We aren't all free

To gain some credibility back, Canada needs to either 1, start upholding the laws of the country or 2, start solving native issues with real, constructive solutions. Preferably both.

The weather this past weekend was perfect for Canada Day celebrations and also for what turned out to be, for the most part, peaceful native demonstrations across the country.

There is certainly much to be thankful for. For most of us that is, native or non-native.

We often take for granted our freedoms here in Canada, so when I said to someone last Friday that Canada is not a free society, I was told that Canada Day, to this particular person, mostly meant being thankful for what we have, not for what we don't have. It was an interesting take, and contrary to my negativity perhaps.

But as our national anthem says:

"God keep our land, glorious and free

O Canada we stand on guard for thee"

With all the fireworks and falderal, it's easy to get caught up in just how great our lives and country are. Compared to most others living in this world, we do indeed have it good.

Last Friday however, our true north strong and free was not so free, with a major passenger train between Toronto and Montreal being shut down, a highway and many roads blocked not to mention weeks of skepticism and fear prior to a national day of aboriginal "inaction" as portrayed by one major daily last week.

Take effect for what you will, but when all was said and done last weekend, two things were evident.

First, natives want Canadians to realize their plight and the only way they feel they can do it is by restricting freedoms. They want Canadians to react to their needs such as poverty, poor drinking water and land claims. And help them. But many aboriginals don't want to abide by Canadian laws.

By the same token, most Canadians want to be free, wherever they go within our great nation. They don't want to be blocked in, threatened, tormented, or taken advantage of for things they didn't do, and have no power to help make better.

Herein lies the chicken and the egg dilemma, because many natives will argue that Canada restricted their people for centuries which has resulted in the strife many reserves face today. At the same time they say they were never conquered, but still want Canada to come up with some money to help them solve poverty issues that none of its citizens created really.

Sure, there may be no quick fix solutions to the problems we're facing. But when we look at native issues and review our own freedoms, two things are certain:

1. We aren't all free.

2. We don't all stand on guard for thee within our great nation of Canada, whether we want to be part of it, or not.