Letters

Re: Constance Lake Elders oppose hydro project (Wawatay News, June 13)
United opposition
It is amazing to see how greedy our generation is. How dare we think we can decide the fate of a river that has been in existence since the planet began its life. In a few short years, because of greed, we can destroy the ecosystem for an unknown number of species of fish and wildlife. I thought we were to work together and be a strong people and not be so easily divided. The life we know now will not be here forever, we will in the future be back on the land, if it is still there to go back to. I too have spoken to many people from Constance Lake who were opposed to this dam, they felt powerless. I just hope that all the companies coming in do not think they can erect their dams on the other rivers. They will face a strong, united opposition from the other First Nations.
Submitted online by Jassen
Balance needed
I too believe in protecting the river and all the miracles it provides me as a person and as a people. I also believe the Creator gave us the ability to use the land to look after ourselves and all that depend on the land. This is why I believe we can find balance between protection and development. In the last 20 years I have personally seen poverty grow in my community to the point where 95 per cent of our young people are on welfare where they cannot even afford a fishing rod let alone the hooks they will need to exercise their Constitutionally protected right to fish. They cannot afford to go onto the land in this current state of poverty.
All First Nation governments are currently going through Federal Government cutbacks once again which again put more pressure on the First Nation leadership to manage their communities. The federal government wants us to move into towns and get off the reservations so we are not there to look after our lands and territories. They only provide enough resources to slowly sink ourselves. We try the best we can but the writing is on the wall, financial shortfalls again and again lead us to third party management where we lose all control of our organizations. Even the Auditor General reports say this very clearly, the First Nations are underfunded and the gap is only growing.
Due to these shortages in funds we are lacking in all areas of social success. Mental health, addictions, poor education, lack of training, lack of jobs and the list goes on. I have seen all these social deficiencies gain ground and continue to get greater. When are we going to open our eyes and do something about it?
I believe the CLFN leadership was attempting to make change for the betterment of its community by looking at these hydro projects as a balancing act, not one built on greed but one built on reality and one in which they believed could be done in balance with nature and development. These hydro projects are run of the river projects, not regular dams that control the water flow. These run of the river dams will let the river flow as it has always flowed. What flows above the dam will flow below the dam is a guarantee that the leadership saw as the most important decision factor.
The employment benefits would have been another direct benefit to the community members who are currently struggling to find employment. Many jobs would have been created to get people much needed income to support their families and lifestyles. This project will still provide these benefits. The financial returns will put CLFN in a position where it can now begin governing itself to its standards and not the federal government’s. We will be able to put more funds into training and education, culture and language, infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, social healing and foundations, and more applications and investment in the traditional territories. We will be able to invest in our young people and ourselves. We will be able to carry out programs we only dream about today that involve our youth, our Elders, our women and our land users.
This decision was not about greed as some have misunderstood, it was about becoming free and independent for our next generations. If we do nothing today how can we expect things to get better when in the last 30 years we have seen everything get worse?
Poverty is simply not having the resources you need to care for yourself and from where I come from many of my people are currently living in poverty. For those of you who want to watch our children go hungry one week of each month I take my hat off to you. For those who do not want to look at the real picture of poverty and sickness I take my hat off to you as well. For those of you who want no change because you are happy my hat goes off to you as well. For those who want to fight for change and truly look at all options to improve ourselves I pray for you. For those who are willing to open their eyes and see the real world of our situation and decide that something must be done I pray for you as well. For those of you who have the courage to believe in a better future I pray for you as well. Too many times we are our worst enemy and the mistigooshuwuk know this and play us like fiddles. One day I pray we all can look at ourselves with support and love, not with suspicion and judgment.
Submitted online by Roger
Re: Distinguished NAN leader passes (Wawatay News, June 20)
Remembering a friend
I had the honour to work for and with Frank Beardy in the early days of both Wawatay and IFNA. He was a true friend, colleague, visionary, and yes, a trailblazer. We laughed and cried together. Once we were arrested together in Temagami for helping our brothers and sisters protect their traditional land. Frank was a gifted storyteller. There are now many stories and memories of Frank to be shared. What a legacy he leaves behind for all to cherish. Blessings to his family and friends. Rest in peace my dear friend.
Submitted online by Garnet Angeconeb