donderdag, december 27, 2012

Marc Garneau An open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Let our words not be empty



werk van *


Mr. Prime Minister,
26-12-2012

Since December 11, 2012, Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation has been on a hunger strike. On behalf of her people and all First Nations, Chief Spence has asked for a meeting with you to discuss Canada’s treatment of First Nations people.

Across the country, Canadians are calling for meaningful action to support this woman.

A growing grassroots First Nations movement called “Idle No More” is gaining momentum and urging Canadians to support Chief Spence’s request for a meeting with you and its quest for Ottawa’s recognition of First Nations treaty rights.

Prime Minister, you cannot continue to ignore this request. This is not a question of not wanting to set a precedent.

Four years ago on June 11th, 2008, you called for politicians across the country, from across partisan lines, to stand in unity behind your apology for the historic wrongs of the Residential Schools system.

The date of that apology was hailed as a new chapter of engagement between our federal government and all Aboriginal peoples. In your words, that day was to be “a new beginning…a positive step in forging a new relationship between Aboriginal peoples and other Canadians, a relationship based on the knowledge of our shared history, a respect for each other and a desire to move forward together with a renewed understanding that strong families, strong communities and vibrant cultures and traditions will contribute to a stronger Canada for all of us.”

I stood that day, as a citizen of Canada, in solidarity behind that message. Those words were not only a commitment by you, but a commitment by me, indeed by all Canadians, to forge that new beginning.

Let our words not be empty. This past January at the Crown – First Nations gathering, Canada committed to re-establishing its relationship with our First Nations through mutual recognition, sharing and trust. That trust has been lost. To regain it, it must be earned. Trust is not built on a single statement. It is built step-by-step, day-by-day, through action.

I ask you to take the next step to building the “renewed understanding” we promised and grant Chief Spence and First Nations leadership a meeting to plan a course of action respecting the treatment of Aboriginal peoples.

Sincerely, Marc Garneau

* Van wie het is, ik ben vergeten het te noteren toen ik het vond.
Er was teveel. ,
Ik vond wat (en veel te weinig! ) in een (van de ) gallerie (-s) met (Inuit ?)vrouwelijke kunstenaars.
Het is van een jonge vrouw,  die me een sleutel tot een rij  andere (jongere) vrouwen  gaf
Mocht iemand de naam van de kunstenares weten  deel die kennis dan  aub.   
In erkenning van haar werk, maar ik wil ook graag meer van haar zien.

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