Author: kwetoday

Conversation: Aboriginals & Canada

Aboriginals, Canada, Conversations Leave a comment

I know I said I wouldn’t be writing any more posts until after my finals, but I just couldn’t stay away. I am writing this post out of frustration and anger over a conversation that I had with a non-Aboriginal man.

Non-Aboriginal man: The Aboriginals need to be integrated into society.
Me: So you mean Aboriginals need to be westernized.
Non Aboriginal man: Call it whatever you want to call it, but whatever it is they are doing… it isn’t working for them and hasn’t been working for them.
Me: You mean Canada hasn’t been working for Aboriginals.

I know, I know that Canada has done many great things for Aboriginals. Like in terms of health care, education, employment opportunities. What makes me wonder is why Aboriginals are then still lagging behind in all aspects? They have the highest suicide rates, highest teen pregnancy rates, highest unemployment rates. In fact, some of the reasons why these numbers appear higher than most Canadians think, is because of the contribution that Aboriginals make to these statistics. For instance, in lecture in my sociology class, the professor mentioned this scary stat/number:

2010: Infant mortality rate amongst Canadians 5.3 live births per 1000 versus 19 live births per 1000 amongst Aboriginals

She also added that the reason the number for entire Canada is 5.3 is partly because of the Infant mortality rate amongst Aboriginals in Canada.

Sorry people, but this is real and not made up. To say that all we need to do is “integrate” or become “westernized” or in other words “white” is the wrong thing to say. That has already been done (ie-residential schools, creation of reserves, etc), and it clearly did not work.

Whether Canada wants to admit it or not, or address the problem directly or not, Aboriginal people will not just disappear or go away, and even if they do.. those problems are still part of Canada. It’s part of Canada’s reality and it is also apart of Canada’s history.

Aboriginal people are not the problem, and they never have been the problem. I say this out of frustration and anger, but Canada… YOU are the problem.

Finals!

Aboriginal women, Indigenous Nationhood, Lisa Charleyboy, Mallory Whiteduck, Pam Palmater, These are my moccasins, Urban Native Girl Stuff Leave a comment

Since finals are literally less than a week away for me… I am going to be taking a break until April 26 (day after my last final) from writing any posts. In the mean time, check out these websites written/created/maintained by other Aboriginal/Indigenous females 🙂

  1. These are my moccasins
  2. Urban Native Girl Stuff
  3. Indigenous Nationhood

In the mean time … stay smiling 😉

April Fool’s Day

April Fools Day, Family Leave a comment

So I am the worst for jokes… Last to get the joke and the worst joke teller! Anytime I make someone laugh, it is usually only because I usually fall or trip myself. Trip myself? How you ask? Don’t ask me, I don’t know how it happens either…

But today I am just remembered of how much I miss my family and all the jokes they used to play on me (and the jokes we used to play on each other).

The biggest jokers? I would say Aboriginal people. I know, I know sometimes some Aboriginals look so serious, never smile… That kind of reminds me of my dad: so serious. Yet, my dad was always the first one to play jokes on us, my mom, or his sisters. Yes I have met some pretty funny non-Aboriginals, but seriously… No matter our situation, we are always laughing. I always remember elders telling me, laugh, smile.. laughter is medicine!

I love hearing the stories my Aunties would tell us about my dad when he was younger. Those are some good stories.

I can’t wait until my nephew is older and get to tell him about the stories about his mom and his aunties (including me)!

Liberal Party

Aboriginals, Canada, Elections 41, Liberals, Michael Ignatieff, Politics Leave a comment

Last night was the London Ontario Liberal Party Rally. I had the opportunity to attend with a friend who is really a great person when it comes to engaging in other Aboriginal youth.

You can check him out on his twitter here: Chad Cowie!

Last night, Chad and I were randomly picked to sit on the stage right behind the party. It was quite exciting to say the least, and definitely most random. The highlight of the night was the moment I got to ask a question. I was hesitant at first because I wanted to see the range of questions to be asked, and if there was a theme to the questions (I didn’t want to be the one to stray off topic). After a few questions had been asked, I noticed that there really wasn’t theme to the questions asked. It was pretty much anything goes. That’s what I liked about this rally. Any thing did go. There were questions asked ranging from veterans, Canadian Armed Forces, rural families, farming families, health care, pharmacy, education, youth, the gap between the rich and the poor. My question: water potability issues on First Nations in Canada.

I am very thankful to say that I never had experienced no-drinking-water crisis on my First Nation (well, none that I can remember). However, I do have a lot of friends who either live in this state or have grown up in this state. No drinking water. It’s quite a puzzle to figure out especially if you have grown up in Canada or come from another country to live in Canada. I mean, isn’t Canada known for its fresh water and water resources? How can a specific group within Canada experience such issues and experience this at such alarming rates? You can check out water potability issues on First Nations at Project Blue.

Clearly this is an issue and I wanted to see how Liberal Party Leader Ignatieff is going to handle it if elected.

I asked him the following question:

You mentioned internet access for all Canadians earlier, seeing that more than hundred First Nations in Canada still have water potability issues, why not drinking water for everyone?**

**I cannot take full credit for the question as this question was sent to me through my twitter account.

Well, I can’t remember his reply verbatim but I can give you somewhat of a summary of what he said:

  1. He acknowledged that First Nations have these issues.
  2. He acknowledged that some First Nations homes don’t have drinking water, and others do not even have toilets.
  3. He replied to the question by saying that he spoke with a Chief in Winnipeg and he told the Chief this…
  4. Prepare a budget, tell me what you need, and I will find competitive bids; I will help fix the problem.

One might say, “Well, that’s not a very good answer.” Let me make a point here: it was a great answer. He acknowledged that he is willing to listen to what First Nations and their leaders need to help fix the issue. However, the above final point, was not a very good answer, but it was better than saying “There’s nothing I can do” or “I am not sure” or “I don’t know”. This is a complex issue and he gave the best answer that he could. He gave hope. I say this because, these issues run much deeper than that. So what, water issues have to be fixed. Then what? What about long-term health issues created by these water issues. Those have to be tended to as well.

Ignatieff also addressed there is a health crisis in Canada, especially when it comes to diabetes and especially when it comes to Aboriginals and diabetes. The fact that he addressed so many issues last night, even acknowledging the issues that Aboriginal people’s face, is great hope for Canada. Yet, the hope just does not stop there. As Aboriginal people living in Canada we have to become more involved. That just doesn’t mean involved in education, careers, communities… that also means becoming more involved in politics. I know that doesn’t sound as fun as it should, but it is.

Since I have been involved more (Thanks to my friend Chad), I have been more hopeful about change happening in Canada. But the change doesn’t just happen with one person. Change happens when we work together as a group. Currently, I have not seen/heard the other parties talk about or address Aboriginal issues in Canada. The Liberal Party has. Yes bills may have been introduced under the Conservative government, but how many “holes” have been in those bills, or how many pieces of legislation have forgotten about Aboriginal issues (Remember Truth in Sentencing Act?).

I am not trying to promote one party over the other, I am just trying to lay out the facts. What I am trying to say is Aboriginal people as a group have to come together and be more involved in all aspects of Canadian Culture if we want change to happen. If we want change, vote for the party and its platform that is most appealing to you. But you can’t just stop there. If you don’t see the party following through with its platform, or with its promises, you as a voter should follow up. So what if you are just one person, find another person.. and another person. Start the ball rolling on change. Change just doesn’t happen over night, but it is easier than you think.

To sum up what I said in this post in one word… VOTE!

Drugs, Violence and Under-agers

Bars, Drugs, LFpress, London ON, Nightlife, Not in my backyard, Sex Trade, UWO Gazette, Violence Leave a comment

I am writing this post neither for nor against strip clubs, but perhaps coming from a different perspective. Someone other than a by-law officer or perhaps a city councillor.

So the issue in this post: Strip clubs in London Ontario.

These bars are sometimes a women’s only source of income. Some of the women that work in them, do actually go to school and are really studying to become lawyers or doctors. Some of these women are also parents, who were left stranded by their baby-daddy and with the lovely social assistance that is available… They are left to turn to only the “sex-trade.” That’s the partial, harsh truth.

I don’t think that people should look to strip clubs as necessary bad for a city or region. **Enter Sarcasm** I mean the only patrons who do go in there are adults? Right? Oh wait, except for that one under-aged dancer… but don’t under-agers sneak into most bars anyways. I can walk downtown Richmond Street in London ON and witness girls dancing on stages at Jacks or at The Tap House or the classic JBRs. These stages also have poles. The girls wearing short skirts, almost next to nothing, and some even wearing close to no bottoms. The only difference, those girls are not getting paid. They just get drunk, get their picture taken, and oh look… their photo is on Facebook the next morning. Sucks to be you, JBR-bar-star-FB-Queen.

The strip clubs in this region are already highly targeted by the local police force. Why? Well, I am sure they must be looking for something or someone. Perhaps crime? Well, if you go looking for something you will find it. Anywhere.

With what has been said so far, you might be wondering now, I must be for keeping strip clubs around. Hmmm, I said earlier that I was neither for or against them.

I say that I am not for them because I do realize the exploitation that does happen within these bars. Pimping. Prostitution. Bad things do happen in these bars, but you know what bad things happen everywhere. By getting rid of strip clubs, you are not going to get rid of people wanting to do sexual things or “deviant behaviour.” People will always find ways to fulfill their desires. That is the reality. And banning such establishments may lead to “underground” sex trade which can be even more dangerous for women involved. Perhaps council should look at a more safer regulation of these places. Perhaps one suggestion I read in the UWO Gazette on January 25, 2011: Licensing for dancers. Read that article HERE. But this only includes regulation of the dancers. What about the rest of the players in the game?

Let me just close this post with this: This is a tricky subject. I will admit that much. The argument is always “Not in my backyard.” Well, whether it is visibly in your backyard or not, the sex trade is going to still exist. It has existed for years before and I doubt it is going to stop just because you send a few by-law officers and plain clothed detectives out to do some extra, heavy patrolling. Just remember, drugs, violence and under-agers (employees or not) may exist at any bar, strip club or not, and also remember that if you go looking for something–crime–you will find it.

To read the LFpress article, click HERE.

A poem dedicated to fear…

Abusive relationships, Domestic Violence, Fear, Poetry, relationships View all 4 comments

This is a poem I wrote after an abusive relationship ended that I was in for about 1.5 years. Before this relationship, I used to be one of those girls that would wonder why girls stayed in abusive relationships, and ask those same girls… “What don’t you just leave?”

An abusive relationship is more than just waking up and leaving the next day. He hits you, calls you names… Then he tells you he is sorry, and will make it up to you. You spend days and nights in bliss and masked happiness. Then, it happens all over again…He hits you, calls you names.

You just hope one day that it won’t happen ever again and that you give him one more chance. You begin to believe that maybe he is right: everything is all your fault. His bursts of anger, really are your fault. You become so broken that you don’t even know what the difference between right and wrong is anymore. You used to believe that violence against women is wrong, but now that you are the one being hit, dragged, pushed, spit on… you believe that what you are experiencing is not as worse as what other women are experiencing–others have it worse. You begin to make excuses for his actions, reasoning with yourself. Yet, little do you know, is that he has you right where he wants you: boxed up, in the corner all alone, no where to go.

I knew that this relationship had a hold onto my life even after it ended. I knew this because living in a small community, we would run into each other every now and then (even if we didn’t want to) and I would experience anxiety each time. My heart would race every time I saw him, and not the romantic-movie-heart-racing type. This would happen even if I thought I saw him, and in the end it was just a stranger that looked like him. I remember one incident, when he came into one of my places of employment. He said to me, “It’s okay, you don’t have to be scared.” Then he smiled at me with a wink. It sent chills down my spine, and still does to recall that incident. He knew. He knew I was scared, and he knew I was still scared of him.

Even after I moved away to a different city, I would sometimes feel my stomach turn over when I see a vehicle that looks like his. I was still scared even knowing that he physically wasn’t around me. Today, I have worked through this hard time and have been able to move forward in a positive direction. This poem I wrote and I dedicated it to fear.

A poem dedicated to fear.

Reaching towards you
In the pitch darkness,
Feeling nothing,
Hearing nothing,
Knowing your there,
Standing,
Watching,
Your eyes piercing,
My chest.
I feel it tightening,
Wanting to run,
Feet glued to the ground.
In one spot,
No where to go,
Fear.

Note: I write this post to anyone who has experienced violence…whether as a witness or a victim/survivor. Male, female. It doesn’t matter. Violence against anyone is wrong. I share my story and my experiences because I want others to know that it is okay to get help, and that any amount of violence no matter how many times it occurs or how many times someone says sorry, Violence is not okay.

Friendship

Bill Bleach, Friendship, In loving memory, William Bleach Leave a comment

I write this post in memory of my friend, William Bleach aka Bill Bleach.

William BleachBill, RIP… Miss you my friend.

I miss him a lot because he was one of those people that had been there through me through a really hard time in my life. I had lived in a women’s shelter for a few months. When that happened to me, I lost a lot of my friends. It didn’t matter though that those people were gone from my life… because I gained one awesome person! Bill Bleach.

He was there for me when I stayed there and was very understanding. He understood why I was living there. He understood why I moved to London ON. He understood why I did some of the things that I did. He is one of the very few people in my life that knew every single bit about me. Good or bad. To plainly put it, he just understood me. It is hard to find that sort of thing everyday.

He was the most honest, happiest person I have ever met. He did what he loved and loved what he did. If there is one person I look to for guidance and help every day, it is Bill. I miss him dearly. I sometimes still cry when I think about him. I know he is in a great place because he was just a great person–he deserves to be in a great place!

Now, that I am at school and living in a new city. I am meeting more great people. I wish one day to meet another Bill. One day.

To view his facebook memorial group, click here.

I found out Bill died through this facebook group. I know, not very nice. I didn’t believe it. I thought it was a really, really, really mean joke. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a joke, and I went through a hard time after I knew it was all real. All very surreal.

To read the news article on Bill, click here.

Favourite Books

A Time To Kill, Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman, How Starbucks Saved My Life, John Grisham, Michael Gates Gill, Reading Leave a comment

These are my three top favourite books. They are my most favourite because they moved me… I literally cried at the end of the book or at some point while reading the book LOL… I cry… It’s me… Not afraid to admit it but it’s real. Fortunately, I also smile and laugh too 😉

  1. How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill
  2. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
  3. A Time To Kill by John Grisham

But, my most favourite book of all time… Reach by Laila Ali

Most of my favourite books are based on true stories. The only one that is not based on a true story, book #2. However, book #2, can be applied to all sorts of real life stories that individuals face today. Other books I recommend for reading:

  • The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
  • The Rez Sisters by Thomson Highway
  • Who Will Cry For The Little Boy? by Antwone Fisher This is a collection of poems, but once you know the story of the author… they become that much more powerful

Authors that I am going to look into this summer:

These two Authors are Aboriginal women, and I was told about them a few days ago after submitting an essay for Women’s Worlds 2011.

The ability to read and write is a great tool to over come anything in life. To read is to understand, to gain knowledge. To write is to convey your thoughts and ideas, to share your knowledge. That is why I love to encourage others to read and write, especially young people 🙂

Youth Mental Health & Justice

Canadian Association Chiefs of Police, Mental Health, Mental Health Act, Police, YCJA, Youth, Youth Justice Leave a comment

In 2009, I was able to participate in a conference that focused on Youth Mental Health and the Youth Criminal Justice Act. I met some great youth that were there. We shared a lot of the same feelings: we felt that we were just there as “tokens.” Truth be told. I didn’t really meet a lot of people who were part of the other delegates (ie-frontline workers, nurses, police chiefs, RCMP officers). Well, that is wrong. I did meet them, tried to stay in touch with them… but nothing ever lasted.

That is the problem. People always say we need to do something for the youth, and we need to help youth….but how much do those people really want to hear from the youth? It is possible that some people may get into work like policing, nursing, social services to actually help society, and because of situations they have witnessed or experienced. Unfortunately, I feel that once those people get into the positions where they can actually make a difference, they forget how they got there or forget where they came from. Everyone has a story, yet some people forget about it once they get to the top.

From the conference, I did meet some great youth. These youth came from various backgrounds. Nevertheless, they were still youth and we still had all of our experiences whether indirectly or directly with mental health issues and the justice system.

I remember, as a group, the youth were allowed to speak at the very end of the conference. It was nice enough of them to allow us to speak. However, I was very disappointed in the other delegates who came to this conference, and who were probably paid to be there. I was disappointed because by the end of it, I kept hearing them say, “Oh well I have to leave and get back to my work…” or “I can’t wait to get home and sleep in my own bed…” and other phrases similar in content. The other delegates just HAD to get home and back to their hometown as quick as possible. Barely any of them stayed to hear what the youth had to say at the end of the conference. So I told the delegates who did chose to stay behind the following,

You say you guys want to help the youth but all I keep hearing is how quickly the rest of you have to get home. We, the youth, choose to be here. We are not paid to be here. We are here because we want to see change. When I look out there, all I see are empty tables. I see no change out there. There is no change sitting at those empty tables.

Whether they wanted to agree with me or not, I believed I was right. That is the issue with youth, nobody listens to what we are saying. Everyone says, “Let’s get the youth more involved…” or “Let’s fix what’s going on with the youth…”… but I bet if those people asking those questions, stopped asking questions, and listened for a second… They would probably find more answers then they ever needed.

Instead of talking about us, talk to us.

To see some of the reports, that I just found (nearly two years later) from the conference, see the links below: