Aboriginal Solutions Begin With Respect
Published in The Daily Courier
January 31, 2013 |
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As I followed the events of Idle No More, I reflected on our nation's history and the impact of a legacy of discrimination that has transcended generations of indigenous people.
For me, this resonated with my family's history - with my Chinese relatives subjected to a head tax, with my Canadian-born grandfather volunteering to serve Canada during the Second World War when he wasn't recognized as a citizen, and with relatives denied the right to vote until 1947 because of their race.
My childhood was coloured with stories of personal attacks, bullying and threats against my relatives (and me) - simply because they were Chinese. As difficult as these situations were, the mistreatment of Canada's native populations is even more complex and systemic.
Recent events have propelled First Nations issues to the top of the national agenda and captured the challenges and opportunities that face all of us. These issues around rights and titles have roots as early as 1763 when the Crown first recognized them. It has taken 250 years to get here, and there are no quick fixes.
As we move forward to address First Nations issues, it is my hope the full range of voices and stakeholders be engaged. Through respectful and open dialogue, no matter how difficult or contentious nor how long it takes, these conversations are critical to progress.
It is also important to understand, appreciate, respect and recognize the root of aboriginal perspectives and needs.
I am deeply appreciative of aboriginal and non-aboriginal leaders who assume roles of such immense responsibility. The leadership and relationships needed to address these complex issues requires trust between parties.
This trust takes time, intention and commitment to sustain and will not come easily. We need to acknowledge the challenges of trust given the creation of reserves, residential schools and the legacy of dependence resulting from government policy.
When Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with chiefs on Jan. 11, not all chiefs supported the meeting. Critics sought to minimize agreement among First Nations on fundamental issues and highlighted divisions - demanding consensus as a requirement to moving forward.
First Nations are not a monolith - and to expect a single voice on all issues is unreasonable.
It is important to recognize the enduring solutions are not all financial in nature.
As a school trustee, I am acutely aware of the power of education. Our great opportunity is to support aboriginal youth to pursue education that incorporates and values traditional teachings and prepares future generations to succeed. But this is not a one-way street. It is also important that non-native students learn more about the aboriginal experience and the historical roots of today's challenges.
I expect the best decisions for First Nations will be made through self-governance that is committed to their communities' best interests. The achievements of the Westbank First Nation reinforce this.
The WFN has chosen its path to economic sustainability, but for bands in more remote or rural locations, access to resources, other than land, is critically important to making decisions that envision a more stable future.
We often look to native and non-native leaders to find our way on these issues. In keeping with Canada's commitment to diversity, there are powerful choices we can make to create a culture of respect, acceptance and understanding.
This is our great national challenge. We are all part of the solution. We must enter into a more informed and compassionate public dialogue if we desire a different relationship between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people.
It is our personal responsibility to choose how we will contribute to creating a more respectful and more sustainable future.
For me, this resonated with my family's history - with my Chinese relatives subjected to a head tax, with my Canadian-born grandfather volunteering to serve Canada during the Second World War when he wasn't recognized as a citizen, and with relatives denied the right to vote until 1947 because of their race.
My childhood was coloured with stories of personal attacks, bullying and threats against my relatives (and me) - simply because they were Chinese. As difficult as these situations were, the mistreatment of Canada's native populations is even more complex and systemic.
Recent events have propelled First Nations issues to the top of the national agenda and captured the challenges and opportunities that face all of us. These issues around rights and titles have roots as early as 1763 when the Crown first recognized them. It has taken 250 years to get here, and there are no quick fixes.
As we move forward to address First Nations issues, it is my hope the full range of voices and stakeholders be engaged. Through respectful and open dialogue, no matter how difficult or contentious nor how long it takes, these conversations are critical to progress.
It is also important to understand, appreciate, respect and recognize the root of aboriginal perspectives and needs.
I am deeply appreciative of aboriginal and non-aboriginal leaders who assume roles of such immense responsibility. The leadership and relationships needed to address these complex issues requires trust between parties.
This trust takes time, intention and commitment to sustain and will not come easily. We need to acknowledge the challenges of trust given the creation of reserves, residential schools and the legacy of dependence resulting from government policy.
When Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with chiefs on Jan. 11, not all chiefs supported the meeting. Critics sought to minimize agreement among First Nations on fundamental issues and highlighted divisions - demanding consensus as a requirement to moving forward.
First Nations are not a monolith - and to expect a single voice on all issues is unreasonable.
It is important to recognize the enduring solutions are not all financial in nature.
As a school trustee, I am acutely aware of the power of education. Our great opportunity is to support aboriginal youth to pursue education that incorporates and values traditional teachings and prepares future generations to succeed. But this is not a one-way street. It is also important that non-native students learn more about the aboriginal experience and the historical roots of today's challenges.
I expect the best decisions for First Nations will be made through self-governance that is committed to their communities' best interests. The achievements of the Westbank First Nation reinforce this.
The WFN has chosen its path to economic sustainability, but for bands in more remote or rural locations, access to resources, other than land, is critically important to making decisions that envision a more stable future.
We often look to native and non-native leaders to find our way on these issues. In keeping with Canada's commitment to diversity, there are powerful choices we can make to create a culture of respect, acceptance and understanding.
This is our great national challenge. We are all part of the solution. We must enter into a more informed and compassionate public dialogue if we desire a different relationship between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people.
It is our personal responsibility to choose how we will contribute to creating a more respectful and more sustainable future.