Walter Cooke, a local and well-known First Nations community educator, wants Canadians to become more educated and aware of the various treaty rights that have been too long ignored or neglected by the government. I agree with him.
At a silent protest earlier this week in Hamilton's Gore Park, Cooke said he hopes this year's annual National Aboriginal Week events that begin today will bring awareness of First Nations people and draw attention to the upcoming June 29 National Day of Protest being organized by the Assembly of First Nations.
Too often, Canadians in general are ignorant to the issues facing First Nations people. We turn a blind eye to the issues related to land claims, (until it hits home as in the land dispute in Caledonia) or we simply shrug our shoulders and lay all the blame for their economic and social marginalization on long-held stereotypes.
This lack of awareness was again highlighted at the recent public inquiry into the shooting death of aboriginal protester Dudley George by an OPP officer at Ipperwash Provincial Park in 1995. The report concluded there's a severe lack of public understanding of aboriginal rights in Canada and warns of a continuing schism between Canada and First Nations people.
This summer promises Canadians plenty of opportunities to become more aware of the estimated 900 specific land claims that remains unresolved.
On the June 29 National Day of Protest, if it goes according to plans, there will be peaceful marches focusing on issues of neglected land claims, poverty and marginalization of First Nations people. They should help shine light on the urgency needed in dealing with the claims.
But with tension already high and distrust the order of the day, people mainly are concerned about the potential for confrontations during the hot summer months.
Sydney Linden, who headed the public inquiry into Ipperwash, warns that "The immediate cost of conducting relations with aboriginal people through confrontations and over the barricades is very high ... All Ontarians risk even more if we leave long-simmering disputes unsettled until they boil over."
The Day of Protest is not being embraced by all First Nations people. Some believe it too volatile. Some are afraid that the young people who have no patience for the government's delay tactics will get hot headed and cause trouble. Maurice Switzer, spokesperson for the Union of Ontario Indians, says, "There's a growing number of young people who feel they don't have any hope."
Many are urging militants to follow the instructions of Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who has made diplomacy and negotiations a priority. Fontaine sees education and peaceful demonstrations as the best way to inform Canadians of the plight of First Nation peoples.
Anishnawbe Health Toronto and retired University of Toronto public health professor Dr. Chandrakant Shah are holding a public forum on treaties, land claim settlements and the impact of government policies on the life of First Nations people. It's on June 27 and will be held at University of Toronto's Ontario Institute of Education. (More information at 416-360-0486.) The event is headlined by former prime minister Paul Martin, who has pledged to "commit a good portion of the rest of his life" to aboriginal rights.
"It's extremely important to show this is not an aboriginal-non-aboriginal issue. This is a Canadian family issue," says Shah.
Today in Hamilton, there are several events planned to celebrate National Aboriginal Week.
Most of the activities will take place at Gage Park at the band shell and a sunrise ceremony is planned at 7 a.m. each day,