I am a very Proud Indian, First Nations, Aboriginal, Indigenous Canadian
I am very Proud of the Country we call home, "Canada", on the World stage, a Country that truly represents on that World stage.
Respectfully in good conscious, I cannot celebrate Canada's 150th existence as a Country, without acknowledging the 150th anniversary of the "Indian Act". A piece of Legislation that dates the birth of this Country. Legislation with its #Understanding, was supposed to deal with the "Indian Question" over the last 150 years. Work and Progress has been very slow in dealing with the "Indian Act" and/or the "Indian Question" over the last 150 years. Some people would say substantial progress has been made over the years, Indigenous Canadians would beg to differ. A prime example; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Government most recently could not even positively vote on changing sexual bias amendments to the "Indian Act", without the "Fear" of having to deal with the "Indian Act" once and for all. Another prime example; Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Government, could not even positively support the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples, again without the "Fear" of having to deal with the "Indian Act" once and for all.
I am a protege of the late Grand Chief George Manuel, and late Grand Chief Phillip Paul (Uncle), Indigenous individuals and leaders among many other Indigenous peoples, who worked tirelessly with due diligence, passion and commitment, to try to positively resolve the many issues of the "Indian Act" and/or the "Indian Question". They tried to reach and achieve a Positive Relationship of #Understanding and Well-being for all People of Canada, so we can have true peace and harmony in this Country for every Canadian. On this day of July 1st, 2017, Canada Day 150, can we all say the "Indian Question" has truly been dealt with as a whole, "No we honestly cannot".
Mr.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the late Chief Joseph said it well, and I will let his words define our present position today related to the "Indian Act" and/or the "Indian Question";
Good words do not last
long unless they amount to something. Words do not pay for our dead people.
They do not pay for our lands (Indian Reserves), now overrun by bureaucracy.
They do not protect our Grandfathers and Grandmothers graves. They do not pay for
our way of life. Good words cannot give back our children lost from the
Residential schools. Good words will not give our people good health and stop
them from dying. Good words will not get our people a home where they can live
in peace and take care of themselves, and good words do not provide clean
running water. We are tired of talk that
comes to nothing. It makes our heart sick when we remember all the good words
and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no
right to talk. Words from Chief Joseph
At the beginning I said I am a very proud Indigenous Canadian, and as a very proud Indigenous Canadian, I am very proud to be apart of a very multicultural Canadian Family of all Canadian Citizens that make up this Country called Canada. The beauty of Canada, is that it is my "Human Right" as an Indigenous Canadian to disagree with my Family. We all know from time to time family will disagree with each other, and even fight to prove themselves right. But as a family we all come together and unite when there is a crisis. Like some African and South American Countries, there is a legitimate Crisis in Indigenous Country right here in Canada. Poverty, Sickness (death), Suicide, lack of true Education, and clean running water, are just some examples of many, that run rampant in most Indigenous Communities right here in Canada. But as a proud Canadian Society, the rest of the World does not partake in this knowledge and Understanding, because of the embarrassment it could and would lead too. "Understanding" is the key word here, #Understanding of the "Indian Act" and/or the "Indian Question", #Understanding Indigenous history and well-being. #Understanding of why Indigenous People are so troubled (Residential Schools) in a viable financial Country as Canada on the World stage. Indigenous People will always fight and will continue to fight until this #Understanding is in place, and dealt with in a positive constructive manner, and not just with Good Words, but dealt with once and for all. 150 years is far too long, it is time to deal with the "Indian Act" and/or the "Indian Questions" once and for all. This will create a positive "RELATIONSHIP", and as a proud Indigenous Canadian, that is my commitment. "Happy Canada Day" to all Canadians my beautiful family, lets make the next 150 years one of #Understanding and commitment to truly create a positive relationship once and for all. RESPECTFULLY YOURS PETER LEECH
