Ed, the Native Canadian leadership has been a political debacle for many years before Teresa's stage appearance. To think otherwise is to ignore the Number Treaties and the concomitant fallout. ollaimh's remark about traditional chiefs is accurate, although that in itself provides no relief to Native communities. One has but to look at Assumption--a Slavey reserve in Alberta's north--to see the truth in that.
BTW, ollaimh, I apologize for my earlier remark about being here on Mudcat for longer than you. I wasn't.
Ed: I'm aware that most Canucks are POed at Chief Spence's hunger fast. What most folks don't know is that fish broth was a food people ate when absolutely necessary.
1) It tastes like shit
2) It has little nutrition in it
3) It was only ever eaten in hunger times
I think too many people--mostly non-Native people are disappointed that she didn't die, like somehow that would have validated what she did. What she did was validated and supported when five Mohawk women from Kahnawake went to pass on their hands, hearts and souls.
As a White with a half Indian family, I do not give a rat's ass what Canadians think. In fact, we wouldn't care what people think about us if we knew how seldom they did.
I appreciate your views because you are a smart man with well-considered views. I'm fortunate to have people like you in my life. Yes, we argue, but when tomorrow comes we will awake to a new sunrise and a new day.
Liz doesn't need to be patronized. She is a tough cookie with a great heart. I argue with her more than with anyone else here. She is squaky, loud and sometimes a pain, but after reading and sometime re- and re-reading her posts it's easy for me to see she means it and will stand up to anyone about what she thinks deserves redress.
gnu has history with Native peoples in New Brunswick, and he don't take shit from no one. He also has a heart bigger'n Alberta and a sense of humour that George Burns would have lit a cigar for.
ollaimh is adamant and dedicated to the cause of justice as it pertains to people--but specifically Indian people. He has spoken of the Clearances and I think the Famine, and of course the Residential school system which was and is a national disgrace in Canada.
Fact is, we all are not that far apart. It's just a matter of calm and peace, because we all know war just let's ya know who won, not who was right.
I neglected to mention you, Ed. I think you're brilliant both for your verve and your patience. You remind me of John on the Sunset Coast. I think it may be because of the oceans you live next to, because you know that for every wave that goes out another comes in.
OK, enough stuff from me.
Bruce Murdoch
Personal attacks edited out just now may make some of this exposition a bit vague. Best to let those bits go and move on in a productive direction. --mudelf