My Langara Reconciliation Carving Journey: I want the suicides to stop!

Someone asked me about the Reconciliation Carving program I am taking..."What's it all about?" "Why are you there?"

I explained what we were doing ...that I was learning to carve but that we were learning about many things related to Reconciliation- like residential Schools, Cultural Appropriation, First Nation Culture, Traditions and things of that nature.

They asked what I wanted to get out of the program...was I going to try and sell these carvings?

I explained that "if we learned to carve well enough, we would be making two panels, one for the Children of Residential Schools and one for the Missing and Murdered Women" but when pressed a bit I explained further about I mentioned things I have studied and how deeply connected they are : colonialism, land rights, Dakota Pipeline, the Pipeline that they want to put here, fish farms and the LNG...but in the end..I realized..."I want the suicides to stop!"

It took me a bit to figure this out but that is where I am with this. I want the suicides to stop and I am trying to learn everything I can and share it and I am trying so hard to enlighten everyone...so the healing can happen.

It's not easy and I have no clear answers...I am taking it step by step, I am going through tons of emotions, I cry a lot but I am trying to paint and occupy my mind to cope. The carving in class helps. We deal with really heavy issues and in the afternoon it's like art therapy, we get so into our projects, it frees our mind from the upsetting things we felt in the mornings.

Talking about this is very very hard. It's hard but we need to know and understand and we must teach our children and families. We Must!!

When I mentioned on the FB Suicide Awareness Board/ I was taking the course, someone said I was brave. I thought that was odd, I didn't feel brave. But truth is, you have to be brave to face this horrible darkness, to empathize and understand and learn. If you are not brave you will turn away. I don't want to turn away, I want to let people know I am trying, I want to be there for them, to let them know they are not alone and together we can work are way through this.

That said, it's going to be a very long healing journey and really it's a battle. I don't like to use those words because words have power. If anything I hope to be a "Wellness Warrior" and that we can take on the government and the people that deny the truth and show them and hold them accountable.

Mostly though I want to share and enlighten because when we enlighten others we can heal and so can they. Read on though... there is a lot of material here, I hope you will do your own research and create your own blogs/newspapers/films/paintings/art about this and help heal, we must, if we want the suicides to stop. For our children and our children's children, I send love and light.

Carving Knife I learned to make in Reconciliation Carving Program-Photo- Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita © 2016

Read: @cblackst on the long history of discrimination against #FirstNations children. #CdnPoli #IdleNoMore https://t.co/4NxMIJecsE
— IRPP/Policy Options (@IRPP) October 6, 2016

First Nations education a cash-strapped 'non-system,' bureaucrats tell minister https://t.co/vyWoEQCHke pic.twitter.com/0wHdKJxRiY
— CBC Indigenous (@CBCIndigenous) October 5, 2016

#QP: @CharlieAngusNDP asks @Min_INAC why the gov't is squeezing money from Indigenous children suffering under a broken system #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/2DLfpYUmA7
— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) October 5, 2016

"Reconciliation is about not saying sorry twice. That is why the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s top call to action is child welfare equity and reform, and implementation of Jordan’s Principle. The evidence of the discrimination is profound, and so is the evidence of the harms to children. It is wrong, indeed immoral, for governments to suggest there is any excuse for continuing it, so the most important question is “What are we going to do about it?”

This is where I hope Bryce’s story and ours diverge. Bryce’s warnings were met by an indifferent public, and children died as a result. One hundred and sixty-three thousand First Nations children are depending on you to make sure their unequal treatment stops. The future of the country depends on a citizenry that stands up against injustices when governments stray from fundamental values such as equity, justice, freedom and respecting diversity. As Bryce showed us, it is about standing up for the right thing when others like Scott are sitting down.
http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/october-2016/the-long-history-of-discrimination-against-first-nations-children/

N.Ontario #treaty9 Cree teen recognized among the greatest CDN women of all time. Quite the honour #shannensdream #becauseofher @NANComms pic.twitter.com/iYgphvAsFw
— Charlie Angus NDP (@CharlieAngusNDP) October 4, 2016

Shannen's Dream

Shannen Koostachin, a youth education advocate from of the Attawapiskat First Nation in Ontario, had a dream: safe and comfy schools and culturally based education for First Nations children and youth.

Many First Nations schools receive less funding per student than provincial and territorial schools, and zero dollars for things like libraries, computers, languages or extracurricular activities. Many also do not provide a safe and appropriate learning environment, and may pose serious health concerns, including mold contamination, high carbon dioxide levels, rodent infestations, sewage, and inadequate or lack of heating.

Shannen worked tirelessly to try to convince the federal government to give First Nations children a proper education. Unfortunately, she passed away in a car accident at the age of 15 before her dream could come true. But it did. On June 22, 2012—the day Shannen would have graduated—construction started for a new school in Attawapiskat. The new school opened in August 2014 (CBC).

Shannen remains an important role model for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and young people who continue to carry her dream for safe and comfy schools for all First Nations children in Canada. https://fncaringsociety.com/shannens-dream

#BecauseOfHer

For 10 years the community had been fighting to get a school. In November, 2007, the government walked away on a commitment to build a grade school. This is when Shannen and her Grade 8 classmates decided to fight back. Using tools such as Facebook and YouTube, their Education is a Human Right campaign spread like wildfire.

Within months, their heartfelt plea had inspired thousands of students, teachers and church groups across Canada. The children of Attawapiskat became the face of a generation of forgotten first-nation reserve children and Shannen became their voice. She had moxie. She challenged government ministers and spoke at rallies and youth conferences.

At 14, she was nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize. In December, 2009, the government finally agreed to build a school.

Read more here http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/shannen-koostachin/article1387951/

http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/attawapiskat-suicide-girl-1.3532441
https://news.vice.com/article/more-than-100-attempts-one-death-the-face-of-a-tiny-canadian-communitys-suicide-crisis

APTN - NEWS
Attawapiskat family facing ‘agonizing’ wait for answers months after death of 13-year-old girl
Canadians need to know what is happening to these young people,” said Angus. “Sheridan is just one of 600-plus Cree youth in my region who have thought about, attempted or succeeded in suicide since 2009. And this is from the inquiry the communities had to do themselves to find answers.”

Angus said Indigenous Affairs and Health Canada often deny requests for suicide and mental health counselling from these communities.

Despite sitting a mere 90 kilometres from a De Beers diamond mine, Attawapiskat is one of the country’s poorest First Nation communities. The First Nation, which sits near where the Attawapiskat River flows into James Bay, has made national headlines in the past over the dire state of its housing.

Sheridan suffered from several medical ailments, including asthma, which were aggravated by mold in her home, according to records obtained by APTN National News.

In the winter of 2014 the sewage link-up to her home failed, triggering a backup that made the home unlivable despite attempts to contain the smell and disinfect the premises using air fresheners and bleach. The backup also aggravated the mold and Sheridan was hospitalized in Timmins, Ont., where she was given Ventolin and steroid medication, according to records Read More here

Charged with Racial Discrimination, Canada’s Government Fought Dirty and Lost
"How did the battle play out for you? What were some of the tactics outside the courtroom?" Within 30 days of filing they cut all our core funding, so the Caring Society doesn't get any government money. That came very quickly. Then they tried spending millions to get the case dismissed on legal technicality. I know from the government's own documents that they decided to follow me around, monitor my moments. I'm not sure what I'm more embarrassed about—that they followed me around so long, or how boring my life must be that they couldn't find even one scandal. I just thought it was so sad, because if I was a government, and someone was accusing me of racially discriminating against children, I would focus on that. Are we doing it? And if we're not, let's put the evidence before the court to show we're not doing it.

"And because the feds fund services on reserve, and child welfare is provincial jurisdiction, sometimes they'll fight between each other about who should pay for services for a First Nations kid, and in the process they're denied or delayed services just because they're First Nations... Health Canada recently spent $32,000 fighting a teenager in court over a surgery that would give this girl a chance to eat and talk properly. And the bill is still growing. To me, I think that's why people like me pay taxes—so a young girl can eat and talk without chronic pain." http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/charged-with-racial-discrimination-canadas-government-fought-dirty-and-lost

‘Brutal’ poverty plagues London like few other cities across our region
One of many startling statistics to come out of Kerr and Smith-Carrier’s research, the high number of people living in extreme poverty is “appalling,” said Helene Berman, academic director for Western University’s Centre for Research on Health Equity & Social Inclusion.

“It’s another reminder that we can’t be complacent,” said the Health Sciences professor who was a member of the Mayor’s Poverty Panel, which last spring came out with a slew of recommendations to tackle poverty in the city.

“We need to be shifting the conversation and stop asking why people can’t get out of poverty and instead ask what are the social and structural barriers,” said Berman. “We need to look at issues like racism, homophobia, the social and structural inequities that make it very difficult for people to access the services out there.” Read More here

Who will Save the Paiges? WTF when will it Change!
"Poor Poor Paige! This is such a sad and disturbing story but doesn't surprise me. The DTES is plagued with issues like this. Much of it stems back to social assistance and lack of funding and services. The system treats people like dirt. And if you happen to be aboriginal then it's often less than dirt because you are stigmatized. Somehow people think it's their fault. Enough already!!"
Read More here

http://globalnews.ca/news/1998756/b-c-aboriginal-teen-failed-by-system-report/

“The professional indifference that plagued her life — that prevented her from receiving a minimal standard of child protection, a minimal standard of health care and even a minimal standard of education services — must be the product of a system that has effectively discounted the value of girls like her.”

"Turpel-Lafond said the investigation is among the most troubling her office has ever conducted, but it is sadly not unique. She estimates there are about 100 to 150 aboriginal youth similar to Paige in the Downtown Eastside. " Read More here