My Little Corner of Canada, June 12

The release of the report and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission after six years of hearings and thousands of witnesses, brings Canada to a fork in the road.

The work of the commission confirms what the Aboriginal peoples have been trying to tell Canadians for decades.

It confirms that political leaders, bureaucrats and police of this country have been trying to destroy Aboriginal cultures of Canada. The truth is now revealed for all the world to see.

I don’t expect the average Canadian citizen to fully understand what this means. When your own country tries to destroy your identity, your traditions, your culture and language, and tries to steal your homeland, you are left with anger, frustration, confusion and hopelessness.

Why are so many Aboriginal peoples stuck in Third World living conditions, in addiction, poor health, poor education, unemployment, overcrowded housing, crime, suicide, family abuse and violence?

These are symptoms of colonialism and attempted genocide. It has been going on for 150 years.

This Corner has been saying for a long time that we need a new relationship with Canada. A new understanding. A fresh start. To leave the past and look to the future. A future where all of our children can build a new nation. A just society.

I believe the average Canadian wants to do the right thing. To work towards reconciliation. To right the wrongs. I also believe the Aboriginal peoples want to forgive and to leave the pains of the past.
The people of the far right and the small minority of Canadians who are infected with prejudice and hatred will spew their usual garbage. They do not represent Canadian values.

This is a wonderful opportunity to create a new relationship with the people and the governing institutions of Canada.

We need to do away with the Indian Act. It is a dying relic of the colonial past. We need to re-haul and rebuild the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. We need to change the policy of surrender of Aboriginal rights. We need a new handshake.

We are indeed at a fork in the road. Which road will the country take? Will we take the road to reconciliation? Or will we take the road to — what?

To the Inuit of Canada, you have survived this attempted genocide. You have been sorely wounded but you have survived. We can all draw strength from that knowledge.