These are great days to be a Native. Things are happening all across this country that are putting us in the spotlight and much of it has to do with our love of the land, resource development in remote First Nations, traditional hunting and trapping areas, and our right to self-destiny.
These are not trivial issues and it is imperative that we are ready to deal with them with strength, humanity, open minds and flexibility. Personally, I am overwhelmed with the wide range of issues, their severity and the intimidating forces that drive them.
I am relieved to have discovered recently that, for the most part, we Aboriginal people are in good hands, with strong leadership coming from a network of councils, organizations and agencies in every corner of this country.
Recently, I was fortunate to attend a chiefs’ meeting in Timmins, Ontario, where I got a first-hand look at how First Nations politics works. Our political system is to a great degree driven from the First Nations grassroots. If a political leader from a Native community has something to say to our grand chiefs, he or she is heard. Our Elders, many of whom are traditional people, also have a very important role in guiding the First Nations leadership. Like other political systems ours is not perfect; it has its bends and cracks and stretches every which way at times, with passionate input, misguided Intentions and sometimes with sad and angry debate. However, I believe our system to be very democratic and I see it developing even more so as our communities become more healthy and produce leaders with a good education and strong foundations.
We can be thankful for leaders like Grand Chief Phil Fontaine of the Assembly of First Nations. I haven’t met him yet, but I am impressed with what I have seen on television and what I have read in the media. It was great to meet Grand Chief Charles Fox of the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation. He is a strong speaker and has a lot of experience in First Nations politics. I was also very Impressed when I met Regional Chief Thomas Bressette of the Chiefs of Ontario, who is also very experienced with the First Nations political scene, and Grand Chief Vernon Roote, of the Anishinabek Nation, impressed me with a strength grounded in a kind and open way. Grand Chief Lawrence Martin of the Mushkegowuk Council is another accomplished Native leader who in addition is a very creative person and an award-winning musician.
One of the things that stands out about each and every one of these leaders is their accessibility and, for the most part, the humbleness with which they fulfill their prestigious roles. What I mean is that anyone can actually approach these leaders and have their say.
Now that so much development is beginning to happen in remote First Nations communities, we need these good men to be the strongest, most fearless and most dedicated they can be. We need them to fight for our future, to remember the land – to never forget the importance of the land – and to take us forward in the memory of our ancestors. So if you ever feel isolated or out of touch or you are intimidated or need a hand to help pull our people up, get in touch with Phil, Charles, Tom, Vernon or Lawrence. They are just a phone call away.
