Jonathan R. Schmidt

Our Home and Native Land…

Honestly, I don’t know how to respond to the Caledonia stand-off involving members of Six Nations. I wish I could go down there and stand alongside the members of Six Nations and say ‘Despite all the racism you may be feeling, I’ll stand with you.’ But the voices gather: ‘I’m too busy. I have to go to work. I’m moving in a few days. I’m busy.” or “It’s not my battle. They can stand on their own, why would they need me?” or “Well, even the elected officials from the Band Council aren’t backing the standoff. I don’t know enough about the issue to make a stand either way.”

I think what infuriates me most is the lack of understanding in the public and even the media to print quotes such as this “However, the Henning brothers told CBC.ca they have clear title to the land.” The members from Six Nations ALSO believe they have clear title to the land, hence the standoff. The members from Six Nations don’t really care if the Henning brothers think they have clear title to the land. They believe it is a nation to nation issue, that is between Canada and Six Nations. If I stole something and then sold it to someone the person I sold it to would be holding that item illegally, regardless of whether the transaction between him and I was legit. At least that’s my infantile understanding of our laws and the issue at stake here. Developers who would like to build and make a profit on land under dispute between the Federal Government and First Nations groups in Canada should be very very cautious. They shouldn’t claim ‘They simply want to do business and don’t want to be political’ – a line that reveals their ignorance and desire for only profits. Being a developer in Canada is developing on land that we took,stole,confiscated or otherwise from the Aboriginal people of Canada. It is an inherent political exercise and it always has been. We desperately need greater understanding on the issues. We need to talk more, interact more and listen much much more.

Along that note above, I had a wonderful time touring Stoney Point/Kettle Point F.N. last Friday with Darlene’s Western University ‘Teaching Aboriginal Students’ class. It was very interesting to tour the school and see how the community is developing their young children to be their very best, to be proud of their heritage and to gently balance both the traditional and the modern. I wouldn’t be surprised if some amazing Aboriginal leaders come from the Kettle Point education system in the future. Granted, they will have to overcome a hoard of racism and barriers within our larger society. Grab your hammer, let’s break down the walls. Or better yet, grab a piece of the floor and sit and listen to an elder for an afternoon.

Go Leafs Go!!

Chris and I went to the Leafs game last Saturday against Ottawa. For both of us it was our first Leafs game and it was a dandy! The Leafs beat Ottawa 5-1. Chris’ dad generously gave Chris a couple of tickets to the game for his birthday and I must have won the lottery, because I got to tag along. Our seats were great, 23 rows up at the one end of the arena. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the game, the crazy Leafs fans and all the cheering when the home team scored. It was a great memory that I’ll always remember. I’ll post some more pictures from the game soon, for now you can check out Chris in the picture above.

Go West Young Man!

Yesterday I received my acceptance to University of Calgary’s Masters of Environmental Design (Planning) program. This is the last piece of the puzzle for the move out West. Now everything is in place, Darlene has a job, we have a place to live and I have my acceptance to school. It is quite amazing how all things have fallen into place. We feel unbelievably blessed by God’s grace, but we also know that being away from friends and family will have its own challenges. As we move out west you can track our trip across the country at www.jonanddarlene.schmidty.ca