Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

WUN FEATHER -- Rather than spend my entire life carrying the burden of racial feelings towards others, I put my best foot forward, and I insist that All Canadian Lives matter equally


They say that the older you get, the more you discover about yourself.

Well, my friends this could be a deal breaker for many of you who think I am a straight-shooting guy. I think that I am actually a racist.

Yep ... I know that it comes as a surprise to me too!

I have never felt this way before, but as more and more of the virtue signaling people tell me that I am wrong when I say #AllLivesMatter, the truth comes out.

Here it goes, for what it is worth.

I am a status Indian from right here in Canada. I have an Indian Status card, have a brother who is an Indian Chief, and I belong to an Indian Reserve in BC.

My mum was one of the worst abused Indian children who attended St Mary’s Residential School in Mission BC. I myself, went to three different Indian Day schools. This is all documented, and can be verified.

Not only have I personally had to endure discrimination and so have many of my family members. In addition to all of that, I have a minimum of five relatives who are amongst the Missing or murdered Indigenous Women.

So, when someone says to me that Black Lives Matter -- more than my life -- or my families lives right here in Canada -- that's when the sad truth comes out. I do my very best to keep these feelings to myself.

Rather than spend my entire life carrying the burden of racial feelings towards others, I put my best foot forward (Or I think I am putting my best foot forward, anyway?), and I insist that All Canadian Lives matter equally.

Sorry about this, but I need someone to explain to me why Black Lives Matter more to them than the lives of my people. You know ... the ones who were here for thousands of years on this continent before everyone else came over on those big boats.

Don't get me wrong. Even though my people have been through pure Hell, and they are still struggling today due to the injustices dealt them in the past, I personally, do not go around blaming anyone who is alive today. OK, well maybe one or two of our politicians could get a smack on the side of the head, but no.

I refuse to discriminate against any race, religion or gender because my ancestors were dealt a bad blow, and the aftermath has its grip on my people to this day. I totally support any movement that deals with injustice or brutality to ANY Race, Religion or Gender.



And if it means that I am a Racist when I say All Lives Matter, then at least I came forward and let you all know it. There go any aspirations that I have towards a political career, when I decide to retire.

This is the kind of skeleton I don't need hiding in my closet, but it is there for all of you to see.

I respect all Canadians equally, even though some of us have been through some pretty bad experiences.

You don't need to come forward like I did. It isn't an easy thing to do.


About Wun Feather ... I am one of the last of my generation to have actually attended residential and Indian day schools. I have lived on and off reserve, and have seen the benefits and the hardships of my people in both situations.

My parents taught me that any time I fell down physically, or emotionally, I just needed to pick myself up, shake myself off, and continue in a forward direction. So, I cannot claim that I did it on my own; I had great Elders.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...

Labels

Show more