Lee Maracle
(July 2, 1950 - )
Sto:lo Author, Poet, Instructor [University of Toronto - INS] and Traditional Teacher First Nations House.
I think about what has happened to
us in the last 60 days. In every
major city, on the Reserves of 37
First Nations homelands, people
rose up to support the Mohawks.
The racist structure of this
society only thinly veils the class
structure. The reality of this
country is that many Canadians
are having a hard time, financially.
The homeless are increasing
geometrically in urban centres
and they are predominantly
white. The cycle of recessions
which began in this country in
1973 has led to a spiralling down
of the standard of living of the
citizens of this nation. The state
is more than aware that to satisfy
the demand of a single Native
Reserve is to have to satisfy the
demands of all of us. The state
is also aware that to meet our
demands for a decent life would
mean upgrading the lives of
thousands upon thousands of
single white Canadian mothers,
and thousands upon thousands
of working poor.
The state is aware that should
our laws prevail anywhere in
this country, the heyday of
corporate imperialism is over.
The difference is that now
we care enough about our
sacred being to get up and say
no, and the echo of that no
continues across the country.
An excerpt of "Oka Peace Camp -
September 9, 1990" from Bobbi Lee,
Indian Rebel
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