1.)Tom Longboat Day 2021 and Kamloops 215. (10 min read) (1st of 104 total articles, as of september 20, 2024. See table of contents after article 20.)
I am Tom Longboat's grandson. My mom was Tom's oldest child. She past last fall at 100 years old. She always spoke up when she saw wrongs being done to Indian People. This is what her parents did and the previous generations before her. This is our oral history, this is why we Indian people still have what we have today.
Date: May 17th 2021. Letter for Tom Longboat Day. I have been asked to say a few words from the family for the 2021 Tom Longboat Day. I do not believe that I am going to say anything that you do not already know, only to use this time for us to think with one mind. Our family does not usually talk too much about my grandfather, except when asked to. It is our way not to be boastful about the gift the creator gives to each one of us. We are to use these gifts to help the people. As such, we are not to be jealous of another's gift to help the people.
In the past, Tom Longboat Day has been about physical health. As we know, both mental and physical health are needed to live a healthy, balanced life.
Previously, when a Canadian politician read a proclamation for Tom Longboat Day, he spoke of how surprising it was that Tom was able to accomplish his successful athletic career despite the severe racism and discrimination that he faced. With this in mind, I offer the following for your thoughts on this 2021 Tom Longboat Day.
The racism that Tom faced in his lifetime is the same racism that Indian people face today. Nothing has changed. In that context- "We are all Tom Longboat".
Another factor of our mental health is to stop the bullying of each other. This is in our teachings. Simply use our minds, think about what is going on and balance will come quickly. We are to draw upon our Teachings when they become relevant to the times we live in. This is our oral tradition. There is no new way, there is no old way, there is only Our Way. No change. Simply use the mind the Creator gave you and we will all come to similar solutions to our current situation.
In closing, I want to say Tom Longboat was Six-Nation Confederacy- Longhouse Religion. His birthday is July 4th. How it got to be placed on June 4th my family does not know. My mom always said that Papa's birthday is July 4th. I believe Tom and his family would know when he was born and what day they celebrated his birthday on.
So speak up about racism and bullying. Turn off Hate Book, Insultagram and the anti social media, leave the phone at home and go run. LOL.
Date May 30th 2021.To whom it may concern: The remains of 215 Indian children were found buried at the site of Kamloops residential school. I will touch on but a few of the many relative points for your consideration. Some of this has taken a lifetime to find out, because it's hard to find the truth when they're always trying to hide it.
Soon after the news of the remains of 215 Indian children were found, a Canadian politician Proclaim to the media- "...let this bring us together."
The official motto that the residential schools where designed around was: "Kill the Indian- Save the child".
Tom Longboat, my grandfather, escaped from the residential school in Brantford, Ontario. My mom said he saw little children being severely beaten by a man, the way a man would beat another man. These beatings were for the slightest infractions. Tom said that the Indian children would go up into the attic rafters of the residential school to speak their Indian language, because if they were caught speaking their language, they would be severely beaten. Tom knew he had to get out of there.
"If you no longer speak your language and no longer practice your culture, than you have no right to demand Aboriginal rights from us, because you are assimilated with the ruling power."- Pierre Trudeau, Renee Levesque, First Prime Minister's conference, 1983.
"The importance of language can not be overstated. Language is an intrical part of any culture and if language dies so does that culture."- Saulteau Band.
A charge of genocide made by the Haudenosaunee at the United Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland in September 1977 gives a definition of genocide in Article II as: "In the present convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group such as:
a.) killing members of the group;
b.) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
c.) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
d.) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.
e.) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group."
In 1953, a pregnant Six Nations woman in a hospital, was given pills by medical personnel and not told what they were for. The woman became suspicious, so she put the pills in your mouth, but spit out the pills when no one was looking. She kept asking what the pills were for, but she never would get an answer. Finally, a nurse said that the pills were so she could not have any more children, she had enough already. The woman delivered a healthy baby boy.
According to Six Nation Longhouse religion:
1-abortion is not allowed.
2-if a woman has 12 children, she has a straight path to heaven when she dies.
According to the media, just this past week the Canadian government passed the third reading of Bill C-15. This bill align Canadian Federal law with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP). Why has the media not explored what this Bill means to Indigenous Peoples Rights in Canada?
The following is a list of examples, but not limited to, official government genocide policies against indigenous people in Canada:
- Infranchisement Act.
- Indian Act.
- "1960s Scoop Babies".
- "Adopt Indian and Metis Babies" program.
The following is not an attack on a religion. Indian people do not fight over the Creator. My mother said it is a sin to talk about another person's religion. I have decided to bear this responsibility. I see no other way. When Europeans first came here, there are documented speeches of indians that basically say the following: 'we see you white brothers fighting over the Creator. We Indian people will never understand this. How can one fight over the Creator?'
In 1633 the Puritans executed 7 Quakers for being Quaker.
During the time of first European contact with Indians of the America's, the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church Proclaim that these Indians were not human and did not have souls like Europeans do. The Pope followed this decision with his "Doctrine of Discovery" which puts forth the idea that: Indians are not humans like Europeans and therefore their land can be taken from them without their permission. The Indians don't own the land any more than the animals who roam the woods there. This "Doctrine of Discovery" is still subscribed to by governments of the Americas and promotes the continued belief that Indians are not human beings.
The Supreme Court of the United States of America still sites this" Doctrine of Discovery" when ruling against Indian Nations in their decisions.
In the early 1900's, Six Nations Confederacy Chief Levi General went to the League of Nations to expose Canada's Injustice to the Indian people of Canada. The Canadian government retaliated against Chief Levi General for doing this, by not allowing him to ever return to his home in Canada, not even for his mother's funeral.
The Canadian government sent a reply to the League of Nations regarding Chief Levi Generals "petition" to the League, dated December 27th 1923. This reply was titled: "statement respecting the Six Nations appeal to the League of Nations". After this reply, a "purview of the Indian Act is offered for convenient illustration."
At the end of this purview, page 16, last sentence, it's clearly states: "the ultimate aim of the government is to fit the Indians for full citizenship."
In the late 1980s, the United Nations voted to change the designation of "Indigenous Population" to" Indigenous People". Canada, U.S., Australia and New Zealand voted No. It would have been one step closer, for Indigenous People to be recognized as Human Beings. When governments and institutions do things with a purpose, those governments and institutions can only undo those things with a purpose.
Indian people have always known the truth and have always been trying to reconcile with the Europeans since they first came here.
It is the Canadian government that must be truthful with itself and it is the Canadian government that must now reconcile with itself.
Apologies never bring Justice. I understand the pain and empathy in saying "let this bring us together", but saying this will never bring about "Truth and Reconciliation"
Years ago a Canadian politician was caught saying that when Indians come to his office to complain, he just starts yelling at them and keeps yelling at them until they leave. It works because they don't come back. Are the Indigenous People of Canada now expected to accept "apoligies" instead of "being yelled at"?
If we cannot now say Genocide for the Souls of those 215 innocent Indian Children- then when will we be able to say it?
With "Truth and Reconciliation", the government is asking itself and the Canadian people to look at themselves in the mirror. This is the most difficult thing for any individual to do. It can take a lifetime, and even then. So the idea that this self realization is going to happen to an entire population all at once, is not realistic.
If you force someone to look at themselves, they may hate you for it. Even when they realize you are right about what you are saying. But the current situation demands this. We must all prepare ourselves for this dynamic.
Consider the following four Points:
1- Canada must admit genocide against the indigenous people of Canada.
2- Canada must denounce the"Doctrine of Discovery".
3- Canada must recognize the indigenous people of Canada as human beings.
4- Canada must not retaliate against indigenous people who come forward with their truths. Laws must be enacted and strictly enforced.
In closing, I will say something that may sound strange to some, but this is how I was taught. Do not listen to me. But if you choose to think about these things, use the mind the Creator gave to you and see what you come up with. If we all think with that One Mind, we will all see similar solutions to the current situation. Only then can we move forward. Peace...