The Rainbow People

From the very first time in the (unrecorded) history of Canada when two persons met who were the off-spring of the initial matings between Aboriginal people of Canada and immigrants from other lands, there has been a unique association which, today, we are describing as the Métis Confederacy (Dunn and Auben; 1993).
The very fact of being halfbreed, or mixed blood, often set those individuals apart from their Aboriginal community, on the one hand, and from their immigrant or colonial community on the other hand. This distinction, with all of its positive and negative implications and effects, inevitably created a kind of bond, a sense of mutual recognition and, eventually, a community of interest, among and between those who bore both the distinction and stigma of being of mixed blood.
In spiritual terms, it can be said that the Métis are at the centre of a medicine wheel of the four principal races of man. This medicine wheel incorporates the four colours of the red, black, yellow and white races. The Métis are the spiritual link or bridge between the spirituality of all the races and that of the Aboriginal people.
Although Métis in Canada have been historically recognized as the "middlemen" of the colonial fur trade, it would be more accurate to describe Métis as "living treaties" between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal races. Over the decades, many Métis communities developed unique cultures, philosophies, and life styles.
As Métis, we, like other nations of people, have a spiritual responsibility to ourselves, to each other and to other peoples. In that sense we have a sacred responsibility to safeguard our knowledge and the objects and symbols of that awareness. Like other races of people, we too have our destiny and our prophecies.
In the scheme of creation, we Métis do not have one specific colour assigned to us. We are the people of all colours - the sons and daughters of spirit of the rainbow. We are, today, what all of the people on planet earth will eventually become. We are a mirror into the future for of the peoples in the creation stories of the world. We are the living spirit and reality of the prophecy of the seven fires.

A Gentle Reminder for Our Metis Peoples

The returns were much as I expected. The one surprise expressed in northern BC was that Mr. Dumont received as much support as he did. The consensus around the wood stoves and coffee shops thought he would have only the BC delegates votes. I encourage all Metis to become highly, vocally and publically involved in our political processes. Ask questions and demand answers not platitudes. Act locally, think federally. Remember that the people we put in at the local and regional level are building the voting base for the federal level. So no matter our personal feelings on the outcome of the election, we Metis voted the leadership that represented us at the provincial and federal level. Let us remember in upcoming elections that a democracy has the leadership it deserves! Let us prove to the world that the Metis deserve the best of leadership when we place our regional and provincial votes! Vote for the best candidate, encourage the Old Guard to be accountable through the me

MNC Leadership Race

Oh my goodness, I had taken a bit of a hiatus but the buzz about the upcoming MNC leadership has prodded me into action! What a tempest and in FIVE teapots! (Clem Chartier, Gerald Morin, Tony Belcourt, Rick Laliberte and Bruce Dumont according to Metis Bare Facts http://metisbarefacts.blogspot.com/). Following the MNBC release that Bruce Dumont was running at the federal level the blogs and coffee shops up here in the wilds of BC have been buzzing with speculation. What does this obvious internal divide mean for the longevity of MNC? Perhaps more to the point we should be questioning what this means for the Metis people that seem to be overlooked by the wallowing political behemoth we have created. I encourage all northern Metis to become politically aware, I personally know how difficult it is to get answers from regimes that operate in an atmosphere of fear, threats and gag orders but there are brave bloggers out there http://www.derrylsanderson.blogspot.com/ that will deliver validated information as they receive it and protect their sources. See these regimes or the people driving them for what they are; BULLIES! Ask your leaders hard hitting questions and do not be afraid to do so publically, in writing or through the media, respectfully insist they answer you in kind. Demand answers until you receive them, do not fall for the "I will get back to you" or the "I hear and understand your concerns" nonsense. Most importantly ask these questions at every level; local, regional, provincial and federal. Accountability in politics should play no less a role than it does in business or academics or indeed life. If you northern folks are thinking that what happens in Ottawa does not affect you, think again. Every leader we have elected from our local president, our regional director and our provincial leaders have been shaping this nation. Everyone of them! Each has a voice and a vote that has supported the chaos we see unfolding. For the record I am not denouncing or critisizing any of our leaders, I am merely asking that northern people look very very closely at them, ask them questions, demand answers. Most importantly when we as individuals or our community is offered a transparent bribe of political influence, jobs or resources delivered to the north; recognise this tactic for what it is, a red herring! Think back....have any of the previous promises been delivered? If so great you have an acountable and straight shooting leader. If not, why not? Well it is time to kick the tires and head out of the bush, the roads are all ready punching through and break up is upon us in Yekooche Territory. I would like to leave you with this thought that Brandon Whitney recently posted on his page http://homelandcolors.blogspot.com/2008/02/kwame-kilpatrick-and-wire.html "In democracies people get the leaders they deserve. Despite our complaints that our choices are limited or are specious arguments that all politicians are dishonest and can be bribed, the truth is we choose who leads us. If we are afflicted with bad leaders it is because we have chosen them over better ones." whewww ........well on that note I have babbled on long enough and want to hit the trail at day break so will close with a take care and a challenge to you northern Metis to get involved.

Hitched up the Cart and Headed to Town

Well, well, well, we had quite a snow fall in the Yekooche Territory over the last couple of days. So yours truly (in typical Metis mule headed contrariness) decided the tobacco and coffee was low, I had a training session in PG and I wanted to see my daughter. I headed off at day break in my wee old car. "Hola! crazy so sick!" as Jimmy would say. I guess that pushing a foot of snow with an old Pontiac is not all that conducive to fan belt health! So the car is being towed into the Fort and I was towed into PG. I did have the chance to see a fair amount of game on the trip though. The moose are looking real good this winter, not too thin and no ticks at all. Lots of grouse too. So the trip back out may be a productive one for the freezer. I am pretty sure that one young bull has my name and freezer model written on his butt!

Metis Governance Project - Support the Future Today

Governance is as much about skills as it is about tradition. A good example of this is the British Foreign Office. For centuries the British Government has put a great deal of effort into creating and maintaining its ability to operate on the international stage. The poet Milton who was writing in the 18th century was a diplomat. His work is part of a tradition that stretches to the present day, allowing the British to ‘punch above its weight’ in international affairs. For just this reason Britain has been a permanent member of the UN Security Council, despite its relatively small economy.

The Metis government is still young so therefore a strategy to create a working governance structure must be seen as a long term project, not a short term one. The skills to run a government are not just learned by one generation. Rather a tradition of governance must be created. Our children will be the ones to make the Metis Government project a reality, our role therefore is to create the circumstances that encourage that state of affairs. When we try to create our government all in one go we prevent our children from creating the government structure that they feel appropriate. We cut ourselves off from the wisdom of the next generation. Essentially, today’s youth is the day after tomorrow’s elders. It is their wisdom that we must nurture and find a way to draw upon.

For example today the Metis need, among other skills, good financial advice. We need accountants to organize and run our national finances. If we can find accountants among our ranks to fill that role then that is eminently desirable. If, however, we can not, then to simply place the next best qualified Metis in that position is to betray the next generation. Finance is not simply a matter of common sense. It is a skill that has, as part of its tool set, a set of complex ethics that are completely specific to that skill. Only those who are qualified have that important training. In order to create a strong Metis nation we must find people who are qualified to fill that position that are not Metis, but who are sympathetic to our cherished ideals and identity. Simultaneously we must labor ever more strongly to provide opportunities for our youth to gain the skills in that area.

If we were looking to find someone to provide comprehensive medical services to our nation we would firstly look for suitably qualified Metis to fill that role, a Doctor trained and experienced with the skills and ethical knowledge necessary to do the job. If no such Metis existed we would be foolish in the extreme to simply place the next best qualified Metis in that job. A Metis paramedic is surely a fine paramedic, but they are not a Doctor. Instead we would find a Doctor who was not Metis and then put effort into training a Metis doctor for the next generation.

This principle applies across all the skills we need to create a strong Metis nation. From environmental issues to medical issues to financial issues it is not just about creating a Metis government for the current generation. It is the future that we must provide for. As Louis Riel said “A century is but a spoke on the wheel of time”. It is high time that we remember the wisdom of our forebears so that we can ensure that the wisdom of our children can be heard through the centuries to come. It is imperative that resources are directed to our youth, that support is given our youth and that when our youth are trained they are welcome into the Nation as employees, advisors and leaders.

Exciting start to the Lunar New Year!

Today I decided to take the plunge into the world of blogging. This was no last minute decision, in truth I have long wanted to facilitate open, respectful discussion of northern Metis matters. However, my commitment to my job precluded discussion around a number of very sensitive issues. Some of these issues being the disparity in resource delivery as well as the lack of voice and support the northwest Metis people are burdened with in this province. As a proud northern Metis woman the north/south polarity has been a "thorn" to me since I could first understand my elders discussing it. As I matured and worked in social delivery and development in the north the "thorn" grew into a large splinter. It is my hope that this blog can act as a forum for northern people to vent, discuss, promote and advocate for our northern lifestyle and strong culture.

Exciting start to the lunar New Year!

I have made the final leap and decided to create this blog! It is something I have considered for some time however my job commitment disallowed my full particiaption in current events