Ambivalent
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Hey, Louis -
In 10 minutes (here in Canada): it's "National Aboriginal Day" - the day we celebrate the contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people who first lived in this land - and who generously shared this land with those of us of European and other ancestries who came to North America, much, much, later.
It has not been an easy history. The Aboriginal people were good to us - but we were not always so good to them. There is a long, bad, story to be told, about the way that First Nations and Inuit people (and sometimes the Metis people, too) were:
*Pushed aside - with the First Nations people, especially, being pushed onto reservations;
*Disrespected - so that traditional beliefs and cultures were looked down upon;
*Emotionally and culturally destroyed - especially (here in Canada) through residential schools, so that children were taken from their parents, forced to give up their original languages, and estranged from their family and friends.
All of this has led to a legacy of tragedy, heartache, poverty, and abuse. It is only in the last few years that people have begun to wake up to all the destruction which was wrought upon the first peoples of this land - and begun to listen a little - and to learn (a little) how much we all have to learn from First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. Respect for elders and for outsiders; love for family; a belief in sharing and consensus in decision-making; and a desire to live in harmony with the natural world. . . these are hallmarks of the many diverse cultures of the people who inhabited North America, before we did. And people like me, have a lot to learn, from these values.
Though it is only the beginning, I am glad that we are finally beginning to understand the wrongs that have been done to the first inhabitants of this continent, and to celebrate the goodness and wisdom that are intrinsically a part of Aboriginal cultures - and that always were, long before the Europeans came.
It is astounding to me that, despite all the wrongs that have been wrought upon First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people, they have continued to try so hard, and live in such goodwill with US. SO that, in Canada, we have had:
*Great war heroes, like Tommy Prince: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Prince
*Great northern guardians, like the Inuit and First Nations people who watch over Canada's arctic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Rangers
*Great clergymen and linguists and educators, like Henry Budd: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Budd
*Great artists like Norval Morrisseau: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norval_Morrisseau
*Great musicians like Buffy Sainte-Marie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_Sainte-Marie
*And inspiring and wonderful movie-stars, like Adam Beach: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Beach
These are all people who inspire me, and give me hope - just like you do. It is high time that all of us celebrate the accomplishments of Native-Canadians, and Native-Americans, in making life in North America the beautiful thing it has sometimes come to be. . . despite all the persecution, and despite all the odds.
And, because you are an ELDER (I say this with all respect, and you know what I mean): I hope that your example, and the example of others like you, will help EVERYONE to realize that we all live in the circle, and must always do our best to listen to each other, and learn from each other, and make life a little better, for each other.
Love (and very humbly, 'Meegwetch') your friend,
"A" XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xMGmaR9VAs
In 10 minutes (here in Canada): it's "National Aboriginal Day" - the day we celebrate the contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people who first lived in this land - and who generously shared this land with those of us of European and other ancestries who came to North America, much, much, later.
It has not been an easy history. The Aboriginal people were good to us - but we were not always so good to them. There is a long, bad, story to be told, about the way that First Nations and Inuit people (and sometimes the Metis people, too) were:
*Pushed aside - with the First Nations people, especially, being pushed onto reservations;
*Disrespected - so that traditional beliefs and cultures were looked down upon;
*Emotionally and culturally destroyed - especially (here in Canada) through residential schools, so that children were taken from their parents, forced to give up their original languages, and estranged from their family and friends.
All of this has led to a legacy of tragedy, heartache, poverty, and abuse. It is only in the last few years that people have begun to wake up to all the destruction which was wrought upon the first peoples of this land - and begun to listen a little - and to learn (a little) how much we all have to learn from First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. Respect for elders and for outsiders; love for family; a belief in sharing and consensus in decision-making; and a desire to live in harmony with the natural world. . . these are hallmarks of the many diverse cultures of the people who inhabited North America, before we did. And people like me, have a lot to learn, from these values.
Though it is only the beginning, I am glad that we are finally beginning to understand the wrongs that have been done to the first inhabitants of this continent, and to celebrate the goodness and wisdom that are intrinsically a part of Aboriginal cultures - and that always were, long before the Europeans came.
It is astounding to me that, despite all the wrongs that have been wrought upon First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people, they have continued to try so hard, and live in such goodwill with US. SO that, in Canada, we have had:
*Great war heroes, like Tommy Prince: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Prince
*Great northern guardians, like the Inuit and First Nations people who watch over Canada's arctic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Rangers
*Great clergymen and linguists and educators, like Henry Budd: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Budd
*Great artists like Norval Morrisseau: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norval_Morrisseau
*Great musicians like Buffy Sainte-Marie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_Sainte-Marie
*And inspiring and wonderful movie-stars, like Adam Beach: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Beach
These are all people who inspire me, and give me hope - just like you do. It is high time that all of us celebrate the accomplishments of Native-Canadians, and Native-Americans, in making life in North America the beautiful thing it has sometimes come to be. . . despite all the persecution, and despite all the odds.
And, because you are an ELDER (I say this with all respect, and you know what I mean): I hope that your example, and the example of others like you, will help EVERYONE to realize that we all live in the circle, and must always do our best to listen to each other, and learn from each other, and make life a little better, for each other.
Love (and very humbly, 'Meegwetch') your friend,
"A" XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xMGmaR9VAs