"Canada has a long and terrible history when it comes to Indigenous peoples," Justin Trudeau says. "We have consistently failed as a country to live up to the original spirit and intent of the treaties. We have not treated the Indigenous peoples as partners and stewards of this land. We have marginalized and behaved in paternalistic, colonialistic (is this even a word?) ways that has lacked respect of the First Peoples as stewards of the land. We have much to apologize for and much to work forward on together in respect."
Three things:
1. Canada is a country, it is merely a place; a chunk of land that wouldn't have a name if someone hadn't given it one. It doesn't have a brain and it need not apologize.
2. Canadians are the people who live in the provinces of the country of Canada. We are smart and we are diverse; the French language and maple syrup don't define us as a country or Canadians.
3. The Canadian government is merely an entity, NOT Canada in its entirety. The Canadian government is only the managing body of this chunk of land called Canada, mandated to manage on behalf of Canadian citizens.
When you say "Canada" has failed the First Peoples', that "Canada" has a lot to work toward, you are misrepresenting our country and Canadians on the whole by placing blame and shame on all Canadian citizens.
The majority of Canadian citizens had nothing to do with the decolonization, genocide or the treatment of Indigenous peoples. Neither did we develop, write, implement or sign off on any treaties.
"We" have not consistently failed as a "country," it is the government that has consistently failed, a government that makes independent decisions of all of the Canadian citizens that have supported it.
Going forward, sir, it would do you wise, when you attempt your syrupy, half-hearted apologies to please be conscious and place the blame where it truly belongs, within the government, not on your citizens' shoulders.
By encompassing all Canadian citizens in your antagonistic apologies, it creates dissension, misunderstanding, racism and resentfulness within the collective consciousness of all Canadian citizens.
It makes Canada and Canadian citizens appear dysfunctional and weak to International onlookers.
My letter to the world? Canadian citizens and Canada as a country do not accept the blame being placed upon us or accept ownership of the wrongs of a government that has historically and consistently mismanaged its affairs and the Canadian citizens in our country.
My letter to Canadian citizens?
Stop supporting a government that doesn't support all of its citizens; a government that believes it is Canada and projects blame onto us. It is not Canada, we are. Its job is to fairly manage and represent and it surely does not.
Stop voting and believing in a carrot that dangles in front of your face; commonly referred to as democracy or civic/social services and that "what your country can do for you" warrants your subservience, your blind-eye and the biting of your tongues.
Stop believing that voting is the one true way to democracy. Voting is a political constraint that is rigged and it always has been. It is a political mind game.
Stop believing a representative democracy is better than a direct democracy and that a direct democracy is unattainable on a large scale.
Do your homework. The First Peoples of Canada have never operated on a voting system and survived quite nicely until the settlers arrived. Their politics consisted of communication and respect among all the communities and their citizens.
Remember that we have a voice, that collectively it is strong, can be heard loud and clear and will evoke genuine change to create a country that overflows with abundance, respect, acceptance and pride.
Realize that you, we, are all independent of the government.
Realize there is a time for civil disobedience, like we're seeing now over the pipeline. It is a peaceful and passive disobedience and it will prove fruitful but it won't be enough to evoke change in the entire country.
Realize there's also a time for civil unrest, for a citizen uprising, when we all stand peacefully, passively and strategically in togetherness, in solidarity, and demand a true democracy that works for us, for this chunk of land we all call home, despite any threats or revocations of a blameless and thoughtless government.
Realize that in order for things to stay the same, they have to change.
When Canadian citizens finally stand and build a united front that is independent of the government or its current, corrupt voting system and demand our collective voice be heard, it is then and only then that we will realize a true democracy with a government that communicates with and offers its citizens as much support and respect as they want in return.
Take heed, learn from, stand with and mimic the actions of Canadian Indigenous peoples - they are a team, they know how to make change because they know there is no gain with no self-sacrificing pain.
We are not weak. We are not hopeless or helpless, but I would argue the government surely would be, should we all open our eyes, raise our heads and our voices, dig in our heels and take action on one platform rather than whine and accomplish nothing on the many.
Kind regards, mussi cho. Tired of the moaning, victim mentality and lack of action.Kelly Little
Prince George
