guess lots of people?
So I am going to think about the situation and in the end try to be sincerely kind.
Reserve life is so funny but not really. I guess living in all that social dysfunction over the years does have a compiling negative affect. Hard to be happy in that environment.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Death Clock.
http://deathclock.com/
I went to a funeral parlor the other day. Does anyone still use the word parlor?
It is a sad fact that one hundred percent of us die. That is the truth and no matter how honest you are, that can not be changed.
It is a difficult thing to think about, death. Making arrangements at the time of death is even more difficult. I know that when someone dies, especially those that we love dearly, we want to send them off with as much as we can. That usually means getting the expensive casket. The big array of flowers. The great suit and expensive jewellery. I guess that must have always been the way. People buried with all sorts of treasures.
For me I want nothing but the funeral is a much for the living as it is for the deceased. So I guess some type of service and casket is in order. My Dad is dead set against a casket. He wants to be in blankets and wants to be cremated. If he could have his way, no service. So he has said a one day service. Sounds strange to hear my Dad talk about his wishes at death. But I guess he is being practical.
I spoke to a friend of mine, whose Dad had passed. It was a difficult time to make all the arrangements. Decisions are quick, you don't get a chance to think about the funeral or the wishes of the parent. It is a hard thing.
The other hard thing is that are we inviting death if we talk about it? Do we plan for a service ahead of time and by doing that do we speed up the process?
I hope not, but you never really can know about such things.
So I called Purple Shields (insurance company) to ask about my Dad's policy. They asked me if he had died, I said "no, he's just old". Anyway, my wife didn't think it was that funny. My brother laughed.
I went to a funeral parlor the other day. Does anyone still use the word parlor?
It is a sad fact that one hundred percent of us die. That is the truth and no matter how honest you are, that can not be changed.
It is a difficult thing to think about, death. Making arrangements at the time of death is even more difficult. I know that when someone dies, especially those that we love dearly, we want to send them off with as much as we can. That usually means getting the expensive casket. The big array of flowers. The great suit and expensive jewellery. I guess that must have always been the way. People buried with all sorts of treasures.
For me I want nothing but the funeral is a much for the living as it is for the deceased. So I guess some type of service and casket is in order. My Dad is dead set against a casket. He wants to be in blankets and wants to be cremated. If he could have his way, no service. So he has said a one day service. Sounds strange to hear my Dad talk about his wishes at death. But I guess he is being practical.
I spoke to a friend of mine, whose Dad had passed. It was a difficult time to make all the arrangements. Decisions are quick, you don't get a chance to think about the funeral or the wishes of the parent. It is a hard thing.
The other hard thing is that are we inviting death if we talk about it? Do we plan for a service ahead of time and by doing that do we speed up the process?
I hope not, but you never really can know about such things.
So I called Purple Shields (insurance company) to ask about my Dad's policy. They asked me if he had died, I said "no, he's just old". Anyway, my wife didn't think it was that funny. My brother laughed.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Jesus is killing Indians.
Jesus is Killing Indians. Holy Heck!!! What and awful thing to say! It's blasphemy. I don't believe it is a bad thing to say that Jesus is killing Indians, because it is true. Yes, it is. Before you get all holy roller on me, and sentence me to Hell, let me state the evidence and my reasons.
There are over two billion practicing Christians in the world today and about one and a half billion Muslims. In North America there are approximately five and half million Native people. Not sure of what amount of the four million American Indians, and the one and half million Indians (including Metis) are practicing Indian Spirituality (i.e. Indian Religion, also known as Traditionalists). It is the aim of Jesus to convert people. Christianity has been very successful. We don't know how many Indian people still believe in their OWN way. They have been effectively killed of their own beliefs. Is this a bad thing? Jesus would say no, as according to him, He is "the only way". Christians believe this is their truth and therefore they can get away with anything as long is it in the name of Jesus; conversion, battle, governing, and betrayal.
Christianity is no stranger to killing. From the conversion of the Saxons to the First Crusades against the Turks. In our days [God] has fought through Christian men in Asia against the Turks and in Europe against the Moors.[29] So the evidence and history has been for Jesus, Christians to go to war. Much of wars, pre-industrial age, were savage and bloody. Even though Jesus is not wielding the swords of war himself, his minions are still carrying on the battle in his name. In society today, you can still find Jesus dressing up as a battle warrior or having his name used in battle cries and war groups. Examples include: God's Commando Army; Christian Commandos; The Army of God; Commandos for Christ; etc.
Christianity is very adept at rationalizing the conquest of people: Psalm 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Under various theological and legal doctrines formulated during and after the Crusades, non-Christians were considered enemies of the Catholic faith and, as such, less than human. Accordingly, in the bull of 1452, Pope Nicholas directed King Alfonso to "capture, vanquish, and subdue the saracens, pagans, and other enemies of Christ," to "put them into perpetual slavery," and "to take all their possessions and property." [Davenport: 20-26]
Jesus even has a "law" that allows him to claim land where Indigenous people are living. It is called the: Doctrine of Discovery This law has been used to rationalize the brutal slaying of whole cultures in the name of Jesus. Good stuff that Doctrine, if you want to wash your hands of bloody crimes against other people, of the other God's children. A good cleansing of the fact that in the name of Jesus, people are butchered and displaced. History is filled with accounts of the brutality all in the name of Jesus.
It is well known that the Conquistadors employed despicable methods of torture and de-humanize non-Christians throughout the southern seas. On a daily basis the conquistadors would take one of the local Indigenous folk and chop off their hands for all to see. Well that was way back when and people were brutal everywhere. In even more modern times we have seen the Jesus followers act in suspicious, if not really bad behaviour. Take Nazi Germany and the (attempted)extermination of the Jew.
We know that Jesus is very powerful, no doubt about it. We have Indigenous people all over the world bowing down to his Teachings. I can see the allure to his preachings. It is about the good things, that all of us hope to capture. We even start to use his voice, his language. Hallelujah. Me I don't know but I do like the song by Leonard Cohen (others like the song in the Shrek movie).
Well Jesus is definitely succeeding in his quest to kill all things Indigenous. You have Indian people condemning the non-Christian in their own community. You have Christians running over Sweat Lodges with their trucks. You have Reserves banning the practice of a Sweat Lodge. Our own Reserve has used Jesus to condemn people. A Chief, Ken C., now an Elder, was a very proud Traditionalist. At this election as Chief of our Reserve, some of the Jesus followers started throwing Holy Water on him as he walked into a meeting. Man, that is funny.Many of those Traditionalists that are being attacked will have Sweats Ceremonies honouring Jesus. I know several Elders that will hold a Sweat just for Jesus. The Catholic Priest of Sagkeeng even went Sundance with Deceased Ron Swampy in the Reserve. The Priest and The Sundance Holder were friends. If they can have respect for each other, how come others don't? Are they afraid of someone else's beliefs?
In our Reserve someone even took a shit at the base of the Sundance Tree. Can you imagine that! Oh Well (maano - let it be) all in the name of Jesus.
With this act it demonstrates as Indians, we are shitting on ourselves. This is a direct consequence of Christianity.
http://tulan.net/content/christian-crees-tear-down-sweat-lodge
http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2011/01/17/crees-ban-sweat-lodges-fns-spirituality-from-community/
http://www.rezdude.ca/sweatlodge/aboutsweatlodge.html
There are over two billion practicing Christians in the world today and about one and a half billion Muslims. In North America there are approximately five and half million Native people. Not sure of what amount of the four million American Indians, and the one and half million Indians (including Metis) are practicing Indian Spirituality (i.e. Indian Religion, also known as Traditionalists). It is the aim of Jesus to convert people. Christianity has been very successful. We don't know how many Indian people still believe in their OWN way. They have been effectively killed of their own beliefs. Is this a bad thing? Jesus would say no, as according to him, He is "the only way". Christians believe this is their truth and therefore they can get away with anything as long is it in the name of Jesus; conversion, battle, governing, and betrayal.
Christianity is no stranger to killing. From the conversion of the Saxons to the First Crusades against the Turks. In our days [God] has fought through Christian men in Asia against the Turks and in Europe against the Moors.[29] So the evidence and history has been for Jesus, Christians to go to war. Much of wars, pre-industrial age, were savage and bloody. Even though Jesus is not wielding the swords of war himself, his minions are still carrying on the battle in his name. In society today, you can still find Jesus dressing up as a battle warrior or having his name used in battle cries and war groups. Examples include: God's Commando Army; Christian Commandos; The Army of God; Commandos for Christ; etc.
Christianity is very adept at rationalizing the conquest of people: Psalm 94:16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Under various theological and legal doctrines formulated during and after the Crusades, non-Christians were considered enemies of the Catholic faith and, as such, less than human. Accordingly, in the bull of 1452, Pope Nicholas directed King Alfonso to "capture, vanquish, and subdue the saracens, pagans, and other enemies of Christ," to "put them into perpetual slavery," and "to take all their possessions and property." [Davenport: 20-26]
Jesus even has a "law" that allows him to claim land where Indigenous people are living. It is called the: Doctrine of Discovery This law has been used to rationalize the brutal slaying of whole cultures in the name of Jesus. Good stuff that Doctrine, if you want to wash your hands of bloody crimes against other people, of the other God's children. A good cleansing of the fact that in the name of Jesus, people are butchered and displaced. History is filled with accounts of the brutality all in the name of Jesus.
It is well known that the Conquistadors employed despicable methods of torture and de-humanize non-Christians throughout the southern seas. On a daily basis the conquistadors would take one of the local Indigenous folk and chop off their hands for all to see. Well that was way back when and people were brutal everywhere. In even more modern times we have seen the Jesus followers act in suspicious, if not really bad behaviour. Take Nazi Germany and the (attempted)extermination of the Jew.
Christianity and the Perpetrators
. Almost all perpetrators arose from Christian culture and some of them were devout Christians. For example the commandant of Auschwitz Hoess was a devout Catholic, Tiso the President of Slovakia was a Catholic priest. In many camps the killing was suspended on Sundays, so that the murderers could attend Church services. At no time were the killers censured by the religious authorities or denied the last rites in time of their execution.
A noted theologian, Prof. Littell stated:
Conclusions:Lots of doom against people that are not Jesus followers. It is quite remarkable the amount of destruction Jesus has and is causing. Strange because isn't He the Salvation? I guess if you are not saved you get killed? Killing seems to the be way of the Christian. If they are not killing you literally, than they will kill your Spirit, your way of life, your belief system, and who you are. It is quite ingenious, and cruel. If you can't have the water, then poison the well.
Christianity does not bear a historical responsibility for the Holocaust, but because of the anti-Semitism it fostered, Christianity bears a moral responsibility for the supporting roles or inaction of the Christian population during the Shoah, and for the general indifference and silence of the Christian Churches.
We know that Jesus is very powerful, no doubt about it. We have Indigenous people all over the world bowing down to his Teachings. I can see the allure to his preachings. It is about the good things, that all of us hope to capture. We even start to use his voice, his language. Hallelujah. Me I don't know but I do like the song by Leonard Cohen (others like the song in the Shrek movie).
Well Jesus is definitely succeeding in his quest to kill all things Indigenous. You have Indian people condemning the non-Christian in their own community. You have Christians running over Sweat Lodges with their trucks. You have Reserves banning the practice of a Sweat Lodge. Our own Reserve has used Jesus to condemn people. A Chief, Ken C., now an Elder, was a very proud Traditionalist. At this election as Chief of our Reserve, some of the Jesus followers started throwing Holy Water on him as he walked into a meeting. Man, that is funny.Many of those Traditionalists that are being attacked will have Sweats Ceremonies honouring Jesus. I know several Elders that will hold a Sweat just for Jesus. The Catholic Priest of Sagkeeng even went Sundance with Deceased Ron Swampy in the Reserve. The Priest and The Sundance Holder were friends. If they can have respect for each other, how come others don't? Are they afraid of someone else's beliefs?
In our Reserve someone even took a shit at the base of the Sundance Tree. Can you imagine that! Oh Well (maano - let it be) all in the name of Jesus.
With this act it demonstrates as Indians, we are shitting on ourselves. This is a direct consequence of Christianity.
http://tulan.net/content/christian-crees-tear-down-sweat-lodge
http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2011/01/17/crees-ban-sweat-lodges-fns-spirituality-from-community/
http://www.rezdude.ca/sweatlodge/aboutsweatlodge.html
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Pathway to Decolonization Gathering July 2012 Winnipeg Manitoba
A Gathering will take place in Winnipeg, Manitoba this July. It will be a gathering to have youth enter into an understanding of the Ogichidaa Teachings. Ogichidaakwe and Ogichidaa will be providing Teachings. Elders will provide guidance and Teachings to those taking part. It is in the early stage of being organized but many Elders, Teachers, and Helpers are committed to take part.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pathway-to-Decolonization-Anishinaabe-Teachings-2012-Winnipeg-Manitoba/278979438797405
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pathway-to-Decolonization-Anishinaabe-Teachings-2012-Winnipeg-Manitoba/278979438797405
Hello Folks:
What it will take to make the Gathering happen.
by Ogichidaa Anishinaabe on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 10:21am
First, acknowledge the Creator (God). As always.
Then we have an idea, we take to an Elder for input, guidance and approval.
We need to start engaging people, getting more ideas, dates, places, speakers, helpers, Teachings, themes and organizing strategy. Some prayer and some more thought.
The dull parts: setting dates, securing a place, - done
Getting input and partners, Teachers, Elders, - starting.
Action plan: where are we right now, where do we want to be, how do we get there?
We are at the starting phase. Meeting with the OgichidaaKwe for their Leadership. Seeking ideas, asking for help.
- need 20 youth or adults to participate at a Ceremony - as Learners - to focus on
- need minimum four fire keepers to keep fire going first night second day and night, third day,
- need minimum two cords of chopped wood for fires.
- need Sweat Lodge carriers - for Lodges - first night, - second evening - third day - tarps as well - forks
- need Oskabawis (helpers) for the grounds, the lodges, and the Elders helpers.
- need Teachers - for variety of Teachings - Women's Roles as Ogichidaakew - Men's roles as Ogichidaa, How to recognize colonial thinking, Where to start journey of decolonization, The Lodges - Sundance-SweatLodge, Teaching Lodge,Threats to our identity- our duty to Creator & the People.
-need to have food for the target group, Elders, helpers, -all others fend for themselves.
- need to have cooks,
- need water.
- need Grandfathers for Lodges - minimum 200 (rocks)
- need helpers for grounds at night - to assist youth - campers.
- need financial assistance for travel for Teachers from far away.
- need billeting homes for out of town guests
- need organizer(s)
- need promotional posters of event
- need people to join and commit to the event
- need people to suggest a youth and make them aware
- need youth to commit to being focus target audience
- need gifts for the 20 youth that are being giving Teachings
- need more list of what needs to be done
- Need YOUR HELP
meegwetch
Then we have an idea, we take to an Elder for input, guidance and approval.
We need to start engaging people, getting more ideas, dates, places, speakers, helpers, Teachings, themes and organizing strategy. Some prayer and some more thought.
The dull parts: setting dates, securing a place, - done
Getting input and partners, Teachers, Elders, - starting.
Action plan: where are we right now, where do we want to be, how do we get there?
We are at the starting phase. Meeting with the OgichidaaKwe for their Leadership. Seeking ideas, asking for help.
- need 20 youth or adults to participate at a Ceremony - as Learners - to focus on
- need minimum four fire keepers to keep fire going first night second day and night, third day,
- need minimum two cords of chopped wood for fires.
- need Sweat Lodge carriers - for Lodges - first night, - second evening - third day - tarps as well - forks
- need Oskabawis (helpers) for the grounds, the lodges, and the Elders helpers.
- need Teachers - for variety of Teachings - Women's Roles as Ogichidaakew - Men's roles as Ogichidaa, How to recognize colonial thinking, Where to start journey of decolonization, The Lodges - Sundance-SweatLodge, Teaching Lodge,Threats to our identity- our duty to Creator & the People.
-need to have food for the target group, Elders, helpers, -all others fend for themselves.
- need to have cooks,
- need water.
- need Grandfathers for Lodges - minimum 200 (rocks)
- need helpers for grounds at night - to assist youth - campers.
- need financial assistance for travel for Teachers from far away.
- need billeting homes for out of town guests
- need organizer(s)
- need promotional posters of event
- need people to join and commit to the event
- need people to suggest a youth and make them aware
- need youth to commit to being focus target audience
- need gifts for the 20 youth that are being giving Teachings
- need more list of what needs to be done
- Need YOUR HELP
meegwetch
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Tobasonakwut Peter Kinew Receives Honourary Doctorate
http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/hd-kinew
Honorary Doctorate
Tobasonakwut Kinew
Tobasonakwut Kinew – BA
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Tobasonakwut Kinew is an esteemed member of The University of Winnipeg community in his multiple roles as Elder and Faculty for the Indigenous Governance department and Master’s in Development Practice with a focus on Indigenous Development program.
As a compelling role-model and teacher, Mr. Kinew offers a graduate seminar, Pathways to Indigenous Wisdom, where students have their assumptions and world views challenged and enriched by a deep and complex understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing. By decolonizing the mind, students are open to imagining and, later, implementing governance strategies that are embedded in Indigenous teachings.
Born on a trapline in Lake of the Woods, Mr. Kinew was groomed from an early age by Elders for a political career and before the age of six was taken by an Elder to go on a fast and seek his vision. He is a pipe carrier, a high degree member of the Anishinaabe Mite’iwin, and a Sundancer of many years of both the Anishinaabe and Lakota traditions.
Through his long and varied career, he has instilled pride in his people, respect for all Indigenous peoples and their unique ways of thinking and perceiving the world. His journey has taken him to the Banff Centre for Management, the National Indian Brotherhood which he helped to renew in the 1960s, the Assembly of First Nations, and the International Indigenous Knowledge symposium in New Zealand (2009). He is a founding member of the Native American Academy of Science and was the Elder for the Assembly of First Nations delegation visiting Pope Benedict XVI in April 2009.
Mr. Kinew is described as a man “who can walk in both worlds….who lives his life sharing the Anishinaabe teachings with others, to change the world for the betterment of all peoples,” according to Phil Fontaine, LL.D ’08, former national chief, Assembly of First Nations.Tobasonakwut Kinew works tirelessly to bridge two realities, and leaves everyone he meets richer as a result.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Can anyone answer this question on Status Indian for Me?
You know I was thinking, while in the shower, about the Jay Treaty and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. It is my intention to write the new Grand Chief of AMC about issues. You see I think AMC has become rather slow. Slow, not sloooooooow, in how they are operating. We need AMC to be fast, loud and brash. To be an effective something. As it is we really don't know their function. I assume they are advocacy for Status Indians or political pundits to the main stream audience on Aboriginal affairs, but I don't know me. Okay, I forgot I was thinking about the Jay Treaty and how it refers to Indians. That got me thinking to the whole Status Indian thing. For you out there that don't know, Status is a Canadian definition of who is Indian in Canada and who is not. A good resource for more information on Status refer to Pam Palmater ( an Indian woman who has knowledge about that stuff).
I am thinking about my girl. Her mom is a Metis woman (by the way their family has strong Indian lineage and Metis lineage, stronger than our National Grand Chief and the Grand Chief before him, but that is besides the point? Maybe?). My daughter is classified under the Status Indian as a C62 Indian. In doing this her children (if she marries a non-status) will be non-status (unless I arrange a marriage for her with a Status Indian or she finds one herself).
With my thoughts being all jumbled up I am wondering how this is the case. Yes I know the Status classification system is intended to eliminate who is an Indian over time. Got it. But what of the Indian? Just because we don't fit into the classification system, does that mean we are no longer Indian? And what does that mean about the Treaties? You see with the signing of the Treaties there was no Status system. You were part of the Band/Tribe regardless. Even the "mixed-bloods" were the People. The Status issue came later.
It is a weird thing. How come Canada can become a Nation well after the fact, and be determined a Nation, while the Nations of People in Canada are not allowed to remain Nations? How come other Nations can become Nations. For example Canada has become a Nation of Canadians. The Metis evolved into the Metis Nation. They had customs, culture, governance, roles, uniqueness to their own lives. Same with Indians. But now the Canadian government rules are defining who belongs to what Nation. My daughter is in the Anishinaabe Nation and Sagkeeng Band. Her children (if they are not status) will be what? No longer part of the Anishinaabe Nation or Sagkeeng Band, because of a policy, a law made by Canada? What becomes of their Treaty Rights? Do those Rights, which have nothing to do with Status Law, become extinct? That does not make sense. Do people that are not Status become Metis? When Metis Nations have their own distinct identity? Or do they become Canadians (only)? Why should Treaty Rights end with the end of Status? These are two separate animals. Two separate ideas/concepts and legal entities?
Why is it that Nations can develop over time, but Indian Nations can't? You see Canada is a developing Nation. You have all sorts of mixed-bloods in their Nation, and no one is saying, "well you are no longer in our definition of Canadian, so you are no longer Canadian". The point is that Nations evolve, add subtract, meld with other people, but they still are a Nation. Why are Indians different in that scenario?
Even the United States the biggest "melting pot" is a Nation. They have been a Nation, what 200 years? They change, evolve, add people.
My point is this, the Status thing is not about who is Indian at all, we all know that, it is about good old cash. Canada wants to get out of the Indian business once and for all. Damn if they don't want to look like they are not trying to follow the Canadian Constitution or adhere to the Treaties, but they want out. The way out is to have no Indians. Canada tried in the past; through legislation, enfranchisement, adoption out of the Indian community, and other genocide attempts, like Residential School. But this not what I wanted to understand. I know Canada is doing everything it can to abolish Treaty Rights, I get that.
What I need to understand is why are Nations, allowed to change, develop but yet the identity of the Indian Nation has to remain stagnant, stuck, frozen in time? Was our Nation never going to adapt with time? Yet it is clear we had commerce, trade links, laws, governance, culture, language, spiritual beliefs? Why are our Leaders/political pundits/advocates sitting there, saying "yup, I am Status".
The Status thing makes it seem like we don't know who we are. When I know who my relatives are. I know where my community is. I know who my people are.
I am thinking about my girl. Her mom is a Metis woman (by the way their family has strong Indian lineage and Metis lineage, stronger than our National Grand Chief and the Grand Chief before him, but that is besides the point? Maybe?). My daughter is classified under the Status Indian as a C62 Indian. In doing this her children (if she marries a non-status) will be non-status (unless I arrange a marriage for her with a Status Indian or she finds one herself).
With my thoughts being all jumbled up I am wondering how this is the case. Yes I know the Status classification system is intended to eliminate who is an Indian over time. Got it. But what of the Indian? Just because we don't fit into the classification system, does that mean we are no longer Indian? And what does that mean about the Treaties? You see with the signing of the Treaties there was no Status system. You were part of the Band/Tribe regardless. Even the "mixed-bloods" were the People. The Status issue came later.
It is a weird thing. How come Canada can become a Nation well after the fact, and be determined a Nation, while the Nations of People in Canada are not allowed to remain Nations? How come other Nations can become Nations. For example Canada has become a Nation of Canadians. The Metis evolved into the Metis Nation. They had customs, culture, governance, roles, uniqueness to their own lives. Same with Indians. But now the Canadian government rules are defining who belongs to what Nation. My daughter is in the Anishinaabe Nation and Sagkeeng Band. Her children (if they are not status) will be what? No longer part of the Anishinaabe Nation or Sagkeeng Band, because of a policy, a law made by Canada? What becomes of their Treaty Rights? Do those Rights, which have nothing to do with Status Law, become extinct? That does not make sense. Do people that are not Status become Metis? When Metis Nations have their own distinct identity? Or do they become Canadians (only)? Why should Treaty Rights end with the end of Status? These are two separate animals. Two separate ideas/concepts and legal entities?
Why is it that Nations can develop over time, but Indian Nations can't? You see Canada is a developing Nation. You have all sorts of mixed-bloods in their Nation, and no one is saying, "well you are no longer in our definition of Canadian, so you are no longer Canadian". The point is that Nations evolve, add subtract, meld with other people, but they still are a Nation. Why are Indians different in that scenario?
Even the United States the biggest "melting pot" is a Nation. They have been a Nation, what 200 years? They change, evolve, add people.
My point is this, the Status thing is not about who is Indian at all, we all know that, it is about good old cash. Canada wants to get out of the Indian business once and for all. Damn if they don't want to look like they are not trying to follow the Canadian Constitution or adhere to the Treaties, but they want out. The way out is to have no Indians. Canada tried in the past; through legislation, enfranchisement, adoption out of the Indian community, and other genocide attempts, like Residential School. But this not what I wanted to understand. I know Canada is doing everything it can to abolish Treaty Rights, I get that.
What I need to understand is why are Nations, allowed to change, develop but yet the identity of the Indian Nation has to remain stagnant, stuck, frozen in time? Was our Nation never going to adapt with time? Yet it is clear we had commerce, trade links, laws, governance, culture, language, spiritual beliefs? Why are our Leaders/political pundits/advocates sitting there, saying "yup, I am Status".
The Status thing makes it seem like we don't know who we are. When I know who my relatives are. I know where my community is. I know who my people are.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Isaktewizaagegan no.39 (Shoal Lake) First Nation: ignore them and they will go away.
Isaktewizaagegan Independent First Nation, Box 1, Kijick, Ontario, P0X 1E0, 807-733-2560. iskatweizaagegan@iifn39.ca
The People of Shoal Lake want you to understand what they are speaking about. This week the people walked from their Reserve in Ontario to the Legislative Building in Manitoba.
Here is their statement:
Chief Eli Mandamin Made a statement to the People gathered at the Legislative building.
" I want to begin by acknowledging the children, women, men and Elders our Nation for their strength, perseverance, and belief in our Rights as a people and Nation. This journey has been a heartfelt expression of the commitment and sacrifice our people are prepared to make to insure that justice and fairness are finally achieved...
...Water is the fundamental element of Life in the Universe. When we start our journey from the Spirit World to this Physical World, we must make that journey through the water our women carry in their bodies. During all the time we are in the Physical World we must continue to have that water to keep us alive.
In our culture we hold ceremonies thanking the Spirits of the Water for their continues support of our lives. We have asked the Water Spirit of Shoal Lake for her guidance on how to address this issue of her being taken to provide water to Winnipeg.
Since 1913, she was forcibly removed from her home and made to take a journey to a foreign place to be used by strangers. She wasn't asked if she wanted to come to this place because she his not seen as a living entity who needs to be respected and consulted.
She has reminded us that since the beginning of time her and all of the Life Sustaining Spirits have been here to make sure that us poor pitiful humans have a good life. She also stated that since the arrival of the newcomers they have brought only one thing that is now needed to support human life and that is - shooniya, money, and she said that she could assist us in building our economic capacity to meet our needs.
But her assistance is contingent on her rules. We as humans can never take for granted the gift she gives us. So we are instructed to carry out a yearly cycle of ceremonies to keep ourselves reminded of this gift.
She also said that no one person or family can reap any gains from this effort. That whatever is done, must be done in a way that benefits all of the people now and into the future..."
Councilor Fawn Wapioke also made a statement: "...I want to extend my deep gratitude to the children, women, men and Elders or our nation...
...Women and Water have a fundamental relationship as Life Givers in the Universe. From the time of Creation of First Woman and First Man it has been the Creator's plan that all Female Life will be the ones that insure that the next Generations of their kind successfully enter this Physical World.
Our fundamental relationship as Life Givers is honoured through our Ceremonies, Songs, and Traditions. The Teachings we received as we pass through our various stages of life deepen our understanding our role and responsibility and how Water is an ever present supporter and sustainer of our existence.
The removal of the water from Shoal Lake is an assault on all women. The female spirit of the lake was never consulted, never asked for her permission to be used in such a manner. Her assault is the same assault we have endured when our children were torn from us and taken to Residential Schools; when the Children's Aid Societies stormed into our homes and ripped our children away and when those children were adopted out all over the world with many lost to us forever...
Whenever the word consultation is the principle of free, prior and informed consent. Consent and Choice are Sacred principles in our culture. From the moment a child enters this world they have the power of choice and consent. When our ancestors agreed to negotiate treaties they saw this as a process by which they will make choices and grant consents.
The Spirit of the Lake and our people never the opportunity to consider the choices of how our waters would be used, so we never had the opportunity to gran our combined consent for the uses Winnipeg had in mind...
Our Requests are simple - extend to use the respect and dignity that was not extended to the Spirit of the Lake and our People almost 100 years ago...
There were no Provincial Government officials on hand to meet or listen to the People of Shoal Lake. No Winnipeg officials to listen to the People. No other Leaders of the Treaty One territory where Winnipeg sits on.
The People of Shoal Lake stood almost alone on the steps of the government building. There were some supporters: Chief Terrance Nelson of Roseau River First Nation, Elder Peter Kinew, Chief Ovide Mercerdi of Grand Rapids, Vice Chief Bill Traverse of the Assembly of First Nations.
The Mayor of Winnipeg has said that the Water issue is a provincial issue. The province is not really interested in meeting with Shoal Lake.
Chief Eli Mandamin made a profound statement regarding the absence of Native Leaders, "there are no honourariums here, that is the nature of things these days".
I was saddened and embarrassed that our Leaders chose not to support our relatives from Ontario.
For those of you that do not understand or relate to the Water Teachings that the People of Shoal Lake talked about, maybe you can relate to the documentary: Water.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1195401/water_the_movie_trailer/
For full movie watch over here: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/water-great-mystery/
The Provincial government, the City of Winnipeg, and other Manitoba Native Leaders can try and ignore the People of Shoal Lake. They can hope that Shoal Lake will go away.
Chief Eli Mandamin said it best:
"For 20,000 years we have been an independent and self-sufficient people capable of meeting our needs in harmony with this beautiful territory given to us by the Creator. It has only been in the last 100 years that we have lost our self-sufficiency and independence. That loss has been because of the deliberate laws, policies and regulations passed by the federal and provincial governments in an attempt to eliminate our Rights.
Those Efforts have not been successful. We are Still Here."
The People of Shoal Lake want you to understand what they are speaking about. This week the people walked from their Reserve in Ontario to the Legislative Building in Manitoba.
Here is their statement:
"For the Future: We share this plane and this particular place. Together, we have a reponsibility to enusre that as far as seven generations into the future there is a place of beauty, wonder and sustenance for those who will be here then. We ask that you join us in working together for a common future that benefits everyone. Miigwitch for taking the time to learn about us."
"Our Sacred Responsibility: At the time of Creation it was intended that we should reside in this place - Iskatewizaagegan. Our Teachings, Ceremonies and Experiences are deeply rooted in this place. There is no where that one can travel that you can't find evidence of our existence.
Reaching Mb Legislature
Our life here is guided by the Three Ancient LAWS - 'Manitoo Inakonigewin (Laws of the Creator0; Aki nankonigewin (Laws of the Land)
and Anishinaabe nakonigewin (Laws of the Anishinabe).
We have attempted since the time of the first contact to teach these laws to all of the newcomers who have arrived here since first contact and so once again we are extending this Teaching so that everyone is aware of the positions we take and the reasons for these positions.
We remain hopeful that we can come together as neighbours, as governments, and as people united by the beauty and wonder of this territory.
All We have asked for is respect for our Way of Life, the Treaty and our Rightful Place for our full participation in the growth and development of this territory."
"Our Shared History: Our Ancestors signed Treaty #3 in 1873 with your Crown and almost immediately a huge disagreement began over the terms and conditions of that Treaty. The written version that we received from Ottawa does not reflect our understanding of the terms and conditions. Our understanding is reflected in what is known as the "Paypom Version" based on the notes take by our interpreters.
To our ancestors, the term Treaty means - "Tibaaimatiwn" and means the following: Tibaa: means a measure of payment in exchange for goods for something of equal value, currency and trade goods, etc. (compensation). Ima: means a place or the present right now, today. Tiwin: means the way in which business is conducted. Contractual arrangement with specific terms and conditions and to undertake a certain activity with time frames.
Manitoba Colours
Thus the term "treaty" means annuities in exchange for granting the privilege of a right of passage to travel through the Anishinaabe Territory. There are two of these "travel corridors", one is the old Dawson Trail and the other is what has become Highway 17 - or the Trans-Canada.
Along with the permission to pass through our territory our ancestors set other conditions, especially on the acts of prospecting and exploration. That condition is simple, non-Anishinaabe were given permission to do these activities, and, if they found anything of value then they were to report to the Chiefs and Talks would begin about how to share the discoveries.
There is much more but these are two of the most important conditions concerning the issues facing us today.
We are not opposed to development and growth, but first and foremost it must honour and address the laws, traditions, and customs that we live by and govern human activity in this beautiful land."
The issues: Highway 17 Twinning. We have three concerns that we have talbed with the Province of Ontario regarding the twinning of Highway 17. That dips threaten a significant cultural area for our people and continues to infringe and erode our Aboriginal and Treaty Rights.
We have asked that the dip be moved more northerly and were told by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) that it could not be done because the development of Royal Lake Resort had spent a lot of money improving their SEPTIC fields and there was no way not to impact those fields.
Quite Bluntly - this means MTO values a septic field more than our Anishinaabe cutural areas. This is Completely unacceptable to us!
Shoal Lake Flooding and Water Taking: Shoal Lake is constantly flooded by Lake fo the Woods water to provide water to Winnipeg. Winnipeg has been taking this water since 1913 without compensating our Nation.
In the almost 100 years of this theft we have lost wild rice fields, lost acres of shoreline and lost the economic foundations of our Way of Life.
Opening up the Water We have tabled a request for compensation in the amount of $124 million dollars a year. Dollars which are needed to strengthen our school, health facilities, housing and provide for economic opportunities for our People."
Still on Trans Canada in Winnipeg
 |
| Proud Isaktewizaagengan Anishinaabe |
 |
| Walking |
 |
| ON the Steps of the Legislative |
 |
| Winnipeg & Manitoba is not being Fair |
 |
| Youth in Action |
 |
| Youth Councillor, and Water Keeper |
 |
| Flags |
 |
| Chief Ovide Mercerdi |
Chief Eli Mandamin Made a statement to the People gathered at the Legislative building.
" I want to begin by acknowledging the children, women, men and Elders our Nation for their strength, perseverance, and belief in our Rights as a people and Nation. This journey has been a heartfelt expression of the commitment and sacrifice our people are prepared to make to insure that justice and fairness are finally achieved...
...Water is the fundamental element of Life in the Universe. When we start our journey from the Spirit World to this Physical World, we must make that journey through the water our women carry in their bodies. During all the time we are in the Physical World we must continue to have that water to keep us alive.
In our culture we hold ceremonies thanking the Spirits of the Water for their continues support of our lives. We have asked the Water Spirit of Shoal Lake for her guidance on how to address this issue of her being taken to provide water to Winnipeg.
Since 1913, she was forcibly removed from her home and made to take a journey to a foreign place to be used by strangers. She wasn't asked if she wanted to come to this place because she his not seen as a living entity who needs to be respected and consulted.
She has reminded us that since the beginning of time her and all of the Life Sustaining Spirits have been here to make sure that us poor pitiful humans have a good life. She also stated that since the arrival of the newcomers they have brought only one thing that is now needed to support human life and that is - shooniya, money, and she said that she could assist us in building our economic capacity to meet our needs.
But her assistance is contingent on her rules. We as humans can never take for granted the gift she gives us. So we are instructed to carry out a yearly cycle of ceremonies to keep ourselves reminded of this gift.
She also said that no one person or family can reap any gains from this effort. That whatever is done, must be done in a way that benefits all of the people now and into the future..."
 |
| Councilor Fawn Wapioke |
 |
| Chief Terrance Nelson |
Councilor Fawn Wapioke also made a statement: "...I want to extend my deep gratitude to the children, women, men and Elders or our nation...
...Women and Water have a fundamental relationship as Life Givers in the Universe. From the time of Creation of First Woman and First Man it has been the Creator's plan that all Female Life will be the ones that insure that the next Generations of their kind successfully enter this Physical World.
Our fundamental relationship as Life Givers is honoured through our Ceremonies, Songs, and Traditions. The Teachings we received as we pass through our various stages of life deepen our understanding our role and responsibility and how Water is an ever present supporter and sustainer of our existence.
The removal of the water from Shoal Lake is an assault on all women. The female spirit of the lake was never consulted, never asked for her permission to be used in such a manner. Her assault is the same assault we have endured when our children were torn from us and taken to Residential Schools; when the Children's Aid Societies stormed into our homes and ripped our children away and when those children were adopted out all over the world with many lost to us forever...
Whenever the word consultation is the principle of free, prior and informed consent. Consent and Choice are Sacred principles in our culture. From the moment a child enters this world they have the power of choice and consent. When our ancestors agreed to negotiate treaties they saw this as a process by which they will make choices and grant consents.
The Spirit of the Lake and our people never the opportunity to consider the choices of how our waters would be used, so we never had the opportunity to gran our combined consent for the uses Winnipeg had in mind...
Our Requests are simple - extend to use the respect and dignity that was not extended to the Spirit of the Lake and our People almost 100 years ago...
 |
| Fighter Jet flies by a number of times. |
 |
| Chief Eli Manitoba |
 |
| Councilor Fawn Wapioke |
 |
| Shoal Lake 39 |
 |
| AFN Vice-Chief Bill Travers, Elder Peter Kinew, Elder Frank Greene |
 |
| Drum Carrier |
 |
| Donald Courchene, Terrance Nelson, Bill Traverse |
 |
| Arriving at the Legislature |
 |
| We made the Walk from Ontario to Manitoba |
There were no Provincial Government officials on hand to meet or listen to the People of Shoal Lake. No Winnipeg officials to listen to the People. No other Leaders of the Treaty One territory where Winnipeg sits on.
The People of Shoal Lake stood almost alone on the steps of the government building. There were some supporters: Chief Terrance Nelson of Roseau River First Nation, Elder Peter Kinew, Chief Ovide Mercerdi of Grand Rapids, Vice Chief Bill Traverse of the Assembly of First Nations.
The Mayor of Winnipeg has said that the Water issue is a provincial issue. The province is not really interested in meeting with Shoal Lake.
Chief Eli Mandamin made a profound statement regarding the absence of Native Leaders, "there are no honourariums here, that is the nature of things these days".
I was saddened and embarrassed that our Leaders chose not to support our relatives from Ontario.
For those of you that do not understand or relate to the Water Teachings that the People of Shoal Lake talked about, maybe you can relate to the documentary: Water.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1195401/water_the_movie_trailer/
For full movie watch over here: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/water-great-mystery/
The Provincial government, the City of Winnipeg, and other Manitoba Native Leaders can try and ignore the People of Shoal Lake. They can hope that Shoal Lake will go away.
Chief Eli Mandamin said it best:
"For 20,000 years we have been an independent and self-sufficient people capable of meeting our needs in harmony with this beautiful territory given to us by the Creator. It has only been in the last 100 years that we have lost our self-sufficiency and independence. That loss has been because of the deliberate laws, policies and regulations passed by the federal and provincial governments in an attempt to eliminate our Rights.
Those Efforts have not been successful. We are Still Here."
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