Mary Simon says being named first Indigenous governor general ‘historic’ event
https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/former-head-of-itk-mary-simon-named-first-indigenous-governor-general/
Find Our Lost Children
As most of you know, the news of our recently discovered Indigenous children in a mass grave in Kamloops BC has devastated our First Nations communities to its core.
No words can describe this news of our lost children … 215 some young as 3 years old.
There were over 130 residential school in Canada prior to the final closing in 1996.
Carver Tom LaFortune who resides in Victoria mentioned in a recent phone call how devastating this news has been for him and his family. We discussed our emotional attachment to this tragic event, we decided to take action. We can no long rely on government to take initiative.
There are several locations on Vancouver Island where residential schools were located including the following:
Kuper Island Residential School – Penelakut Island
St. Michaels Residential School – Alert Bay
Christie (Clayoquot/Kakawis) School – Tofin/Mears Island
Alberni Residential School – Port Alberni
Ahousaht Residential School -Ahousaht Island
Following our protocols, guided by our Elders and working with our young people, we want to start searching the residential school properties. Using the technology that was used at Tk’emlups residential school (Kamloops) it is critical we begin searching for more of our lost children.
This will take time and resources to make this happen.
Tom and I are requesting your support … Help us raise money to buy this ground penetrating radar unit estimated to be worth $25,000.
This is not an easy task , but we feel strongly that we must take action.
Full accountability will be used in this fund raising event to find our children.
Huy ch qa
Steve Sxwithultxw
Tom LaFortune
Michele Mundy
https://www.gofundme.com/f/find-our-lost-children
21 Things You Don’t Know About The Indian Act: critical knowledge
The Indian Act: unbelievable that such a thing exists; unbelievable that it still controls so many people’s lives.
For buying information: Click Here
Russell Means on Indigenous history, survival, and success
Purification and Renewal:
“America is dying – from within”
Powerful Words from Montreal Canadians Goaltender Carey Price, a proud member of the Anahim Lake First Nation in BC
“If you have not spent any time in a First Nations community and listened to their stories then you have NO RIGHT to pass judgement on them.
Racism is TAUGHT, please be mindful of your “opinions” and think about how you came to your conclusions about our First Nations peoples. Canada was NOT discovered, it was invaded.
I am sick of the ignorant stereotypes and lack of respect and empathy that many have for First Nations. Our history is based on lies and omits many truths from coast to coast. The Federal Government with no apologies or accountability for the wrong doings and pain another generation survived in Residential School, that is not something you simply “get over” – educate yourselves before taking the cop out road of ignorant stereotyping.
The truth is that the recent past and current oppression is still effecting our First Nations and the road to healing is not going to happen overnight, but what CAN happen overnight is the way we all acknowledge the wrong doings, the way we listen to their stories in order to give them closure and help them heal, we all deserve to have a sense that we all matter and are all respected.
The road forward is long and it is not easy but together we rise.”
— Carey Price, Dakelh
Please Click To View Article:
Please click to view article excerpted from Art Manuel’s latest book:
Why Don’t You Just Get Over It?
Chief Joe Mathias – Conspiracy of Legislation
Chief Mathias has been through the mill with various governments – and can tell you what they all share.
On ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” today, Rosalie Fish speaks to her MMIW advocacy.
“Running for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women wasn’t a political statement, it was just my humanity.”
#NativePreps #CowlitzTribe #ESPN
Posted by ndnsports.com on Thursday, 27 June 2019
MMIWG Inquiry concludes violence against women and girls is ‘genocide’
CAUTION: The contents of this story may be triggering to some readers. 1-844-413-6649 is a national, toll-free support line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Vancouver’s Stanley Park Board confronts its colonial past, votes to apologize for taking away ancestral lands
Chairman Stuart Mackinnon said the board took the first step towards reconciliation by ‘truth telling,’ and will work with local First Nations to avoid future damaging actions
Marlon Brando on the history of the Americas
In 1973, Marlon Brando boycotted the Oscars in protest at the portrayal of Indigenous people in movies and television. He won anyway – but sent a representative to refuse the Oscar.
Tom Swanky
August 6, 2018
I am glad to be living in British Columbia where there is so much important work underway.
When describing British Columbia’s founding, non-indigenous academics have yet to abandon the expression “contact” for denying what native Elders teach was a case of genocide.
As the usual non-indigenous account has it, after the first 100 years or so of “contact” with Europeans in the North Pacific, many of the original Peoples had declined from the tens of thousands to just a few hundred. For example, the Nuxalk, Tsilhqot’in and Haida each are said to have declined in the order of 90 percent during this 100 years.
The proximate causes are said to include a range of new diseases and stress from the sudden institution of both the industrial revolution and European agriculture. All producing something resembling a straight line decline over this 100 years.
So it was that many formerly self-sufficient and autonomous indigenous populations came to peacefully accept British colonialism and subjugation to the Crown. Moreover, as the land became less densely occupied by its original residents, there was little of the violent resistance that often accompanied native dispossession elsewhere. Thus producing B.C. as it is today.
Yet, the narrative accompanying the “contact” doctrine is false. There was no gradual decline. Not among the Nuxalk, Tsilhqot’in, Haida or several other of the original Peoples.
There was a single precipitous decline. The Peoples most concerned lost 75 and to 90 percent of their number over just 12 months. It began in 1862 and was all over by May of 1863.
The incoming British colonizers produced this rapid decline to advance the cause of colonization. They imported smallpox (the verb of one insider) and then repeatedly violated English law concerning contagious diseases to create numerous artificial epidemics. The colonial authorities under Governor James Douglas licensed and led this criminal behaviour.
As to the challenge presented by “contact” with European culture, after four years of direct observations, Governor Frederick Seymour noted in 1868 that natives here were quite capable of adapting to innovations. He specifically stated the sole cause of the dramatic decline had not been from “contact” but from the smallpox epidemics.
One day, the textbook narrative of BC history will give a more appropriate weight to the Elders’ teaching concerning the genocide of their ancestors. This will be a sign that the non-indigenous community has grown more toward realizing the potential for justice and reconciliation.
But that day is not yet today. Tomorrow will be a new day.
Tana Reah Thomas
Today I celebrate resilience. I’m sitting here asking myself what I can do today to commemorate those that have passed on. Those that were suffering, not able to find a way to survive in a system that was built to destroy our spirits. Systemic trauma and oppression still plague our communities to this day, all this stemming from an enforced act created by the Canadian government. The best way to commemorate our survivors that have passed on is to be proud in who you are and where you come from. I will share my story and teachings with pride on the canoe, just as any other day. Too many of our people have grown up with shame. Seeing pride within our communities is healing for all of us. We all want to see beautiful things in the world happening around us. What do you find beautiful? What makes you happy? For me, it is feeling my spirit strengthen. Standing in the ocean, trying to sing loud enough so I can hear myself over the crashing waves. To me, the strengthening of my voice is a reflection of my spirit. If my spirit is distant, I will be able to hear it in my voice. How do you call your own spirit back to you? What practices make you grounded? When my body and emotions are feeling numb, it is easy to get stuck. Remember to make a list of what you are grateful for. Pray to your ancestors, and hold onto the vivid image that your circle is not small. To our generation and the many more to come, I’d like to encourage you to be courageous, and know that thousands of your ancestors are standing behind you, cheering you on, praying for your success. Know that you were born to be a leader, never give up on yourself as you have something to teach the world. We are still here despite outside entities trying to destroy us. We are the generation that will dig up our ancestral teachings through learning the language, singing our songs, and dancing our dances. As long as we protect the spirit of our surroundings, our teachings will never be lost. Remain resilient, and never give up on yourself, or your people.Happy Resilience Day
Chuu!
Yaumuk Hacumiss
My late daddy, Chief Andrew Amos this was his area of expertise!
He fought his entire life for our rights and had the expertise of how to properly manage culturally to protect for future generations!
He was fully fluent speaker and knew it all in our language too; he would be our equivalent of having his Doctorate he was such an expert!
He was a true ha’wii (Chief) provider for our 14 nations! Tlecko to our leaders of today to continue on the legacy of our ancestors!
To me……it ties in w Truth Reconciliation!
It’s life long unlearning of this toxic colonized society of kkkanada. I thought I was successful based on this model; I have 7 years of post secondary education, hired in every faucet of society and owning my highly successful business and the list goes on…..
Now I realize how confounded misguided I was by the norms of toxic society.
Every day I seek to live by the cultural teachings of our ancestors and practice their teachings daily. It’s also my passion to facilitate truth history learning up to current events! Is why I and a small team developed truth education website iisaakteachings.com
I dedicate it to all Residential School survivors and the next generations 
💖 and to all who are courageous to take on major shift changes for generations to come!
CBC panel: What does decolonization mean?
Wore my pink for anti-bullying day plus…
Wore my pink for anti-bullying day plus….
Bullies includes governments, churches, injustice system, racism, systemic racism oppression, poverty all faucets of society and trickles down to lateral violence! This whole society is infiltrated with toxic forms of abuse, sexual abuse, abuse of power, poverty are all forms of bullying! 
🤔
😐
It’s not just the kids…..sighs
Time is now for serious changes for all of us!
Respect, truth, justice, and kind society is what we need! iisaak teachings and put into every day practice! No more bogus 1 day fixes!
Iisaak means respect in Nuu-chah-nulth 
❤
It’s a FNs law in place for 1000s of years!
Yaulthmuk aka Andrea Amos
Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish nations
I Looked For You – Robyn Lawson
I wondered and waited for you…
I wondered who would show up, I wondered who would stand.
I wondered if my words or calls for help would bring you to us. I worried my anguished voice would just fall flat.
I looked for you; I searched through the faces to see if there was someone, that one unexpected person to stand with me because they see and despise the injustices too.
(More)
Indigenous Languages Need You
The revitalization of Indigenous languages is integral to reconciliation and redress. However, provinces across Canada still don’t have legal protections for Indigenous language. We need Indigenous language rights to ensure Indigenous people have the right to have our children educated in our Indigenous languages.
If enough people sign this petition, we’ll be able to convince the Provincial governments to take this issue seriously and push for a meeting to discuss how they can participate in meaningful reconciliation.
Please join us in calling on governments to honour the recommendations of the TRC
Second Annual Red Dress Campaign March
In support and remembrance of all missing and murdered ladies in Canada
Sunday, 17 September 2017
That time when the former newspaper magnate accidentally tripped over the truth: it’s not hard to figure out how he gets so upset…
What Does Canada150 Mean for Indigenous People?
What will it take for Ottawa finally to tackle Indigenous child-welfare crisis?: Editorial
If Justin Trudeau means what he says about building a new relationship with Indigenous peoples, he should start doing less to defend his government and more to defend the First Nations children it has for too long let down.
IDLE NO MORE & DEFENDERS OF THE LAND: CALL TO ACTION
UNsettling Canada 150
In honour of Arthur Manuel, we call for a National Day of Action in support of Indigenous self-determination over land, territories, and resources
July 1, 2017
I dedicate the truth, cultural educational website to my parents, grandparents, brother and all residential school students and all next generations especially grandchildren and the unborn
❤❤ all First Nations people ❤
“www.iisaakteachings.com”
Tlecko to Sandy and Louise my Settler brother and sister and all who join us 1000 plus members world wide FNs and Settlers in unity!
Tlecko tlecko to so many in iisaak high respect!
Christopher Alemany we must start more locally to make it a life style change. Please tag Mike Rattan. Tlecko tlecko! Our ancestors guiding us all ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yaulthmuk Hacumiss Tlecko to Jeremy Board and many others who are true believers in change! Audrey Siegl Brandon Gabriel the movers and shakers!
Tim Sutherland Sr, Jan Green Moy Sutherland Sr., Corbett George, Austin Ed Jorg, Ray Tony Charlie, Louise Martin, Ron Martin plus many many more elders
❤❤❤❤Austin Ed Jorg You have moved in good strong strides, you do great work
❤Yaulthmuk Hacumiss Tlecko Chief….i do what I can 
😍
Austin Ed Jorg You’re my inspiration
Ray Tony Charlie My goal to my friend- I will continue to share our tragic experiences of survivors, many out there have no clue. So I want to help educate them to the dark secrets of Canada/churches.
‘It was a shock’: Residential school survivor sees her painting more than 50 years later
Gina Laing was recently reunited with paintings she created in an extracurricular residential school art class
Knowing the true enemy
Lawrence O’Donnell on Dakota
Chief Dan George: Lament for Confederation,
July 1st, 1967 – True then; true now
“The legacy of colonization, dispossession and residential schools remain all too palpable for many of Canada’s First Nations. On this edition of The Enright Files, some prominent Indigenous Canadians discuss the wounds still afflicting First Nations people, the ways they need the government and Canadians at large to make amends, and the hopes they have for the future.”
Guests in this episode:
- Mr. Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- Taiaiake Alfred, Indigenous Governance Program at the University of Victoria
- Lee Maracle, novelist and author of Ravensong and Bobbi Lee: Indian Rebel
- Cindy Blackstock, First Nations Child and Caring Society of Canada
Link for Enright Files
“Cultural Genocide”: Landmark Report Decries Canada’s Forced Schooling of Indigenous Children
Residential Schools: Devastation for previous generations; devastation still today.
Link for the TRC Final Report
Processes of Decolonization
Link for Article by Poka Laenii
iisaak teachings 