What About the Algonquin, eh?

Algonquin set up wigwam across from Parliament Hill in protest


​What About the Algonquin, eh?

Who are they really?

According to their beautiful website:

• Archaeological information indicates that Algonquin people have lived in the Ottawa Valley for at least 8,000 years before the Europeans arrived in North America.

I don't mean to take sides in this particular issue, but Trudeau (a man of sweeping gestures and seemingly scant action) says there's First Nations, Inuit and Metis. Algonquin are not specifically mentioned, although they do have some very specific issues.

The Algonquin are protesting right now across the street from Parliament Hill where today's -- just a sec -- Trudeau changed the name in 2017 -- don't tell me; I'll get it -- it's no longer National Aboriginal Day, it's ... National Indigenous Peoples Day.

As if being precise with words alone can solve the ongoing indignities suffered by North America's first inhabitants at the hands of a government set up for the benefit of European invaders.

Justin Trudeau is a man of many words and promises, and is really, really big on politically correct speech, but the Algonquin don't feel gifted by this particular particularity.

• Two years ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave the former United States embassy to the three big national Indigenous organizations—the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Metis National Council— to be re-purposed as an Indigenous space.
• At a news conference on Monday, the Algonquin announced that since the former embassy sits on their traditional unceded territory, they should be equal partners in the building and be able to make decisions about its use.

I bet you're impressed by that word "re-purposed".  No?  Good for you. The English language is being "re-purposed" -- weirdly altered and put to no good use.  Read George Orwell's treatise on Politics and the English Language when you have some time.  Pennyforyourthoughts has language references as well.

Trudeau appears to be a master at word manipulation - especially his current mantra "grow the economy", meaning "tax the people, not the corporations".

Further to the Algonquin protest:

• At a news conference on Monday, the Algonquin announced that since the former embassy sits on their traditional unceded territory, they should be equal partners in the building and be able to make decisions about its use.
• “And it’s time we take our rightful place here at the capital city where our people are from. Our ancestors gave up this land for everyone to live here in harmony."

All I can say is, you go, guys!  I've seen the name "Algonquin" co-opted onto all sorts of waters and places and hotels and institutions around me, but I don't see or hear much of the people whose historic name is being used.

Whatever we can give to any of our indigenous peoples -- in return for invading their space, shoving them into corners, bringing them sickness, kidnapping and terrorizing their kids, polluting their waters, and virtually ignoring the disappearances of their young women -- is A-Okay with me.

Note: You can view activities on The Hill today (if there are any, other than the ongoing inside re-modelling) by visiting the Parliament Hill Webcam.  There's a stage set up there, so who knows?

Related on YYC: Stuff I Find Hard To Fathom The Gov't has been promising clean water to First Nations people for 154 years, and Trudeau has moved his projected date for accomplishing that to 2021, thereby requiring him to be re-elected so that his promise can be carried out.

Algonquin Nation: Image from Goodreads