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Good morning everyone. Thank you very much for joining us. This is a very special
day as we welcome the Grand Chief Shawn-A-in chut Atleo to give the
LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium here
in Stratford, but before we begin, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is
Antoni Cimolino.
I'm the Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival and -
(Applause)
thank you. So, as we begin
I'd like to welcome two artists to the stage to start today's event.
Lee Claremont is Mohawk and Irish, and was born in Woodstock
and on the territory at the Grand River Six Nations
Ontario and she's a visual artist of international renowned including a
commission to represent Canada
at the Pan Am Games in Toronto in 2015.
And some of her work is currently on display in Stratford at the Gallery Indigenous
so I encourage you to go and see - she's been here
for a number of days setting everything up, hanging it, so please go out and have a look.
She now resides in British Columbia and so we're specially honored that she's
come all this way and agreed to give an Opening Blessing for today's event.
James Adams is a multi-disciplinary artist. He's a storyteller, he's a writer,
he's an educator and he's a performance artist of Mohawk,
Cree, Innu, and Anglo-Saxon heritage. He led part of a storytelling workshop here
in Stratford as part of our Forum back in July and he's generously agreed
to come in today and help us start things off. So ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome James and Lee.
(Applause)
My name is Black Bear Man Who Walks from the South.
I am a tree in a mohawk and my clan
is so the Eagle and I'm very proud and honored and humbled
to be here to sing for you today. The song I would like to sing
was gifted to me by this rattle. I made this raffle for my son when he was 2
months old
gave me his song that they sing to him every night before he sleeps.
With his permission I would use his rattle and his song
to open these festivities.
I am Lee Claremont from the Six Nation's Territory and
I'm Mohawk and Irish.
I call myself Morrish there's a lot of Mohawk-Irish
on the reserve.
I won't speak much other than give the Blessing but I have a story
that happened this morning so I thought I should share it.
And I've been carrying this little folder around ever since I've been here.
Everywhere I go I've got this folder and down by the river
because I'm trying to put together something
for this blessing because it's so important and
this morning I went out for a coffee and - to get a coffee, and bring it back
so I could look at my folder again, and I got back and I forgot
the folder and then all of a sudden the Creator just said to me
"Forget the folder"
"Just go out there and speak from your heart."
So it is my blessing
to be able to give the blessing to this great event, so
if you could please stand -
Great Creator we are all gathered here to seek
understanding and begin know each other
in a way that is positive and
go on to higher
spots for more discourse within
all of our nations and
our fellow Canadians, with joy and passion
I'm sure you Creator have made us all loving
and just want to be one big family and we're all
so lucky to live in the country of Canada and
I'm very, very thrilled and honoured that you have helped us put together this very
great forum. All my relations. Thank you.
Thank you Lee and James. What a magnificent way to start.
Now as you may be aware, this is my first season as Artistic Director at the
Stratford Festival and in putting together this season,
I put together a series of plays that examined a theme,
an idea, and the idea centers around communities.
What makes up communities? What happens when communities divide, and where's the
place of the outsider? What happens to the outsider when communities divide?
And to support the exploration of that theme, not only in our playbill
but with our audiences in interactivity
I put together a forum. These are over 150 different events that range from comedy
nights, talks
speeches, concerts, that explore that idea and take it further
and to see how these ideas play out in our playbill. So to this end,
we're thrilled - I am thrilled that we are able to partner
with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship to present this year's
LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium in Stratford as part of our inaugural Forum.
The ICC with its mandate of fostering a culture of engaged citizens
is a natural partner for the Forum. The LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium
which is the ICC's intellectual platform is a national
interactive lecture on citizenship and we're delighted,
especially delighted to have as
the first speaker here in Stratford National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo
of the Assembly of First Nations
to have his voice included in our exploration and understanding
of community. Now it is my great privilege to introduce to you the organization's
founders and co-chairs, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
and John Ralston Saul. Adrienne Clarkson is universally acknowledged for
transforming the Office of the Governor General.
The energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of Canada that she shared
in her six years in Ottawa left an indelible mark
in our nation's history. A leading figure in Canada's cultural life, Mme Clarkson
has had a rich and a distinguished career in broadcasting,
in journalism, the arts, and in public service.
An eminent writer, her latest book "Room for All of Us"
recounts a story of 10 successful Canadians who lost
everything and rebuilt their lives in Canada. Her work has been recognized with
dozens of awards in Canada, the United States and abroad
including 26 Honourary Doctorates and that has to be some sort a record.
Anyway, we're honoured to have her join us today.
A celebrated essayist and novelist John Ralston Saul's philosophical
trilogy and its conclusion,
"Voltaire's ***", "The Doubter's Companion",
"The Unconscious Civilization", and "On Equilibrium: the
Six Qualities of the New Humanism" have impacted political thought in many
countries.
In "A Fair Country: Telling Truths about Canada",
he argues that modern Canada is profoundly shaped
by Aboriginal ideas. Both John and Adrienne's books are available for sale in the
lobby following this event,
and as I always say, there's nothing that wins you greater
warmth in a writer's heart than buying their book. John is the President of PEN
International and the founder and honourary chair
of French for the Future. He is a Companion of the Order of Canada
and a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de France.
His many literary awards include Chile's Pablo Neruda Award,
the Governor General's Award, the inaugural Gutenberg Galaxy Award.
It is my privilege to welcome him here today. I will let John
introduce the National Chief and if you want to find out more about the ICC
there is of course a website there's more information in your program.
I will now call on Adrienne Clarkson to tell you more about the organization
herself. Ladies and gentlemen,
the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson.
(Applause)
Thank you very much Antoni and I want to thank the Stratford Festival
for partnering with the Institute for Canadian Citizenship
in this wonderful forum on community
and we do have an identity of interests and I'm really happy
that we are together today on this wonderful day in Stratford.
The ICC was something that I wanted to
found as I was leaving Ottawa because
as the first immigrant to become Governor-General I felt it was important
to help others who have come to this country as little children or as adults
and chosen to become Canadians that they have the chance
to be part of Canadian life, not just by having jobs and living okay
but by having an imprint,
by leaving their mark, by becoming something in this country that
everybody wants to be. That, whatever goal they chose, there would be nothing
standing in their way.
That we would be inclusive for everybody because we realize that people coming
from other countries bring different values, they bring their experiences and
they come here and we become
enriched by this wealth of new perspective,
new ideas, and how we all benefit from them.
I have always wanted
to make sure that we in this country are encouraged to think about ourselves
first and foremost as belonging to Canada.
That we are Canadian citizens because we belong and we share values -
the public and ethical values that this country was built upon
and continues to believe in. When I was little,
people were very kind to us in Canada. I have only
as I pointed out in my autobiography, only the best stories to tell. We came to Canada during
the crisis at the Second World War. We were refugees. We had nothing.
The Anglican Church was extremely kind to us because we were Anglicans and I
think like a lot of immigrants
churches help people first and foremost.
And I remember people saying to my parents
and we'd hear it, "Don't worry Bill Nethal, you know, your kids will be Canadian
in one generation"
and my father would say to us after, "one generation's too late"
"You're going to become Canadians now. Everything will be yours now."
And so we worked hard for that and we did it.
We have a lot of institutions in this country
that work very hard for newcomers, that work very hard for immigrants, for refugees,
for teaching people the languages of our country,
but I felt that once we became Canadian citizens we kind of dropped people,
so we have three programs at the ICC. We have this LaFontaine-Baldwin
Symposium which is our intellectual
platform for talking about citizenship, inclusion
and we have a wonderful program
called "Building Citizenship" which is volunteer groups across the country having special
citizenship ceremonies where we have roundtables and discussions about
what it is like for new citizens to live in this country
and then they become citizens right after that discussion
and our very successful program, the Cultural Access Pass.
We've had more than 70,000 participants to date
and that is - a pass is given to every single new Canadian not just at our
ceremonies but to some 2900 ceremonies across the country
to all new citizens that they can belong
to nearly 1500 cultural places
in Canada where they will be welcomed for free for one year with a family of up
to four children
and I'm very happy that we have in our audience today
a number of our CAP participants. We are really, really thrilled
that this has taken off as such and we are also thrilled that Via Rail gives
50% off its lowest advertised price
to CAP holders. The thing is good all across the country
and it fills in very much that idea that
you cannot belong to a country unless you know
about it - unless you want to
be part of it. Unless you have that sense
that you are welcomed into it, and all the institutions that have welcomed
our CAP holders, they are part of our building
citizenship. We are delighted with our partnership for Stratford.
We are with Strafford. We are happy that we have
this lecture here with the National Chief
Shawn Atleo whom we have known
for a number of years and who we feel is going to
be able to tell us in a very interesting
and provocative way what it means to belong in this country,
what it is that we are looking for in this country.
And I want to say to everyone who has helped to organize this
- thank you, and now, John my fellow co-chair.
Thank you.
(Applause)
Thank you very much Antoni
and Adrienne. It's a great thrill to be here doing this in Stratford
for the first time.
I want to thank the drum and
James Adams. I want to thank elder Lee Claremont
and I want to acknowledge that we're on Six Nations
Territory. These protocols are very important and
it took me years to learn to thank not the drummer but the drum
because the drum is in and of itself something so
ladies and gentlemen, welcome
to the 11th LaFontaine-Baldwin lecture, the first here
in Stratford. Welcome to those who are watching this via the webcast
I should tell you also that there's an online conversation taking place during
this lecture - I half understand what I just said.
In the question period, we are going to be monitoring
questions coming in through that conversation. We'll try to take some of
those questions along with those of you in the audience, so you have to be patient if you're in line
if someone butts in and says as I have a question from somebody in Whitehorse
that's okay, that's good. And we'll try to get as many as we can
and if we don't we'll deal with them perhaps online afterwards.
As I've said for 11 lectures
welcome to CBC Radio and Ideas because this is being recorded and will air on
that great, great program 'Ideas'
on September 4th. This lecture has traveled all over the country
Halifax, Quebec City, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, did I say Toronto?
Or allowed to?
Yes, Toronto - it's been given by
astonishing Canadians: Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, Louise Arbour,
George Erasmus, one of Chief Atleo's great predecessors
as National Chief. Last lecture, the 10th, was given by
his Highness the Aga Khan in Toronto and the ninth was given in Iqaluit,
the first-ever national lecture given in the Arctic - it was incredibly exciting -
by Siila Watt-Cloutier. These have all been historic events. They've played a role in
changing the way Canadians think
This will be the third time that one of our important
Aboriginal leaders has given it out of 11.
So why is it called the LaFontaine-Baldwin lecture? For those of you have not been to one before -
Well, because the ideas -
It comes out of the ideas of LaFontaine and Baldwin and the great ministry which they oversaw
and Joseph Howe who was their equivalent in the Maritimes out of the 18840s,
1850s. The Great Ministry was in power from 1848 - 1851
and in three years it set the direction for the modern
idea of Canada, the modern humanist idea of Canada, the ethical idea,
the pluralist idea, the idea of Canada at its best.
We also have our moments when we're at our worst like all countries.
It's interesting, the ICC and this lecture, because LaFontaine and Baldwin and the reformers were
brought to power
- the democratic movement were brought to power because of the Irish refugee
crisis of 1847
when the population of Toronto was tripled in three months
with people a communicable diseases and dying and the mistreatment in the
mishandling of the Irish refugee crisis in the summer of 1847
lead a critical mass
of people in Upper Canada to switch from voting for the family compact
the anti-democratic people to voting in the January
1848 election for democracy, so it was in fact an
immigration failure that lead to the arrival of democracy in Canada
in early 1848. And the first act
of the first democratic government of Canada
in February or March - in February, they did it before they actually took power
but they controlled Parliament -
their first act as the Democratic majority in Canada
was to bring in and immigration law to tell the English
to get lost when it came to emigration
and to create and immigration policy for Canada which would be fair
and just. Those are the roots of Canadian immigration and citizenship policy which
the ICC works for at its best coming out of the Great Ministry. So in three years
in power, they put through hundreds of laws which shaped
the Canada we know. They put in place the beginnings of an
open and fair justice system, the beginnings for public education system, a
professional
civil service. They put in place the two key things that would
end the possibility of the French
and English class European class
structures and systems which is to say they did away with English primogeniture
and began the doing away with
of the French seniorial system. They made free use of roads,
they created an egalitarian postal system because before then
you had to have money to send messages.
They removed from the law imprisonment for debt.
They created the public university system with the University of Toronto
which is the beginning of our public system
And - more and more and more - they shaped this country in three years for
the best.
And the idea of this lecture is to take that humanist past and say where can we
go in the future with this
inclusive egalitarian idea of Canada. So it was
logical when Adrienne principally and myself set up the Institute for Canadian
Citizenship
that the already existing LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium would come under its
wing
and when we sat down a year ago with Anthoni
and Stratford it was immediately logical to us
that the LaFontaine-Baldwin lecture
and Symposium would come here to be part
and work with the Festival at Stratford. So this is the ICC's
national intellectual platform on citizenship, democracy
and the common good. LaFontaine and Baldwin represent one part
of that - of the legal political and philosophical beginnings of Canadian
pluralism
but the other part which precedes that which is the founding part
is of course the incredible contribution made
by indigenous peoples. There with indigenous peoples you find
the founding pillar of the three founding pillars of modern Canada
and the last 100 years have been very difficult on this front
Very, very difficult but they have also witnessed
an incredible long, difficult but incredible comeback of Aboriginal
peoples
to their proper place of influence and growing influence in Canada reuniting
of the influence of the first hundreds of years with their influence
today
and National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo
is himself a sign of that come back.
He and his predecessors like George Erasmus,
over mercredi, matthew *** come,
Phil Fontaine are all part this extraordinary new
First Nations maiti in what leadership which
are reshaping Canada to put us back
in line with our origins with our humanist origins I first met
the national Chi five years ago in Vancouver when he was then the
elected representative of the BC chiefs on the National Council and I was
we had dinner together and then we did a thing in a theater and I found them
fascinating
it was clear that this was a new voice a new way of saying things from
an indigenous point of view but a Canadian 20 also
a kind of optimism in spite of all the difficulties
and then filled with ideas a new voice
for for stations but also as a Canadian I would say a possible new voice
for all of us the national cheese full biography
is in the playbill so I would just say this that
national chief Sean and *** at Kellys hereditary chief
up the house at First Nation on the west coast of Vancouver Island
July 2012 he was
reelected elected to a second consecutive three-year term as national
chief
by the Assembly of First Nations he's put an incredible emphasis on the
importance of education he's traveled
across the country country endlessly and tirelessly
and as you know the last six months have seen
a new chapter in indigenous people speaking out
all across this country and chief Atleo has been at the center of this
he is an invaluable and historic
turning point Voice for indigenous peoples
First Nation people and I think for all of us please welcome
national chief Shawn and shirt Atleo to the stage to give
the 11th laugh in 10 Baldwin symposium
lecture on First Nations and the future
of Canadian citizenship
to narcotics Chinese block chef
da blitz johnnie flock here see *** I can chat
his stock ship a hoser neutron of luck
clockers feet maas Arctic shift to see haha
way XO oneida chip law
delaware mocked an object martic it so
Dhaka speed maas talk to him ha such talk from Haas up
it's good to be alive this morning
I carry the name as I said in my language are in check
which my wife and I were hoping we be bestowed a name I would be bestowed a
name something like
eagle flies soars into blue sky
but are in chat translates as
people depend on you and as john had to offer nothing is very generous
introduction
I come from an old system up governance in my little village about how was it
which is a fishing village any you know the west coast of Vancouver Island
that's where I come from
I was just there yesterday day before yesterday
and that you can't get any further west on this content that how's it
it's at as a child we would find little class
fishing balls and it floated over from Japan so next stop to Pattaya we say
when I
when I think about home and as is the rightful thing they do is John had
expressed
expressing our protocol that whenever outside of our territories the language
that I spoke one have
52 indigenous languages in Canada
and in my role as national chief I support an advocate for all fifty two
languages coast to coast to coast joining the acknowledgement that my mate
Ian
in you eat indigenous brothers and sisters and also
to r-texas tech Co institution that the XO sex yet
newt New York giving expression of appreciation for
the ceremony this morning always is the way of our people
we reflect in respect that somebody else's laws are here
and the song's been sung in that prayer has been offered the elders have spoken
now we can get on with our business and that includes the
she who carries the the great name from treaty 7 territories
from the bus she carries the name
grandmother have many nations are former governor-general
that that that name all
all speak a little bit more about it but
her excellency honorable that I'm Clarkson
role that she held I our people through the bloods
gave expression to are feeling about the crown in destroying that name on
on you and I want to thank UN John for the very kind invitation
as along with the antennae and
the organizers here at Stratford it is a tremendous honor and I was speaking with
Lee
before she came to do the ceremony and let me begin with this sentiment which
she expressed to me she said
it feels like we're on that costs and so let me begin their
with that with that sentiment being so thankful to be here and I know that many
view will be
enjoying the artistic brilliance and creativity
and this notion oven biting this lecture
to be a part of this is something personally I feel
deeply grateful for never could we imagine if I were to hold a potlatch
where name would be the stall door
American cluded or rite of passage where begin a funeral
without going to the artistic leadership we would never call them anything less
that because they're part of the fabric of our systems of governance over the
course of history
and so too should we consider the artists as leaders amongst us
so I think about the John Ralston Saul sony is offering up important part for
the country through his writings
where the artist we had a chance to sit down and spend some time with last night
award-winning playwright
tera of parents here this morning only way
and the way you described a tire for her car ok
my daughter's name is Terry the way
are described it as an award-winning playwright talking about those who had
got the trenches so that
we is like if I can say as contemporaries as the next generation
so that we can fight on in the trenches that were dot
by the promise Kings by that
mister greens the renowned artists that have come from
these lands from our peoples from indigenous peoples
and in recognizing that were in someone else's territories and
and having the ceremony that we've had this really is the point of entry
expressions have respect to the original in car
and have a 10 cent to the ancestors mine and yours who gathered on the lawn to
make promises to one another as John
had alluded to promises to work together
for our collective well-being and may I say how fitting it is at this moment as
Lee had said to me before we started that we're on the cusp because it feels
like that
it feels like we've arrived at a moment perhaps a
unprecedented engagement awareness challenge an opportunity for First
Nations peoples
and indeed for all of Canada and as you know
and as was share here already law
la Fontaine involved in came together in the mid-eighteen hundreds
in the midst of chaos in the midst the rebellion
wasn't described necessarily as you're using the word conflict
but I know that to Graham Greene
last night when we word we're talking I think you use the term string theory
right
was not what he was talking about their year sir string theory and and the way
your talking even smaller than the Adams this is the way my father speaks to me
as well
they way you are reminding us about in our language we would say he should
missed a lot interconnected the
interconnected aspect of all life and the essence of life being everywhere
was what I received from what you'd said an idea of
this notion of something being created out of chaos are
at that time rebellion and that this country in fact in this
the idea of this lecture series John from what I'm hearing
what you're describing very much being based on that and the idea
at the Institute of citizenship I wanna touch on a few of these ideas
talk about the kinds have philosophy that was introduced mister green and
in your reflections with your fellow panelists at dinner
last night for those of us who were there so it feels like a very fitting
moment like was said to the last six months for the last 12 months
are the few times that I've been able to get away with
not shaving for example this is not my 5 o'clock shadow it takes a West coaster a
long time to get to this point
and so today I'm
behind the force over a little bit a facial growth
I want to take the opportunity to offer up a challenge
to respectfully when with great love reflect back
and as we do to our lot loved ones confront one another
periodically when we have some things that
that are on our hearts and on our minds I
I do believe that we can I'm cover powerful new ways to preciate
citizenship
at to unleash success and it does require
a bit of contextual framing always to think about what lies as a way to our
appreciate what is
at this moment as a way for us to 10 shape together
as Tara might do in her in her place is she's writing
to script what might be and this is a moment
to ask that we do this together and it does require us to go back further to
the early 1600s to the two row wampum
two treaties a peace and friendship to 1763 in the Royal Proclamation
by King George the third and we know another little King George's just been
born
I sense a Manitoba mukluks
under strict inspection by strong Mohammed I might add
and the Treaty of Niagara in 1764 and forth through relationships that have
been set out in treating
your unique around the world can it is unique in this respect agreements and
understandings right across this country
these agreements must not be viewed as after quitting
relics of history something just to the left yes they are fundamental to
understanding
our collective past but they're increasingly important to understanding
how we can achieve our potential as a society
today and into the future this is
be cuts the approach used by are
mutual ancestors yours and mine
to forge these agreements was based on recognition on respect
and you to understanding these are the principles that we must again embrace
and apply to clear a new path forward
understanding concepts of identity and citizenship in this land
that we now call Canada means that we must strive to fulfill
what was originally intended this is central to the success of Canada today
and in fact quite possibly it offers you know for universal lessons
the world over and so we began
with some sweeping historical references it is one of the great tragedies
the teachings of history in this country that this history
too often begins only with the arrival have europeans
so too I was talk thereby denying all our students the rich powerful and
important Chronicle
up the indigenous societies governments and peoples up to slap
given our limitations today that's the first challenge
to encourage olive you and Canada those listening in
to did dig deeper than what we can cover here
today thankfully there are tremendous new academic works from indigenous
callers that are making
a major contribution to our collective understanding and I'm very pleased to
say
that we're beginning to see changes in the school system as well
writings the likes of which john has authored juice about Canada fair country
I should start getting it cut back its
or in our midst we have
one of the if not the first indigenous man
appointed president of a charter University in Canada
Mike on sitting over there please stand up and be knowledge
the very earliest interactions between indigenous peoples and europeans within
the territories of what is now Canada
were characterized for the most part by mutual interest in respect
relationships established based on recognition and respect to commercial
and military alliance in treaty
are the bedrock in the foundation upon which Canada
is built in fact prior
to contact with Europeans their extensive trade network sentry making
practices
among indigenous nations European traders who arrived in the northern part
of North America had to learn and adopt these practices to establish a place for
themselves
and many instances to survive the two role of them up 16-13 remains one of the
most vivid than important examples the belt now exactly four hundred years old
records in expertly crafted precious purple and white shells the treaty
between urich walk and the Dutch the belt the pics the wake up to the sauce
a First Nations Cano and European sailing ship traveling together
side by side yet on parallel paths
I'm inhibited by each other it captures the commitment to an ongoing
relationship
about Thomas nations link to one another by the principles of truth
respect and French up high stock
being friendly to one another 20
to row wampum symbolizes a strong ethical relationship between two nations
into people's
some the other earliest observations have european negotiators recorded
and reported conclusions noting that and I quote here
there is no and to the relations
with the indians yes we sometimes Paul that term out
for example I am NOT the Prime Minister up indians intact
I'll come back to that point there reflecting
an intrinsic tied to the peoples to their labs and to the importance
agreements and relationships the earliest treaties from East follow the
path set
in wampum treaties of peace and friendship yet we must never overlook
the reality that those concepts in the tree EES included
economic and strategic impaired
this is perhaps best stated by representative
up six nations to the governor of New York in the early seventeen hundred's
when he summed up their interests by stating and I quote
trade in peace we take to be one
thing the Royal Proclamation of 1763
in part a statement to the rights of indigenous nations a statement no doubt
hastened by several successful First Nations battles
the Royal Proclamation reflects on successful alliances and treaties
a peace and friendship and affirms treaty making as a requirement for about
the proclamation led directly to the Treaty of Fort Niagara in 1764
creating a new covenant chain between the British Crown
and the First Nations and the great lakes area the Treaty of Fort Niagara
establishes a continuous relationship
have peace friendship and respect between the indigenous
nations and the crown you see all the more important
that your excellency would receive a name the likes of which she did
the grandmother many nations from treaty 7 territory
a very powerful link to the crown that exists to this day
what malcolm belts were presented
an exchange that at that time over two month period indigenous leaders made
speeches as we r want to do periodically
and conducted ceremony affirming their understanding of the relationship we
come from
are also cites remember this year four hundred years since the two row wampum
in fact October 7th
this year with mark the anniversary the 250 than ever see if the Royal
Proclamation
it's an important opportunity to remember the principles
apiece friendship especially recognition
being central to the original engagement of our earliest
political economic and yes military
agreements and of course as i've alluded to with the fifty two languages we are
incredibly diverse
i coming from the village about how is it which roughly
translates as people who come from the sea back to the
bland back to our backs are to the a the coastal mountain range in
next top like I said Japan where people have the ocean
and its evident in the way that we describe ourselves as nations and
even the terms that we use language as with any cultural
around the globe our citizenship then
that notion identity is intrinsically tied
to our territories my people
our people above the sea and when I was five or six years old
it was made abundantly clear as I the of I had my
dried fish in this pocket and I Mike fishing line and this pocket
and I was as any kid heading down to go fishing for the day
but the aunties would stop me always the aunties
my going their finger did you go see your grandma that
all how I'm going fishing all okay I guess I better
and they would then stop and make sure that I understood the necessity to sit
with my grandmother's
with my great ants and to learn through the stories about our people
and about the responsibilities that we will inherit and
and that was very early on in life hearing concepts the likes of which
mister green
alluded to in his reflection issue missed a lot we are all one
Sao walk that's an easy when you can say it with me go ahead
I'll walk there you spoke my language
it means one oneness oneness
issue missed a lot we are all one and interconnected
beginning to get to the root somewhat I'm hearing
are the underpinnings of the lecture series and the that very notion of this
country and concepts like pearl -ism
we are definitely a very rich and complex society just as neutron offers
about 15,000 must now
growing rapidly fastest growing segment of the Canadian population
but we are one of fifty two different languages there's 32 different languages
just in British Columbia
the pattern of contact was different where I come from on the west coast
and happened somewhat later but again we see the emergence of similar principles
and lessons
remembering also that early history was not without conflict
in the late 1700s Spanish British russian and american ships
began sailing the northwest coast are people's generally welcomed the
opportunity
to expand our trading networks but we're also absolutely clear
as my people especially our about jurisdictions
about our rights and about our responsibilities AXA big Russian by
Europeans were met with a fierce response fire people's
probably with facial hair like this in northern BC the plane get fought against
Russian occupation
and successfully defended their people in territories in Haida Gwaii and bank
arrival in many European ships were attacked
and destroyed in the assertion of indigenous territory
indeed my own nation captured and destroyed ships that were illegally
harvesting in our territories disregarding and disrespecting our loss
and as a child with a butter knife I used to be out on the rocks adjacent to
the
my village down the beach nice to find coins from the fifteen hundred's from
Spain
and outside would come visit maybe a horde of us kids that would sell miss
geyer
point for 25 cents because then you could get packed you what the store
I've said since seen examples of those coins in the Caribbean
and I only knew the link when the dance the Kingfisher would come out
and be sung and would be dance one of our most famous songs and dances in my
village
performed even during the time when the potlatch as well allowed because we were
speaking
instead of having our cedar boards up where would use a screen on a stage just
like this
we may started making them out of 10 vessey could hide the really quickly
tuck them away and then just pretend that we weren't doing anything
the Indian agents would company put our people to jail so that's my little
snippet about
a moment where I didn't really fully grasp we got to our stories our songs
are dances
this notion of conflict which are are people come emirates are potlatch into
our songs and four dances
part of this history includes this resistance war
and then of course devastating loss life from imported diseases
battles ensued on the coast and in land where the Chilcotin
a name that you may be hearing more of an oppressed these days the interior
British Columbia
and others waged war to oppose road construction that was occurring without
their participation
this was happening at approximately the same time as mining expeditions were
beginning along the north shore of Lake Superior
more I was just last week back here in the east
under the leadership of the famous in a *** chief shingle Kos
the Anish knock students firm defense
demanded fairness thank in fact demanded treaty
as they had heard about and seen happening further south
and had known as well amongst our own nations
you see like was described at the outset like this very country at moments a
conflict
there are clear choices in this country where we
established successful sustainable relations we have agreed
to respect one another we agreed that we have mutual interests we agree to
fairness
to sharing at to support one another these principles codified in the
treaties and embedded as well
an ongoing relationship are now the foundation and basis of the relationship
between First Nations and the crown
now Canada a bind us in a unique partnership secured when our ancestors
agreed to peacefully coexist
mutual respect and to share the lands and the wealth of the traditional
territories
First Nations and all Canadians share this history and were connected
as we embark on this collective future quite simply it means they're
is no outsider we r each and every one of us
all involved and we must all be engaged
the treaties and other agreements are not only about rights they are
absolutely also about responsibilities
within the indigenous worldview sharing is a central natural law that requires
us to develop protocols
a mutual understanding and respect to keep balance to seek harmony
have the whole not only between and amongst people
but I learned as a kid to go fishing that mean he was the promise of being a
Fisher
but you saying the song to the fish ayash a
true to lip because you have
treaty with the fish to it has to agree to grab on to that which you put out
in order for it to be brought him to become food john was complaining about
it not being a good Fisher side is offered up a fishing tip
I once for free this notion
hours sharing having
and understanding and mutual I having
a basis upon which you have mutual understanding and respect we can
illustrate
I like it offer up a couple illustration somewhat you may have
I'm picked up on the
recent media where there was really for us it was of
a flash fire a media reports about biomedical testing that was conducted
by the Government of Canada on children attending residential school not
a revelation that was entirely shocking too many of us who grew up hearing
not just whispers but real story is that our dinner tables with our parents and
our aunts or uncles and grandparents
but the reports had the effective really tearing open into open
old wounds its per it's perhaps a perfect as well as terrible example of
what happens
when there is no respect more real recognition
a people's ripping apart families apprehending children as they call them
to the battery ran into the bush
to try and save themselves trying to forcibly imprint and an alien language
is my father witnessed
5- and 6-year-olds having inspected to their tongue when they tried to speak
the only language that they could when they arrived at the school's
really
children face for trying to save themselves and their culture
and people trying to save their culture and their spirituality
nothing less than the prolonged abuse
up the most vulnerable is what occurred this abuse was not the exception
this was official federal policy we all know the tragic consequences of these
actions a legacy that continues to have a devastating
effect on our nation's today and this is where the professional becomes personal
these are stories I heard
at my dinner table being explained to me that some kids got vitamins and vitamin
C in oranges and some things didn't and was manage that we can ask
seven or eight year old understand that was the case and it just turns out that
Mikesell former always with the average for healing foundation
and you get why I am excited about the fact that he's now
president uva important university in the country it's that
it's that notion that education learning and understanding which is
really under like FEMA this reflection I like to offer so critical
and why looking back to understand what lies
is how we arrive at a better shared notion what is right now
then we can get on with shaping the future together the historic apology
that have 2008
was absolutely essential and I was there I was in the house when I was at work
and so now to as the time of Truth and Reconciliation
AXA reconciliation Kretschmann this opportunity for all First Nations
peoples and for all Canadians to join in the effort so understanding
we need to begin again building our shared future I can't help but
be thankful for this being just such a moment
more voices are included that haven't perhaps been included
and in this manner this being a historic moment in in the in the midst of an
artistic festival I think it really adds to it fortunately my second illustration
moving off at first one
from a recent news tells just such a story we saw
the recent massive flooding in Alberta no anyone was there I was
their you too me too was downtown Calgary in the waters were rising
strike Wow and it was capturing the headlines
Calgary was but a number a First Nations communities in treaty 7 territory were
also hit hard by the rising waters and I had the opportunity is part of my role
to travel to these communities three times during the crisis
and it's really quite overwhelming to witness this kind of natural disaster in
person for sure
talking to the families from to T now from Morley six aka
people devastated by their losses and facing a very uncertain future
yet what was most remarkable was seeing incredible courage
and the kindness have a community come together hearing about people checking
in on one another
on their friends and on their neighbors making sure the elders
and the children those most vulnerable were care for more safe
and the volunteerism people flooding
into
the arena's at these reserves i'm talking about. from all over
from the Reserve itself in from outside between any
people helping to keep each other spirit strong at a time
crisis material possessions of course being swept away by the rising water
but the spear never lost and it's the spirit that the Chiefs in their citizens
harnessed
to get the support they need didn't really seven are too often situations
like this have left people vulnerable and needy for far too long
lost because of the tangled web jurisdictional overlaps and
uncertainties that we still have today
not this time this was different to their credit the provincial government
joined the First Nations leadership
immediately followed closely by the federal government within days
I've impact we had ministers and representatives from all governments
across many ministries directly engage with the leadership
to put the needs of the people first
a time of crisis when everyone needs one another
the barriers in the gaps that block action were overcome seemingly melted
5 all over us the same lesson can absolutely apply more broadly to the
work that we need to do now
the full agenda requires that everyone come together justice treaty 7 poll
First Nations and their neighbors together
to deal with the rising water and one of the treaty 7 elder said when we're in
the meeting
with the various ministers and officials
this is treated he said comment about what was actually happening
this is what's required to do we need to come together among our own nations and
with the government's to honor respect their obligations
entreaty to support one another
you see we have inherent responsibilities to our lance
are waters in our peoples and we have inherent rights as nations to work
in full respect with one another as equal partners and other governments
the medical experiments that I mentioned earlier
are really part of a larger continuum
up socio-economic and policy experiments that have
all failed our people this includes the Indian Act an attempt to really displace
overnight the ways of life that had been in place for generations tried to wipe
away the promises and treaty
that we would respect one another and share that we would not impose one we
have life over another
all these experiments have been otter an abject failures
the experiments are all part of an unacceptable pattern that we must all
work to break
the realities in stats are stark and they're absolutely sobering
Canada ranking within the top five in the UN Human Development Index
of First Nations fall well below and struggle alongside countries in the
developing
and third world our people are as I witness first hand and some are
beginning to
appreciate now because I've increased awareness in this country
cramped in the crumbling homes in clocks in communities almost half of our
children live in poverty
our children and this is a fact all right now statistically more likely to
end up
in jail than to graduate from high school
the reality of attempted in I'll extinguishment and displacement
displacement makes it difficult
to even feel part of Canada
part of the whole today
I've experienced this reality directly myself as we fought and won
a major fisheries case amongst the neutron of
the core the judge brought the court to my village and i sat with my regalia in
front of my people in my village
and a lawyer for the crown said to me directly
we do not recognize that you exist as a people's
those words were uttered to me of course you know moment upkeep and
direct conflict but make no mistake that crown lawyer speaking for Canadians
when that crown lawyers representing Canada in a case on fisheries in my
little village of the west coast
but like the overall forty other court cases that week that I can point to you
we won this court case
and this is really about persistence
and in this case succeeding but it doesn't mean that when you when a court
case against the federal government that the next day it's implemented the way
you expected
this is where you come in just as we have his new channel finally concluded
this ten-year legal battle for recognition over fishing rights
we must find a way for for all of us based on recognition and respect
this means we all have work to do First Nations are becoming
fully engage in this effort by driving forward solutions
from the ground up working together respecting one another in supporting one
another we left this
all up and it makes economic sense as well
it makes political sense it makes moral sense
just as it did in the time treaty mutual respect recognition and partnership
this is how we can move forward together to break this pattern of unilateral
imposed approaches
that are absolutely failing not just us but the entire country
so this means that I love Canada has a tremendous and I shared stake in
renewing
and reconciling our relationship our ancestors did it we can as well
in fact we must do it this is required to meet our mutual interest in to
achieve mutual success
and this I feel is the economic imperative for the entire country as I
said earlier
our population this makes me an old-timer are the youngest and
fastest-growing population over half under the age of 25
tremendous potential in our peoples in our communities
we must invest in First Nations people through education through skills
training
and employment opportunities to ensure that First Nations are full participants
in the economy
a study by the Center for the study and living standards found that if we raise
First Nations Educational
and employment level so they're equal with the rest of Canada this will add
400 billion to the Canadian economy
and save a hundred fifteen billion in government expenditures
it's clear that our people are key to keeping Canada sustainable and strong
so our lands in the coming years canada's planning more than 500 major
resource projects
that would represent $650 billion in new investments
almost all which will be on or near First Nations land
or territories for any of this to proceed clear conditions must first met
the approaches must be sustainable and responsible
and they must respect and recognize our treaty rights
our title and our reality
this means then that we must design new approaches that ensure recognition
an ongoing relationship for stewardship and decision-making that reflects the
jurisdictions have all peoples
it means that principles which are in place and try and the United
Nations Declaration the rights have indigenous peoples that include
the right to free prior and informed consent are the basis upon which we
engage early and often
then we can all share in the economic benefits
the benefits of working with First Nations to give life to our rights and
support our solutions
is being recognized more MORE in this country
by influential groups like the Canadian Council of Chief Executives
who reported in July of last year on the opportunity among First Nations to
develop a skilled and trained workforce which would in turn create economic
spinoffs
and capacity-building at the community level the same report makes clear
recommendations on the benefits of recognizing writes an effective
meaningful partnerships with First Nations
it echoes what we as First Nations have been saying for decades I should
add the Canadian Chamber of Commerce placing in the top 10
list the barriers to competitiveness the need for skills training amongst the
indigenous peoples of this country as well
this takes us back to the early days emerging economic and trade patterns
I was thinking about to John the book by Hackett Fisher
Champlain Street
being another excellent example writings recently
that begin to capture this sentiment about the early days
economic and trade patterns and fisheries and in the fur trade and we
see that once again
our nations are important part to the economic life in this country
vital players and partners and keeping the country strong competitive
First Nations and particularly our young people have a growing confidence
determination and conviction and where high-tech indians
social media hot summer the highest users per capita social media
indigenous young people information moves
as quick as lightning now about what's happening in Ottawa our
media lecture for some at Strafford
the information moves incredibly fast rate now and
there's a very helpful to our people into expanding the conversation and
including
many in this notion of the resurgence in strengthening other people
the strengthening a First Nations governments have nation-building we
refer to it and rebuilding and the development of our own economies
First Nations are driving ford solutions enabling their citizens and youth become
to become actors actors for
a civil and just society and agents a positive change in their communities and
far beyond
but we need not act alone in our efforts to fulfill our true potential as
people's
as partners and his nation's we all have a role to play in realizing this
opportunity
for after all no one of us in this room
no one of us in this country created this current place
Noront rounded any of us break
the promises a tree but still
and yet still we can all take responsibility for sparking
change for us has been famously said and
John himself makes this reference we are all treaty people Ropar to the Crown
First Nations relationship that word remain central to Canada
real product that the partnership's built on respect and recognition
and we can live division of the ancestors enact a day for a better
tomorrow
indeed there is absolutely and I see this all the time an incredible amount
have work to do I was reminded to
my father's one of the first in our
perhaps in a in Western Canada but for sure amongst newt on all
and the first at the University British Columbia he went got three degrees
he said his grandfather had caught three whales I come from a whaling lineage in
his three whales
where his three degrees the very first First Nations man from
University British Columbia to it attain a PhD needed that in his fifties
is now 74 it just
reminds ice that while we've come a long way we have over 30,000 post-secondary
graduates that's a recent history that I'm talking about
your first university president sitting here I just talked about a man who
achieve their first PhD and John often references the over 30,000
post-secondary
educated indigenous peoples across our lands
and there's a lot of work to do we have come some
ways and my dad reminded me when I was having trouble with map I said that I
don't understand this
out a rock I can't do it you can have what you say sign
of drove me crazy I said that I couldn't in what he was saying was you can have
what you say
the moment you believe it's possible you're making the choice to do the hard
work
he would say there's the hardware the harder way
sign and this is where we find ourselves at this country as well
its it seems we've been avoiding the hard work for a long long time
but not anymore we're not going to allow this to be punted down to future
generations
and choose what ultimately the harder path
our efforts absolutely require us to come together to find solutions
achieving full engagement and forging understanding is the standard of how we
can and must do business together
our guiding principle is the shared commitment for first nations to be full
participants in designing a collective future
for our communities in the country as a whole First Nations are doing our our
work and we extend our hand to you
just as we did at the time a treaty we're reaching out the parliamentarians
and provincial and territorial leaders
her reaching out to the private public sector reaching out to the international
community in absolutely reaching out
to artistic are artistic leadership
we're reaching out to Canadians from all walks of life
and all face to join us in this national project this new national dream to
create a more fair
I just and a stronger Canada and I'm pleased and proud to say that more more
Canadians are standing with us every day
they're supporting our efforts to improve education our economies housing
health and community safety in my role as national chief as I alluded to
earlier my role is not to direct First Nations
my job is to empower to support their voices
advocate for renewed nation a nation relationship my role is to support an
advocate for respect and recognition
a First Nations rights title entreaties to press for the transformative changes
required
for first nations to fulfil their true potential
my role indeed is that a facilitator for direct discussion and dialogue between
First Nations governments the likes of which
was an example for 287 during the time of the flooding
Canada is built on a proud heritage up strong vibrant indigenous nations and
our historic and living relationships with one another
and together we can build strong communities where people's
are full participants in driving our economies educating our youth
and fostering strong First Nations governments and as I move to
towards concluding I wanna bring us all back to the great themes at the Laugh
montagne Baldwin lectures
that we must grasp the overarching themes that we can focus
on the specific plans of action programs for change in tasks for
each and every one of us I'm reminded the works a prime minister trudeau when
he left office in nineteen seventy-eight
acknowledge with some frustration and regret and I quote
despite our temps the Indian problem
is still with us thirty-five years later after successive governments both
liberal and conservative
it's time for a new language and a new story a story that's not about the
Indian problem
but I've recognition and a dialogue Herald Cardinal
akhri scholar in contemporary appear Pierre trudeau responded to the failed
policy program at the late sixties
with his important work untitled the I'm just a site
he outline thoughtful solutions organize around the FEMA
increase First Nations controller First Nations affairs based on recognition
all these components being key to citizenship
and kita belonging the same themes emerged when the National Indian
Brotherhood
which is the direct predecessor view some the First Nations
release the important policy statement call Indian controller Indian education
in 1972 another call to recognize our authority responsibility to educate her
own children
in our languages and cultures and to nurture their success
in today's world the massive 5
volume report to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal peoples from 1996
record recounts the same challenges and set up the same solutions in clear and
comprehensive terms and it was a report also born out of crisis
and conflict you'll recall the time of the oca crisis
as its often referenced as yet we still struggle to grab hold of the solutions
or worse complain that we don't know what to do
as I did say earlier we are making progress
but we must dramatically increase the rate and pace
up the change this to me compels new understanding and broader engagement
the engagement all of us
Canada needs a new story
cat is more than two founding nations cat is more than a multi cultural mosaic
Canada is more than a nation up immigrants canada is a country built
on a proud heritage of strong vibrant
indigenous nations Canada is built
on the fundamental foundation a partnership can it is legal and
political traditions are founded
in coral -ism and respectful partnership forged for both
East and prosperity this news story is connected to a very all the one by the
thread a collective history
and collective memory it's a story a proud nations
celebrating a strong voice a belonging and citizenship through their knowledge
languages traditions
and an abiding respect for the environment rating alliances have
governing
governing systems that respect the rights of all our new story
eclipses overcomes for once and for all
the failed attempts assimilation and the outrageous deny love the rights
I've indigenous peoples this news story our new story
embraces the dream our ancestors yours
and mine the dream of the two row wampum
have canoes traveling side by side never interfering with what
each other's paths the dreams of the original treaties of peace and
friendship the dreams of the early explorers
who imagined a society a partnership the dreams I've indigenous leaders who
sought to protect their citizens
their territories and their way of life
as citizens we are more than individuals
or something far greater something more complex
and precious we are connected he should finish to walk
to one another to our past
and absolutely we choose to our future
we are called to be active participants in achieving our promise to respect
reconciliation and sharing this is the promise in treating
as I say in my language he should be used to walk we are all one
recognition requires that we see one another
that we dialogue and understand one another with humility in with respect
Canada's Constitution the decisions that the Supreme Court
and countless studies set the framework for our new story
I recall falling having been in the House of Commons with my late
grandmother
she was 87 at the time holding her hands as we sat
and listen to the statement about apology and she turns
to me and she said grandson
they are just beginning to see us
scholars the world or find that a refusal to grant
recognition to indigenous peoples provokes resentment
and hostility further alienation
of them from their identity as citizens with the larger state
we can be resolute if we choose
in setting a better path just as our ancestors
a proper recognition of indigenous rights become the very source of pride
of citizenship
and identity we take pride rightfully so on Canada's great traditions a
peacemaking and serving piece
pieces created through recognition through living with humility
in order to see the other
it's an approach needed between peoples indeed between nations
between mankind and the natural world around us
now it's up to all of us to do our part to be active participants in writing the
story
inspirations to act are legion as I hope to have
that I have begun just begun to illustrate for you today
so let us recall again the words I've indigenous leaders entire
entering into Alliance trade in peace
we take to be one thing and so let me add
recognition and harmony we take to be one thing
prosperity and balance we take to be
one thing it is true understanding
that we can learn to see one another to recognize our shared interest you
realize the conditions for peace
and prosperity collectively
I feel strongly that we have in this moment
the ability we have in our young people have the energy
we have the IDS now is our time to be the authors have this news story
and turn the page to do tomorrow together
click Go echo thank you so much
second
size
I points at a political question
left or right it's always so tricky I
just got everybody responding so beautifully I could do it we could do it
one more time is that
that to pub in a public rhetoric to hear so often in Western Canada it very
rarely in central Cass which is
this idea everybody's involvement treaties were signed by two sides
not one side starting it's not the Indians aside the trees
its all honesty strategies and so in if
how many Westerners are in the audience that you all know it
you can lead so the quest the public question is
who are the treaty people we are the treaty people
who are the three people me
I R it's very simple I have to do something about it
it so we have to Mikes
we have very little time have to Mikes she won their
must be won over there there and we'll just it would take
for questions at once if you don't mind if there are people one line up so don't
sit around and that Canadian Way
thinking about i I don't want to be embarrassed I don't be first through
into
here will take them and then the National cheap all a respondent wants to
all four of them
so there is twice it would seem from the conversation that we've had from the
talk that you just given action on
that our leaders over the course of a long period of time
have been speaking out of two sides as their mouths or have spoken out of
one-sided their mouth and if have huge frustrations
and accomplishing what they say we all want to accomplish
in our world so give us some concrete things that we can do
rather than just getting in our cars and going home and moaning about it
on the way home great what's our next step Craig
man up at the Cushing conference earlier this week
reverted jameson inspire us just to support inspire
inspire has a DNA and its to support educational Aboriginal people
I wanted to comment on that and also a professor 16 catch one told us it's
important for us together the way when we need two could you tell us
more about what that means you mean for non average was to get out of the way
yeah okay man hi
useful Cove social media and I I mention that to say that
after watching the eight fire documentaries I had found myself in a
Twitter conversation with a few folks and I found myself being asked
by those who in some way speak for some
indigenous peoples in Canada what I thought our next step would be no I
realize that as a settler
no one ever asked me and I'm curious about
responsibility half is a mess we're our servers and to
engage as to the people in the streets relationships how we
referring the discussion so that we are and and
that we can talk about the ways in which we are part of that relationship
in a way that is respectful and that doesn't doesn't repeat this historical
trends are just taking over
owners son
but it was built move
spread Christmas right just before Christmas
we were at Minister Napster
wearin in Queens Park and
you and I were talking and outside the idle no more
movement was just starting and everywhere you look me in the eye and
you said
is is starting it's out there
they're talking when you hear me were here talking
its beginning and my
when my passions is is is my
organization dare arts and on
and one of our big thing is igniting that change
within not only Aboriginal use and
kids but doing the bridging between them
and non-aboriginal you think it's in urban and
rural areas on what are your thoughts
on how we can make those bridges stronger
an earlier in the education system so that
in you know say in Toronto and kids in grade 4
learn about about all the different languages in the different nations
ans the different treaties and agreements that we have in this country
so that its
it's ingrained in them in an earlier age and I have a present for you
I give once you join yesterday and this one's for you
wonderful which you great
national chief 210 we've that together in here
I we've away
and cyclical for this for this
kinda mollen
coming from a coma me the mines
okay well I'll in mollen thanks to them well I'll in them in a mock
I said tackle and around here when the word Sally
where you what's the words here now
now and make which for the additional
on anything army thank you some cycle in my language
I we've away really quickly
I I serve 10 I'm sorted want want to begin
in a way that media links a little bit to the aids fire
I had tears unabashedly rolling down my cheek
by Saudi fire just like moments and pride
when you see mister a green with
intelligence reflecting back to us
that I'm like what we're me may be told
we have genius amongst our people we have just as much potential for
foolishness but we also have potential for genius
and two to be in the room last night and take to get again today with mister
green and
an of mister king is here but Thomas Kings ratings for example and
tear you probably feel this way cuz you talked about being
that the one has received this is privileged to be in the trenches that
were done by others
median know that they were digging and they don't we don't need to
worry about whether that's how we feel because we're receiving what they've
gone through
I'll talk to my parents generation i'm talking about. you guys are all
teasing on another boat being alder and tear neier
a generation where we're watching and we watch what's happened
and now this gets to be this is our turn and at Queen's Park
you know we are saying it's happening right now on
Lee was reflecting back that we're on the cusp of something there's something
here that's happening and I want to make the link with the arts
ever so briefly as a way to weave all for reflections
because one of the first things my father help me understand
was that some other perspectives that word describing
that have weave their way into Canadian law that
would Compal governments to send a crown lawyer into the courtroom or
fortune the Indian Act or to this very day are the work that we're doing
I'm covering and feeling back this misinformation that's been around for so
long
back in shakespeare's day there was no CNN social media
Twitter there was the genius of shakespeare
some other was injuries to our people
the depiction of how about in the tempest
being an example up the power of the arts to describe a people's
card Bosh without intelligence scaly
human like figure but without the capacity
and the spirit of human
but shakespeare's the depiction of that character changed it over time
as well dramatically to the point where I saw a whole cast opinions doing
shakespeare in Ottawa recently
now that was turning working on its head I loved it
I loved it so I wanted to express what I have such a difficult time expressing
and that is the power of artistic leadership
to help find and leave that space between the heart minus all the
intellect
in society because we have it i cant for the Paul at your feast without going to
artistic spiritual leaders
and so too is this such a privilege to be here
because at that very point and and I'm I feel compelled to express that
give I'm to Terra and her
her fellow panelists that
you sat with last night and for those who weren't there was it was just a
conversation about
identity and it was just wonderful to hear mister green how you
just reflected back I'm
and he said it publicly and saw a pro problem give me too much trouble for
reflecting back that one point
so get tired of explaining
and maybe begin their if I could respectfully request
seek out that understanding we have now increasing numbers are writers like
on Thomas came buy his book to buyer booked it but by
by his butt inconvenient India
it's a great book to be alright surreal real quickly then
um mister weiss the
to your point about the leaders I'm leaders are also elected by Canadians
which is why I am speaking with you in this audience and anyone who will listen
online
canadians put people in office at all levels
Canadians can speak to their employees and their families can write letters
you can stand with the river to Jamesons and support inspires we would welcome
your support when John Ralston Saul writes an article as was
published yesterday in the Global Mail when I got on that the flight to come
this way from the west coast
I said to him it's like a cooling solve on a burning won't
when we hear influential you know I have to agree with everything that John says
that's why that's why this this you know the theme here's to be irreverent and
thought-provoking
and we hope to contribute to that today but let me thank you for that
that was a beautifully written article Inc and was hopeful for opening up the
space is not about saying this is what the solutions are
it's about saying what's required and he's been saying it for a long time
is we need a new conversation so mister lies in the same way you asked me I
would
turn right back around and ask you and your lovely wife
you know and your family had to have conversations about how to reach out how
to understand
maybe to spend time reaching out to First Nations and asking questions
the eight fire and and you know that the notion of the next step
we made it very clear two meetings in a row we've had with this Prime Minister
we've had meetings the former Prime Minister Paul Martin R and Hannah
an event called the clone a accord proximal 5
and that is to put the topic at this discussion from Center
the implementation of the treaty relationship it does require
structural ships it could mean for example as has taken place in New
Zealand
they have an independent tribunal to oversee implementation see have
independent oversight
because right now the Department of Indian Affairs is both judge injury
on how or whether or not treaties whether they're ford five years ago
after twenty years have negotiations with legions of lawyers dotting i's and
crossing t's
and those communities are still finding themselves going to court
against the government because the treaties are not being
implemented in good faith I hear the same argument
from the name of people mysteries been there four hundred years
so you see we need a fundamental transformation in our relationship in a
may require a change in machinery of government ideas that are not new that
I've been around some throw
proclamation the ideas of the First Nations auditor-general First Nations
Ombudsperson
these are machinery concepts a at props cabinet meeting I'm I'm not putting
these is
as that my solutions for today they do require the direct engagement
it's not about negotiations with Shawn Atleo as well making sure that treaty
three in Northern Ontario with the treaty rights education
drives the implementation of that redirect education
my job and when I'm reaching out Canadians to do is the support for that
to become
a reality given the history up to the residential schools the urban-rural
divide is not one it's one of many divisions that we did not create
on of reserve status non-status those
who grew up with their language those who didn't those who want to residential
school and those who didn't
and so is to help recognize that we get caught sometimes and Canadian divisions
that
that we did not create linguistic
urban-rural divide these are part of a nation-state conversations that
sometimes get lumped in
well just moved down from Northern Ontario into Toronto it should be okay
the Attawapiskat our drummer
taxes I come from a house
that's where I bow I know that's where I come from
the idea exchanges let's make sure that we support teachers to teach in
communities
it we need to forgive their loans to make sure that they stay five years in a
community where that there's such high turnover because their knees
were isolated areas let's find the incentives I say
in conclusion that this is about learning this is about in reason why
education
is the door to get through to get to the housing to get to the hell from
social and economic changes because education and its foundation
it's about world view it's about philosophy is of course fact
it's a vote to understand the facts where we've come from
getting a sense of where we are now and then being open to
forging a new future together and that in for me
and few assets at that that just the privilege
to be here offering that recognition in some respects the medium
is part in the message a powerful message of inclusion
and for that I wanna thank you John and Matt am Clarkson
and I want to thank those a Stratford Festival
for the great privilege of being here to offer a First Nations Voice
here this morning thank you so much
I'm gonna were two sentences
to really mister wisest and which is
I think that national chief gave you what I would call that a
the structures have what you're supposed to do which is when you said
doubt use at your village wearing your robes
and this lawyer using the Western in the system came in and
as part of the argument said you don't exist every time the Canadian government
does something through any with mechanisms
Witcher is unacceptable you're doing it you
are personally responsible for what that lawyers said
and so really but the National chief i think is said you is
it's time that when you hear that a lawyer is standing up for getting
government doing this kind of thing
you have to say we don't we will vote for that we don't agree with that
rights it's about you speaking up and
being part of this this conversation so I want to say thank you
to Stratford I wanna say thank you to add me into any the gasping
for helping this whole thing happened
II one phase thank you to
Kira for the incredible work that you have done
and all the people from the Institute for Canadian citizenship
a and of course I want to say thank you to the National chief
for being here today and giving
I think an amazing lecture I which we can all use
a if you understand what a webcast is
go to it listen to it
I take part in the discussion
which is happening there and keep it going
a this hole symposium is built around conversation
we believe that culture artists ideas
are the leadership mechanism up society and you
come here and you've listened now you have to go out talk and take part
and keep this conversation going I 150 investor going from here to the marquee
restaurant
running to keep on time but to have a luncheon round tables where we're going
to talk about this
and I would encourage you if you're not going to that
to find other ways doing get and then
look for the lecture next year follow what the ICC in Stratford is saying
about the left front involved in action
future thanks very much thank you national
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