Re: Editorial titled Names matter
Never will I show, or speak of with shame or disdain or disrespect or disregard as though the word "Indian" is some kind of dirty word.
A lot of us would know why the word Indian was attached to a sports team rodeo competition, musical band, race horses bear names with "Indian" description to their names and bloodlines.
Many beautiful geographical locations in Canada and the U.S. bear the name "Indian" in front or behind the sharing name, because there is beauty in the name. Beauty, power, capability, intelligence and purpose loyalty.
"Indian" soldiers who willingly left our country with that title including their band name.
They left to defend of the people of Canada and our American neighbours to the south. When things began to run for the better American Natives came to our province to provoke further dissension in troubled areas. That the kind we don't want.
My great aunt lost three of her half-Indian sons on three naval ships in the Second World War. They volunteered.
I think reconciliation that the editorial speaks of has come for and will continue to do so as long as narrow thinking does not overcome common sense.
Allan Rock's last words spoken before he left for the United Nations (at that time) were and now the social reconstruction of Canadians shall begin, and there is evidence of that. In other words we will be retrained to be perfect, and very controllable.
We of the west have countries that are highly coveted by very dangerous and aggressive countries. They say, it will one day be all ours. If that ever happens, they will not treat any of us so well, especially women.
If The Citizen will not print this letter I have lost some of my freedom and our freedoms are being threatened from within and with out of our country very subtly so.
As a kid I well remember haying time on the big W.M Ranch here, (now partially the Huble Farm) Our Indian friends from Summit Lake would come to help hay. Us kids looked more forward to them coming than Santa Claus, with their sense of humour and hard working habits, always including us kids in pranks. Then came the beauty of voice and guitar, fiddle playing, etc. which warmed the end of the day after a good meal.
One gentleman said, as he aged, "They can say what they want, First Nations, Native and I can respect that, but me, I'll always be just a good old Indian" and he was until he died, a highly respected man and well loved.
If "Indian" is a "lesser or slang word" in its long history it has been made so by neutered thinking and fear. With the Cleveland Indians the name is distinct.
Chief Wahoo with a feather sticking out of the back of his head is simply art and I have seen Indians look just like that through out history.
We see Indian characters big and small with feathers sticking out here or there, meant to give us a laugh or two just as other nationalities do.
There are areas where it should be "lightened up on."
Many left this country with the "Indian Heart" to fight a war that would have destroyed us. You don't demand respect you earn it and I see many young Natives doing just that.
Shirley Ballum
Prince George
