Happy Indigenous Peoples Day to everyone. I know right now there is not much cause to celebrate with the passing of an Ontario government Bill 5 and Federal Government Bill C5 that directly threaten First Nation lands, people and rights.
We've always dealt with issues, events, changes and developments ... it's become our ongoing legacy to constantly fight and we are and will continue to fight on.
What everyone doesn't understand is that we are not just fighting for ourselves, its a fight to protect the future of our people and of all Ontario and all Canada as well. Unrestrained and uncontrolled resource development only destroys the land, air and water ... the same land, air and water we all share no matter our race, group or identity.
It's also a fight for the future, as from the quote from Wendell Berry ....
“We do not inherit the earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children.”
The quote is often attributed as a wise old Native saying or proverb but in actual fact the modern quote comes from an environmentalist in the environmental, ecological movement.
Saying the environment to save ourselves and the future generations to come is not just an idea central to First Nation belief systems .... it's a belief system by those who can see beyond the length of their own lifespans.
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day everyone.
