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6) What are your reflections on the past between your people and the government of the land you live in? Are there certain anecdotes you would like to share concerning the historical and/or present relationship of your community and the dominant society?
The history of the way the Canadian government has treated Aboriginal people in Canada makes me feel frustrated, sad and betrayed. There was a lot of suffering that resulted on the part of my people from harsh treatment. However, it is a tug of war in my heart because at the same time I feel proud to be a Canadian. Traveling to other countries has made me see the extent to which the Canadian government put in place policies that benefit its people. I guess the reason why I feel betrayed is because many times Aboriginal people have been left out of this process and that the policies are actually aimed at benefiting non-Aboriginal people of European descent. Currently, Aboriginal people in Canada are still the most marginalized population. One stat that speaks for itself is that the suicide rate for Aboriginal youth is 4 times that of the rest of the population. We still experience discrimination and in some areas blatant racism. However, on the flip side we are seeing an increase in programs that are aimed at helping and assisting Aboriginals peoples that now include and value Aboriginal culture as a means of healing from the past. So in this aspect I see improvement.
One area which is still a huge problem is that of land claims and its associated environmental problems. In some case, the government is selling land, oil and lumber to corporations despite it being occupied by Aboriginal communities. This shows that Aboriginal well being is still overlooked in many ways by the Canadian government. In the end, the destruction and over use of this land will not benefit anyone as it leads to more waste and pollution leaving the land unusable. That is why environmentalists point to Native people as using the land in a manner that benefit both nature and people. Native people have always tried to maintain this reciprocal relationship with nature realizing that one must take care of and respect the environment. When will our governments learn that they cannot keep taking and taking without regards to its consequences?
7) What is your hope for your people in the future?
I hope that one day my people will fully recover the beauty and pride in a culture that in many ways has been lost. I also hope that at the same time we can learn how to live and find solutions to the problems that trouble our communities today. I hope we will one day be a people who possess the power of determining our own destinies without external forces.
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Melina Laboucan-Massimo
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Comments
Hola Meli! Damian Profeta | Feb 6th, 2004
Palabras claras, interesantes y por sobre todo profundas y sinceras.
No conoc
Hi Melina Noelia | Feb 9th, 2004
Your interview was truly inspirational and touching. It's refreshing to read that you are so proud of your heritage and that you are doing your part to educate about very real and present social issues that most people are either unaware of or do not take out the time to think about. Education is the key to ending discrimination and racism that very often arise from ignorance. Great job and good luck with your future endeavours, maybe someday we will be able to work on a similar project together!
Luv,
Noelia
LOVE YOU MELINA ihedioha godwin | Feb 10th, 2004
I AM IHEDIOHA GODWIN FROM NIGERIA HERE WISH YOU CAN TALK TO ME THRU THIS MY MAIL BOX micneil_ken@yahoo.com
LOVE YOU MELINA ihedioha godwin | Feb 10th, 2004
I AM IHEDIOHA GODWIN FROM NIGERIA HERE WISH YOU CAN TALK TO ME THRU THIS MY MAIL BOX micneil_ken@yahoo.com
EMPLOYMENT samson mighty kwamina apaah | Feb 17th, 2004
Please i want work to do in your area.
Appreciate your interview Charity Fadun | Mar 14th, 2004
I really appreciate your interview. You're right. Until I took Native Studies in University I had no idea of the genocide that took place in our country. It's embarrasing and I feel ashamed of our country and the leaders of that time that let that happen.
Hi Melina Kumar Kadel | Apr 21st, 2004
Your interview is really inspirational and heart touching. It's refreshing to read that you are so proud of your heritage . Education is the key to ending discrimination and racism that very often arise from ignorance. Good luck with your future endeavours, maybe someday we will be able to work on a similar project together.
Thanks
Regards
Kumar Kadel
Kathmandu, Nepal
sanjeev_kadel@hotmail.com
Brave! Huh? glemon | Apr 26th, 2004
I share your brave heart. But I have a problem. Do you not think your community needs to generate profit to advance its development plans? And if your community's project is profit oriented, would you not be part of it?
These notwithsanding, your comments speakes good to many souls. Courage! =Ndee: glemon79@yahoo.com
HI MELINA !! Sushil Sakhuja | May 14th, 2004
hello!!Its your global gallery friend sushil from india.ur interview is really inspirational and heart touching.I am proud to have a friend like who support cultural diverisy .WISH YOU CAN TALK TO ME THROUGH THIS YAHOO ID : sakhuja_sushil@yahoo.com
Keep going Melina! caesar | May 19th, 2004
This is soul-shaking Melina;heart-gripping;Tough-talking at the same-time.There are many forms genocide can be effected,leave alone the Rwanda Genocide where people were hacked with machetes and spears etc.this form of oppression is simply mutating from the barbaric style to perhaps the modern trends.am glad you've taken the initiaitive on the aboriginal community.I'm sure this is going to make a difference and leave a mark!Go Girl! Thumbs up!Do your Thing!!
Melina Angel Femi Ajayi | Jan 31st, 2005
I comming here for the first time after sending you loadsa TIG messages...I never knew you are this amazing. If i could give you a name, I'll name you like a deity from another time and age...cause u got me enthralled. I see you as a gift to life from God, and a blessing to Humanity from your Parents. Please keep the flame burning brighter and the flag flying higher. Should you be wanderin who this?...It's a friend from the TIG gallery.
Olufemi Ben Ajayi
dukefemie@yahoo.com
+2348036691992
Hi Melina Lokwa | Feb 27th, 2005
Your Interview is very excllent and Hope that it's reality of your vision.
Narcisse Lokwa Mbunzama
Hola melina! FReddy W. | Apr 21st, 2005
hello de nuevo! pienso en la realizacion del bien comun en la sociedad, creer enla mundializacion en un mundo pero con personas adentro, no como la globalizacion donde somos parte de algo y solo consumidores, el desarrollo sustetable de nuestas comunidades indigenas, escribe fre_ddy@gmx.net
Brilliant! Esnaen M. Catong | Sep 20th, 2005
I suggest that you document your peoples' experiences. That would be your greatest contribution not only to your people but also to the body of knowledge. The youth of today must learn from history so that those horrendous acts or ommissions against your society should not happen in any part of the world.
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