This is a book about Canada as seen from its centre Winnipeg from an indigenous perspective. It is remarkable read by a great journalist/professor Niigaan Sinclair. Yes he is the son of the famous Senator Murray. I think that this book will change your mind a bit in favour of the need for reconciliation. It did mine.
Ages ago when I was in Grade 13 in Ottawa, a group of young First Nations high school students met with our study group to explain their life issues. I recall that we heard about a litany of problems and complaints and then confusion about their identity and what to do. I remember going away thinking they don’t know what they want. At least they couldn’t articulate it yet.
Well Nigaan’s book which is an extensive collection of articles he wrote for the Winnipeg Free Press, has finally answered this question. And it won the Governor General’s award for non-fiction in 2024.
Before we go there I would like to recount the particular story he tells that got me. You are sitting in your living room with your family having tea. There is a knock on the door and a few strange looking people are at the door. They ask if they can they come in and join you for some tea? Why sure you say a little awkwardly perhaps, “Come on in and make yourself comfortable.”
After tea they stand up imposingly and order you all to go into the bathroom. Then they lock the door. Very strange you think. Let us out you cry out. There is no response. Next day a note is passed under the door saying that you are not allowed out anymore and food will be occasionally passed in to you.
This goes on for some time, a long time. Finally one day they open the door and say that you and your family can come out now. You walk around your house and see that everything has changed: new furniture, decor, modern appliances, strangers living there. They tell you to leave and get a new place to live…and leave your children behind.
That my friends is how we got to where we are in Canada some years ago with the need for reconciliation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. It wasn’t you or me that personally did these wrongs we each say. Yes but it was our government and in many cases our churches that did.
So what do Indigenous people really want according to Nigaan? Of course they want an end to the pain, racism, stereotyping, profiling, crime, violence, addictions, incarceration and human disrespect for sure. But more importantly, they want to govern themselves, alongside other jurisdictions, so that they can get on with their lives, free of government control.
Is it that simple? Of course not. But it would be a good start.
Some recent stats:
- 5% of Canadians identify as First Nations peoples
- In Manitoba this rises to 18% and in Winnipeg it’s 12%
- 41% live on reservations, 59% off
- 32% of the prison population in Canada are indigenous
- 74% of the male prison population in Manitoba are indigenous while about 43% of the females are indigenous!
- There are over 630 Indigenous communities, 50 Nations and 50 indigenous languages in Canada
mattersofthemoment 