Jody Wilson-Raybould Is Back and Looking Really Good

Image: National Observer

Jody Wilson-Raybould is back and looking really good!

NatObserver 11/06/21: [Independent MP] Wilson-Raybould has a message for Ottawa: Stop off-loading responsibility for reconciliation.

• Jody Wilson-Raybould endured a salvo of emotions as news broke confirming the unmarked graves of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School at Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.
• “My frustration comes from knowing and understanding that this government promises so much. And has done so little.”

Yes, for one thing,Trudeau promised clean drinking water for all First Nations Peoples, but the date of completion keeps getting pushed farther and farther away:

• “We know there are more mass or unmarked graves that are going to come to light.

• Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett chose not to answer the questions directly, but did take the time to dispute the term mass grave.

I haven't yet found a reference to Bennett's actual choice of words, but here's the discussion in which she participated, and certainly the term "graves" is used, which does tend to paint a more palatable picture than "mass grave", but I haven't got through the whole video yet.

• The federal government is reaching out to communities, with the support of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, to make sure all other communities will be able to find their lost children, Bennett said.
• “We will make sure that this is done in a proper and legal way,” she said.

Is there ice-water running through her veins?  There certainly is a no more hypocritical, cold and corporate term than the oft-used (in recent years) "reaching out" -- flowery, hypocritical, well-suited to mere lip service.

These people will never "find their lost children", Ms. Bennett.  They may merely locate their remains!

Trudeau is, however, THE master of vaguery: KamloopsThis Week:

• But when pressed for details about precisely what Ottawa is prepared to offer by way of support to find, identify and memorialize thousands of children who died at residential schools, Trudeau remained vague.
• "There is obviously more to do and I think there will be more that we will do," he said.
• "We have committed as a government to be there for reconciliation, but also to be there for truth and that is an important step. So yes, we will be there to work with communities on the things they need and on the things we all need to know."

Blah, blah, blah ...

A  much more accurate, decisive picture was offered by Independent Jody Wilson-Raybould:

• “The way we're going to transform the relationship is to transform the way that the federal government looks upon Indigenous Peoples as being lesser,” Wilson-Raybould said.
• “We need to look at it as a relationship built on mutual trust, respect and dignity, and that Indigenous Peoples have rights.
• “And until the government stops offloading its responsibility, nothing is going to change.”

At the bottom of the above article is an offer of telephone help for sorrowing relatives and former inmates of the residential schools:

Irsss.ca: The Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides support for people who attended and/or are affected by the trauma of residential schools. Those seeking emotional and crisis referral services can call the 24-hour national crisis line at 1-866-925-4419

The crisis line is reportedly getting lots of calls, but I'm surprised it uses the term "Indian". I wonder how many of the calls include an opportunity to protest that.

Indigenous Awareness Canada: Aboriginal, Native, or Indigenous?

• The use of the word “Indian” is considered offensive by many First Nations. The word “Aboriginal” was a replacement for “Indian” and “Native”. “Indigenous” is becoming the most accepted word.
• The word “Indian” will remain ingrained in Canadian Law and History. Status Indigenous peoples are referred to in the Indian Act 1876 as Indians. The word “Indian” continued to be used in the Constitution Act 1982 and is used in many federal statutes to this day.

I talked earlier about the film "Where the Spirit Lives" that dealt directly with conditions for kids that were kidnapped and forced into the residential homes by good Christian meddlers. There's another film, (Synopsis/Info) produced by the amazing film producer Norma Bailey, that depicts the folly of trusting the "white man":

Watch Free: National Film Board: "IKWE" 1986 - from a series called "Daughters of the Country" Produced by Norma Bailey. 

See also: Places Not Our Own - part of the same series.

Speaking of Norma Bailey (Not really off-topic):

She somehow instinctively knows the hearts and amazing strengths of young Canadian women backwards and forwards, regardless of family background.

I emailed her some years back to ask where I could find the wonderful movie "Nights Below Station Street" 1997, and she mailed me a copy of it without asking for payment.  I was so happy I sent her $50. as a donation to her small production company out West. You'd have to see the film to know that it was worth much more. Priceless, I'd say.

I don't know why it's so scarce. The book is available on Amazon, but I haven't been able to find the movie for sale, although here's a site that offers viewing if you are willing to sign in -- and maybe Netflix has it, I don't know.

Image from "Places Not Our Own"
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