Women in Russian History Book

Storia of Canada


An Illustrated History of Canada's Native People:
I Have Lived Here Since the World Began, Fourth Edition
by
Arthur J. Ray

When a white army battles Indians and wins it is called a great victory, but if they lose it is called a massacre and bigger armies are raised. If the Indian flees before the advance of such armies, when he tries to return he finds that white men are living where he lived. If he tries to fight off such armies, he is killed and the land taken away ~ Chiksika, elder brother of Tecumseh, 1779
Life is a struggle to survive – or at least it was. Now we could all be better off if we cooperated and shared. We can argue about who did what to whom. Or we can realize it, study it, understand it and learn from it. A Restorative Justice approach might be useful…to strive not for what was but for what should be.
This book is more history than illustrations; it should be taught in schools! Storia should not be by a narrow segment of victors – Canada was built by losers too. The Natives lost to the Europeans; the French lost to the English; the Loyalists lost to the Americans; the Americans lost to the French, English and Native allies; the losers (and winners) of European wars headed west. The losers and winners of Asian wars headed east. We are a mishmash of people. We should be proud and accept the strength of our multiculturalism.
In Nova Scotia, colonial politicians held the view that Britain had gained title to the area by defeating France and its Native allies. The Europeans were able to make the rules, change the rules and modify them as needed. Welcome to America.

Chief Paussamigh Pemmeenauweet, an important leader…addressed Queen Vitoria directly and powerfully in 1841 (147), he started and then closed with:
I cannot cross the great Lake to talk to you for my Canoe is too small, and I am old and weak….White Man has taken all that was ours. He has plenty here….Let us not perish. Your Indian Children love you, and will fight for you against all your enemies.
• We see that this was not just peace and brotherhood but alliances of respect, love and empowerment…
• We think of the West as being empty. It was big, it was vast, but it was not empty.
The use of schools: Assimilation through white education programs was a cornerstone of British colonial policy. We are starting to understand the wrongs that were caused by such policies – but it was shocking to me to see until how recently we tried this hateful nonsense.
From Buffalo hunting to farming – how were they to succeed without the tools, skills and assets necessary were not the same?
Should we treat our Native peoples as “The forgotten People” or should we show them respect as our elder brothers, cousins and neighbours and as a bridge to tomorrow?
This book is an ideal primer for what should be a story that every child learns not just from history class but from living class. In should be ingrained in our educational and cultural institutions…
Lino Matteo ©™
Twitter @Lino_Matteo