These are long-range divide and conquer tactics at their finest. Why are so many First Nations relatives still living in abject, debilitating, physical poverty? Why has promise after promise, made to Indigenous peoples gone unfulfilled? What role does divide and conquer colonialism and resulting disunity play in our current challenges?
For instance, have the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, been fulfilled? Has the inadequate housing and lack of clean water in our Indigenous Communities been fully addressed? Has there been just compensation and ongoing financial return for the pollution and use of Indigenous ports, waterways and for Hydro projects, etc? Are the Indigenous Peoples of Canada receiving good health care, as well as, educational and social services and funding equal to all Canadians? And the list goes on.
A fundamental principle of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is " Free, Prior and Informed Consent." How can you make a "Free Decision" about an Economic Opportunity, when you are in physical poverty, with no hope to feed, clothe and house your family, unless you have the opportunity to work. If your community was facing abject poverty and no hope, after broken promise after broken promise, what would we do?
While we each have responsibility for our own healing, instead of further fighting, and hurting one another, maybe It is time to put the responsibility for our on-going disunity, physical poverty, intergenerational trauma, and lateral violence, exactly in the colonial hands it belongs, and end the internalized oppression and lateral violence, it has caused, not just for ourselves, but all Members of our Human Family.
Whatever the outcome, we will continue to deepen and expand the healing movement and take more and more, unprecedented, unified, actions in support of the People and All Life, while remembering to walk the mystical, spiritual Path with practical feet. We have never surrendered our Spiritual Path, the Red Road, the Way of the Peacemaker, and through the Grace, Love, and Covenant with our Creator, we never will.
From a Red Road perspective, the way forward is not assimilation, resignation, and further disunity and deepening disunity. There is a 4th Way!
Together in a spiritual, prayerful way, Indigenous Peoples, consulting and acting together, in unprecedented, unified action, without interpreters or government go-betweens, know exactly what is needed to come to a unified and unbreakable negotiating position. A unified position, that ends colonialization, insures all past agreements and promises made with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, are fulfilled, and the harmony of Life is restored. This will eventually happen, as promised. Let us pray that it happens sooner than later.
A unified negotiating position that ensures that there is justice and full reconciliation, not only for all our Indigenous relatives but, as well, all members of our Human Family suffering from injustice and prejudice of any form.
As well, until there is sustained Unity, investors will still not be willing to invest in Canada, even if there are short-term victories, but at a very high cost. As well, what is the vision of sustainable and harmonious development that future investments are needed? Is selling Canada's natural resources Canada's best economic future.
And maybe, there still has to be more, deepening conflicts, disunity, and social and economic disruption, before unity is possible? We will see. For myself, I pray for justice, unity, peace, and true reconciliation, sooner than later.