Rogue Warriors

In light of the recent Valcourt debacle, (one of many that show no signs of dying down) we have decided to share a few thoughts we have been growing on this topic of leadership for a few months now. Valcourt is the “minister” of AANDC, while oh so racist and scaremongering his remarks about “Rogue” Chiefs and his dismissal of the validity of their authority and the concerns raised is unsurprising. It is also indicative of how many of those in the so called “government” see the indigenous peoples of these lands: trouble makers, the ndn problem; nothing more than human nuisances in the way of capitalism and earth destruction in the name of “canada” and progress for a future that is looking less and less like it will even be a reality!

All Chiefs who represent their villages and their collective nations SHOULD be STRONG of voice and have a WARRIOR fighting spirit in a country that is bent on sucking the very ndn out of our existence and to make us colonized and assimilated while they steal our lands and waters for profit leaving us with less to nothing! Instead of it being seen in a negative light to be labelled rogue and as trouble makers to scare the average “canadian settler”, it should be commendable! This “country” needs to be shaken up and the “citizens” need to be reminded that we are still HERE, and we are taking control back and empowering ourselves to be free nations! Nations separate from “canada”, nations that deserve the same respect that “canada” pays to other countries of the world.

Valcourts remarks are a tactic that is being used to turn the general population against our valid and legitimate concerns about the way we assert our autonomy to govern our nations, to exercise our inherent rights and titles over our lands, waters, and selves. For too long those who have been in power in our villages have been tangled in the bureaucracy of being silenced by money and programs by the “canadian” government. Mere pittances compared to the billions being made off of the land theft and colonization of the indigenous in the so called “americas”. These leaders in our nations have operated as the arm of the “government” and in doing so have done damage to our spirits and have contributed to the ongoing social ills and oppression of our people. If the previous leaders had been effective we would not be homeless in our own lands, we would have adequate housing for all our people, we would have food security, and we would not be confined to “reservations” that have third and fourth world living conditions in one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world. Change in the way we operate as nations with “canada” is essential in our survial and we must look to new leaders in our homelands because those who have made careers of passivity for decades are ineffective, they only fathom one way of leading, and that way is what “canada” has dictated to us since contact. Residential school, and forced assimilation has affected the way we interact with “canada” and this is no accident. We are however a generation removed from the brainwashing and horrors, and there are many of us who are awake and aware with warrior spirits who know the truth and are willing to fight for our rights by any means necessary!

All we need is one or two brave Chiefs to speak the real ugly truth and not be afraid of losing funding or not being seen as a “good” ndn. Remember it is we the people who hold the power, we are the ones in the right and the “canadian” corperation is nothing but a genocidal illegally occupying military encampment on our STOLEN lands! When one or two brave chiefs and band council who are not afraid of the “canadian” regime, step up and LEAD others will follow because they will be empowered and feel the unity that is offered! We need to spread awareness of the fact that we are no longer accepting the way that is being dictated and operating our nations under the sufferance of “canada” and AANDC is disrespectful and showcases us as children who cannot properly lead themselves in the eyes of the world, reinforcing the false belief that we need to “canada” to take care of us. Recognize that “canada” is operating as an occupying military force that is actively eroding our inherent rights and title to the land. We the people of the lands have been under assault after assault on our way of life, our culture, and the industrial take over of our territories. The time to end this injustice is at hand by placing those who would lead as warriors in the forefront and trusting them to do the hard work necessary to righting the wrongs that are inflicted upon our children for profit! fight

Since contact our jurisdiction and authority as the true stewards of these lands have been trampled on and ignored in the quest of a better life for the settler culture and to further their escape from the imperialism and oppression in their own home lands. In many cases our hereditary leaders have abandoned us and our own governance system in favor of being the house ndn and receiving monetary hand outs for selling away the rights of their people and the future of us all. They have abandoned their people to starve while they create corporations that only serve themselves. This is a gross abomination of the honor of being a hereditary leader and heading a house, the role of our leaders was to ensure the continuity of land and life for us ALL, to ensure our needs were met, sadly this is being forgotten or deliberately ignored in the pursuit of the me me me lifestyle that is encouraged by westernized society in order to be seen as successful!

Indigenous people are the fastest rising demographic in “canada”, we are also the most impoverished and marginalized. This creates an environment that allows for manipulation from “government” and industry, and the pressure from this encourages and enables our leadership to exploit our peoples need for housing, food security, and self determination. It is in this environment of pressure and greed comes a feeling of urgency that leads to bad decisions that will impact not only the future of our own children but for all of humanity. We have grave concerns about band leadership that would succumb to the fast easy way out instead of standing up and digging in for the long haul of creating a new way for our people!

The responsibility of leading is a burden and a gift, and is one we should not take lightly. However we have progressed beyond the point of needing to be seen in favorable or passive light by the “canadian constituents” or our own people who work within the confines of the colonial “government” system. Any and all actions undertaken to rectify our social issues and autonomy in terms of governing ourselves not to mention stopping: mining, fish farms, logging, pipes, fracking, should be undertaken with indigenous leadership at the forefront, and without reservations or qualms about losing a popularity contest or support. This is why we need Warrior Chiefs!

Valcourt and his response to our inherent authority and the assertion of said authority is the reaction of a frightened man, a frightened “government”, and a frightened “country” of illegally squatting settlers. We need leaders, Cheifs elected or otherwise who wont back down and run when the water gets heated, we need warriors to stand firm and unwavering in the face of their peers who are colonized and perpetrating neo colonialism. We need warriors who aren’t afraid to speak the truth and wont sell out our grandchildren’s grandchildren’s futures for momentary monetary gain to do any less is to betray your ancestors and your people!

At this point when we march, rally, or protest yet at the end of the day go back into the very system we are seeking to smash than we are complying to the very colonial dominance we protest, it is time to seek new ways of living and governing ourselves. We should blockade! NO, we will blockade! The economy of this false “canada” is intrinsically tied to the genocide of the indigenous people and we MUST stop it in order to survive, ironically by doing so we would also be saving many settler lives as well because stopping the economy means stopping the very governmental corporate run industries that are killing this planet.

In short we have been at war since contact, locked in a battle that has gone on so long many of us simply forgot what we were fighting for, caught up in the modern easy life of energy based life styles. Let the new leaders who are fearless in the face of the white colonial mentality that is infecting the planet lead now, let Valcourt and his cronies shiver in their boots because we the people, the land defenders are here to ensure the “threats” that the Confederacy of Nations (a regional entity of the Assembly of First Nations) are not empty! We have been wasting our energy on the hamster wheel of the protest industry and turning the other cheek for too long. Change is revolution and revolution is needed for the future, sometimes revolution means sacrificing personally for the greater good and becoming the leader we need to ensure there is a future! Transformation!

Viva La Brave War Chiefs Rising!

Xhopakelxhit ~ Gwaiina ~Ancestral Pride logo BW 1 Ancestral Pride