Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-02-06, Page 54 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesda , Februar 6, 2013 opinion www.lakeshoreadvance.com t�lieahare Advaneo PUBLISHED WEEKLY P.O.BOX 1195 58 Ontario St., North Grand Bend ON NOM 1TO phone: 519-238-5383 fax: 519-238-5131 email: lakeshore.advance©sunmedia.ca SUN MEDIA A Quebecor Media Company NEIL CLIFFORD Publisher/ Advertising Manager neil.cliffordOsunntedia.ca LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY Editor Iiakesi)oro,adVanceirOsllniondla ca MARK STEPHEN Advertising Sales mark .stophonrcDsunmodia.ca JULIE HARRISON TyposottinglClassitiods lakoshore.adsOsunmedia.ca www,lakeshoreadvance.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES ADVANCE: Regular S42 Go (11) 1)4) ' 1)ll (is I) Online subscriptions available same rates Publications Mall Agreement No 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVEI4AB( E GANADIAN ADDRESSES 11) LAKESHORE ADVANCE CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT PO Box 1195 58 Ontario S1 North Grand Bend ON NOM 110 For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: phone: 519.238.5383 e•mall. Lakeshore advanco*sunmodia ca Changes of address, orders for subscriptions, and undelNerable copier (return postage guaranteed) aro to bo sent to 1 akeslxwoAdvance at the address indicated hero. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of n typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertise• meat will bo paid at the applicable rates. We acknowledge the financial NUMMI t of tit' (novel anent of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPP) for our publivhIng activities. Canada Memberof the Canadian Aocnri NeMpaper A.xx.lgtfon and the Onell 0 (' xemun ty NRwscaonra Aniclation letters to the editor Kettle Point woman weighs in on `Idle No More' !)ear Editor, 1 am an Indian, an Aboriginal, a First Nation individual, a Status Indian and most recently a "citizen" of my comnutnity(s), 'the Chippewa's of Kettle and Stony Point by the Federal Governments doings. All these titles revolve around someone else's political agenda, be it on or off reserve, it's all elected related. 1 have not participated in the Ids 'lo More protesting. 1 do not agree wit rallying naive, uninformed, poverished First Nations individuals who have already been beaten down by the system, to go and protest, because when all is said and done, their lives will be no different than before, still poverished and beaten down. What I am hearing and seeing is the elected way of life is not working for First Nations peoples. Do you, the Elected Peoples of Canada (not the Original Peoples) wonder what your life might be like now, if your ancestors had lived by The Original Peoples way of life which was a Hereditary way of life with a Clan System that governed them. 'lie Ancestors had their own language, their own ceremonies and their own Identity not fear instilled. As long as we abide by the elected way of life, there will be confusion amongst the people, especially when the elected government continues to use words such as partnership, equality, fairness, value, identity, honour, dignity, support etc.,yet uses words such as obey, abide by, rules, regulations, by-laws, consequences for your actions and behaviours etc. that poses a negative thought or actions towards another and/or group, there will not be unity. 1 do not feel equal, valued, or honoured, 1 am not treated with respect, dignity, and fairness in the reserve 1 live in. Why, because I dared believed in healing my identity, no one told me it was to access government healing dollars, that was why there were healing programs in the community. When 1 began my healing journey, seeking to have questions answered for why my life was the way it was, poverished and unfulfilled, 1 found out you don't go there because if you tell, your not a well liked community person and I told, no one else was speaking out about the generational incest issues in the commu- nity so 1 wondered how could anyone heal, if there was so much denial, that's not healing and feeling safe. Who taught the Elected First Nations Chiefs and Councillors how to be dysfunctional, how to mistreat some community members (usually those Tess educated in the white system)? What First Nations people have learnt from the elected system, is you have to think and behave like the elected system expects you to or else you don't get, then to be an elected First Nation leader you have to be excellent at manipulating the system and the people and hope to not get caught, you put people in paid positions who will cover your back at all costs, you put on the elected political hat and the commu- nity KNOWS by subtle ways you don't dare challenge the leadership because if you do there will be consequences to you and your family. That normally means you don't get jobs, housing needs met (RRAP loans etc.), credibility, get to use the band equipment which is attached with your band job, don't get to use the band building for your personal gain, you can't afford to have one vehicle let alone two or three in your laneway, you don't get vacations, these are some of the ways the less fortunate people are shunned. First Nations communities are small compared to cities, rural towns and vil- lages, when the elected First Nations communities stand up and want to be seen and heard, it's the majority of soci- ety that doesn't agree because the elected First Nations Chiefs, Councillors and their supporters are inconviencing the majority's way of life, no different on the reserve. It was okay to instil fear into Indian people by an elected manipulat- ing government and take away their way of life yet when push comes to shove, it's not okay. 'Ibis is how confusing 1 find this elected system to be, your dammed if you do and your dammed if you don't. I want to know, who out there, beyond the elected First Nations boundaries of reserve lands, are going to stand up and support First Nations people who do not agree with how the elected leadership treats community members or does any- one really care? 'This is why the elected Chiefs and councillors get away with what they do, no one really cares until an issue(s) is out in the spotlight, no differ- ent then the elected government out there. ')here are many poverished people out there who would love to feel valued in their elected government system. It's a game, make rules as you go along hoping they work and no one questions. Vanessa Shawnoo LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lakeshore Advance welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the writer's full name, address, daytime phone number and signature (for verification. Anonymous letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit all editorial submissions including letters for clarification, style and length. letters must be signed and he in good taste and follow the laws of libel and slander. Alzheimer Society says thanks ))ear Editor, On behalf of the Alzheimer Society of 1 luron County, we'd like to thank everyone involved for walking with us in the 2013 Walk for Memories, locally presented by Investors Group & itetire-At-Bonne. More than 240 walkers came out with their walking shoes on January 26 2013111 steps to end Alzheimer's disease. It was wonderful to see so many people out to support this important cause. 'Blanks to the generosity of our sponsors and - walkers we have raised over $55 0(10. We are grateful for all the support to achieve our goal. We're excepting online donations until Febru- ary 211th 2013 at www.walkformemories,ca - walker name Alzheimer Society 1 luron County, so if you have friends, family or colleagues who missed the deadline for donating to the Walk, please let them know there's still time, Without the loyal support of our committed volunteers, our valued sponsors, exceptional efforts of each and every walker and the gener- osity of 1 luron County this success would not be possible. 'Thank you! Sincerely, Brittany Williams Acting Events Coordinator Alzheimer Society of Huron County Wynne for who? Dear Editor; last weeks liberal party convention sets Ms Wynne as the designate premier. l suggest she is really just premier Alternate. Already she is echoing Dalton McGuinty and Finance minister Dunkin policies. She has rejected a public inquiry into the half billion dol- lar mess in the cancelled Gas projects in Oakville and Mississauga that were implemented in the last days of the provincial election. its obvious. More of the same until this minority government is forced into an election. Robert Webb Grand Bend Library hosting eDownload tutorial Lakeshore Advance Ila.' Gt.tit.l (lend Library is hosting an el )l►wnluad IAmity Tutorial Blitz Saturday Feb - nutty 16, 2013 - Grand fiend Library. Colne learn how to access free ellooks and eAudiobooks from our el )ownload Library. Bring your device to one of our sessions and receive help setting it up. S(:HED111.R: 9:30 - 10:30 Sony Reader 10:80 - 11130 Apple Devices (iPad, IPhone,'lbuch) 12:00. 1:00 Androl(I'Ihblets and Blackberry Playhook (Galaxy, Nexus, Vox, ARC, etc.) 1:30 - 3:00 Koho e -Ink Readers (Glo,'Much, Mini, etc)