National Indigenous Day: We are more than feathers and drums – Niagarathisweek.com

Canadians need to learn more about our shared history, Wendy Sturgeon writes

We encourage all Canadians to research into our shared history to recognize and acknowledge the part all ancestors played — beginning with original contact, which was welcoming, friendly and helpful. The fact that Indigenous people nursed ancestors of newcomers back to health upon arrival, recognizing they were near death; seeking a place of safety; fleeing discrimination, oppression and mass murder in Europe; seeking health; leaving behind famine and poverty; seeking freedom to practise their own religions and so much more, in what was termed the new world (research Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery).

However, descendants of those newcomers who benefitted greatly through the generations have, unfortunately, lost their memories of how their great lives have come to be — basically due to their government keeping the truth from them, lying to them about Indigenous people, and ultimately benefitting at the expense and demise of the Indigenous populations under the false belief of the Doctrine of Discovery.

The waking up process is difficult for some, yet there is now no reason not to take up the responsibility of not just correcting the wrongs (action), but also ensuring history is rewritten in truth. This is happening all over Canada as First Peoples are given First Priority. All legislation, policies and regulations must be scrutinized and addressed with this view in mind, and there can no longer be anything done without our consent, knowledge and involvement; nothing about us, without us.

Read More: https://www.niagarathisweek.com/opinion-story/10069079-national-indigenous-day-we-are-more-than-feathers-and-drums/