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Totally OT...Our National Day Today - Thoughts..

[Experienced]

Please stop here if you don't care....

Here are my thoughts...

Before proceeding, by way of background and without going into detail,  during my work life in various capacities before I retired I had the opportunity to deal with many people who had actually attended Residential Schools and had meetings with Indian Chiefs in former Residential Schools. Due to this I have strong views about the subject since I have an insight that few Canadians have - not because of neglect but just that I had had a unique opportunity in my life.

Most of these Chiefs are now Elders in their communities and I have kept contact with some of them over the years.  I took the opportunity today to talk to a few of them and compare views of what today meant.

Many of these Elders shared my view that giving Canadians a Federal Holiday and in a number of provinces, a provincial holiday was nothing short of a joke.  What they wanted was not a stage for Trudeau but rather a day where kids across the country could actually learn about Canadian history regarding aboriginal peoples - something that is clearly missing in our schools.  What they want is more in the school curriculum that talks about the contribution that aboriginal peoples made to Canada.  They also want more about past Government policy dating back to the original Indian Act of 1872 which basically had the intent of destroying aboriginal culture and language, Residential Schools being part of that Government policy aided and abetted by the Churches, mainly the Catholic Church.

They also want money to be refocussed towards their own children to expand the use of their aboriginal languages and cultural norms and family structures so that their youth can be Canadians but also proud of their history and to be able to maintain that cultural diversity within Canada.

All of them considered Trudeau's actions and speeches as nothing more than hollow political theatre.

[ilvmyt5s]

It's also good to see the chiefs and the elders become a part of the ruling class in Canada now. They own most of the casinos and profit off of cigarettes and liquor sales in the reserves. Now their children get a million dollars when they are born. 

[ilvmyt5s]

They should teach more about the role of native tribes in the founding of Canada. It was mostly about the British and the French that was taught. The role of Tecumseh was not really covered. Tecumseh was a major contributor to the founding of Canada by supplying the British with Native regimental support in 1812.

[Chad123]

Agree. Of all things the abusers got a day off work with pay. That's the way I see it and it is a mockery to the indigenous folk.