Happy Colonization Day

Written Wednesday November 21, 2018 / 11:56pm New Zealand Time

Dear Canada! Dear Turtle Island Brothers & Sisters!

As a Mi’kmaw woman visiting my brothers and sisters here on Maori territory, Aotearoa. I feel in my heart that I need to express my Indigenous thoughts that are keeping me awake tossing and turning. My thoughts are not intended to be offensive, but they are meant to be informative and to wake up the generations to come! The Eight Generation! AND Ninth Generation! Those unborn that are yet to be raised with culture, language and traditions.

The year 2018 (written in November), now 2019, Canada continues to have many Aboriginal/Indigenous/First Nation/Native/”Indian” Leads, Ministers in Government at the Federal, Provincial, Municipal and local levels that are held positions by NON-LNU/ NON-(Aboriginal/Indigenous/First Nation/Indian [TRIBAL] Mi’kmaq) people.

My apologies to any colleagues and allies whom hold these positions, but what I’ve learned from my Maori brothers and sisters here in New Zealand is that there is no F*C*ING way that a non-Maori would hold a Maori position at any level in governmental (Federal/Provincial/Municipal/Local) and or lead role at any level, including Education/Departments of Fisheries/Housing/Economy/Affairs/Departments etc… Meanwhile here in Canada, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in non-lnu, majority of the lead positions are non-lnu.

Turtle Island, I urge us to rise, awaken and stay woke!!!! Because my people, it is 2019 and we have many-many leads and high-horse positions without our LNU people that need to be filled and replaced. And my beloved colleagues and allies that are non-LNU, in your hearts…. You should feel the shame of taken jobs and careers away from the true leaders and true historians and true traditionalist that need/MUST be in your roles. This includes ministers, senates, judges, leads at the education levels, fisheries and the levels in these lists continues... These conversations can no longer be sensitive topics, or tokenism position, or filled roles. The voices and brilliance of the new educated generations rising will lead.

There are many people I’ve come across that hold their positions with true intentions, believe me, after discovering and learning how the Maori here in Maori territory are paving a way forward for Indigenous rights to languages, education, leadership, and much more. Myself, I have much to learn but OUR Aboriginal/”INDIAN”/Native/First-Nations/Indigenous/Tribal people/Clan leaders, and how Canadian Lnu will take these positions and will lead our next seven generations to come on our unseeded lands of Turtle Island!!!!!!!

Happy Colonization Day – Blog Posted July 1st (Canada Day)

Sincerely,

A concerned colonized educated English speaking Mi’kmaq Woman!

Ashley R.

Today I am reminded to be grateful, humble and proud as I rise up and continue to be a proud Canadian Mi'kmaq woman, located on Mi'kma'ki, Eastern Canada. Attitude of Gratitude my friends. Hutch!

(Photo) The Canadian Native Flag was designed by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Curtis Wilson. His design for the flag is meant to represent First Nations in Canada to the public. We hope this flag brings a better understanding of the First Nations of our country and a vision for a unified Canada that still revels in its diversity.