North Shore rac Dear Editor: Re: Indian industry swin- dle, Hana Mercer's column, July 14. AS a native Canadian Indian, 1 am outraged with this fitde news item. grew up in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Not a reserve. Unfortunately, [| can’t sav the same for my litde sisters. Native life on a reserve ts a much different way of fife than it is for city dwellers, and it is often times different, even in the city, because of segrepa- tion of races. Rape? Land set- tlements? “Go back where you came from, woman,” is some- thing [ teel like screaming to racist remarks like the ones she makes in (her column). You grow up in a residen- dal school where you are beat- en for speaking vour own fan- it is my guage. You grow up learning and having te abev a religion that is foreign to vou. You grow ap asa child torn from your family who don’e know how to accept vou when vou come home after many years of being taught to be a Catholic white person. Life on reserve is akin to how gangs are with each other. It’s.a very tight bond of people who five in sorrow tor what's become of their once very proud, very strong nation. Every other nation that’s been taken over “by vou damned tourists-come-pil- grimy” bave had their grieving time, [ believe that Natives will come to accept you ail as the houseguest who wouldn't go away, and will learn to live the way you all do. Ic all just takes time. responsib lity \ to participate The thing that really motivates me to get involved is knowing first \ and foremost that the funds are going to a good cause. Ihave been a North Shore resident for over 34 years and I feel it is my respon- sibility to participate in my community. Secondly, my son was born at Lions, Gate Hospital, so these are more than enough - reasons to be part of the big - . picture of helping other people. - Roger Sharma icBc Capilano F Runstars Stik Annwesi Event Sunday September-17, 2000 9:11 am - 12:11 pm. Ambleside Pari West Vancouver, 5¢ we SP Gold MCL Mator Cars Sponsors REL 9 sesneste ron ——MAIL Box——— Pam only part native. Pm also Chinese among other things. Pve come to accept people as they are. How come you can’t T walk inte the store with niy sister, or friend, whoever is native, and they make us stand in the doorway or watch us like hawks ever hovering thinking, we are thieves. My sister ts no such thing, my friend is a peer councillor and she’s doing very well asa person designing Web pages. My white friend is a stay-at- home mom, who gets more respect for being white than anything else, When Pm out and about with my bovs (they are blonde) people think 'm their nanny I dved my hair blonde last year. People tinally acknowledged me as their mother. I'm sick of the racism. can’t believe seomuch of it exists on the Nerth Shore In Langley, even with my black hair, people are much more accepting and took it) tor granted Pwas my boys’ moth: er. I'm tired of people who are so rude. | wish we could. all just get along. There are far too Many people alive today remembering how white peo- ple treated thea so unjustly Like “savages.” You grow up being called that all your lite and tell me you will not be angey. FE don't care how much counselling or therapy onc gets, that is just too hard to pet over after some solic time. Get over yourself, woman. April Kennedy North Vancouver Get more information by cailing our: Relay Hotline 984-3782 website: www.Jghfoundation.com 911relay@nshr.hnet.bc.ca earls Tiewes ted Gera pongo Banko! Montreal Prcrvalernoust(Gorers & AUR CAN& DA @ Sponsors Media rear marae i ma & north shore news classifieds are working for you | 24 hours a day, sevend days a week at www.nsnews.com sm sickens Life on the Rez is living in a ghetto Dear Editor: Re: Indian industry: swin- dle. Hana Mercer, July 14 Being 4 Canadian. and 3 Native American, TP resent the news item posted in vour Paper. Eyres upon “one” orthe “Rez's” in Lytton, B.C. For being a small town that af vou blinked vou would miss, Lytton has at least, 20) different Indian reservations, while the town has a population of less then 3,000, but 1} didn’t have a “choice.” Poam oa veung Native American girl now living with my older sister, of f the Rez. Living on the rez for as long as FE have, which has been about 18 years, it gets to you. You have to be strong and open minded, and that’s why Um here today. Of the SS billion that are said to be received by the First: Nations of Canada, it isn’t enough | don't believe. For all of the heartbreak, rape, vandalism, torture, racism and hatred spoken and seat our way all) the money in the world couldn't take away our pain and agony received from the “white people” of a foreign land. I would like to treat you to life on the Rez, if you could handle it. Living on the Rez isn’t any better then living down in the ghetto, it’s exactly the same, but sometimes worse. The Nisga’a treaty is one that [am forever grateful, for “we” as First Nations are finally being recognized as “people,” people with rights, SH Call or op by for more details. 1600, Moca Re. North Van ivelings. and a fifestvle that should orever have been taken away, now it has been given back to the Nisya’a and people like vou want it taken away, or everything that you have taken from as, you want more and more. The feelings that you feel are understand: able, because “we™ went through it already, but yeu took evervthing from us, and put us to the side to forget about. This isn't happening any- more, because “we” are not going te be vour little pets in a cage anymore. We are peo- ple with a mind of our own, we have feelings and we want back what's rightfully: ours, and to be compensated for the “hell” chat you put us through. [f that’s roo much to ask then society shouldn't have raped and maimed us in the first place. You came, you took over, so vou should pay to educate us in your lifestyle of which you have imposed on us. I would strongly suggest that you should go into the Native American communi- ties and report their side of your “story,” because in your report you never mentioned the physical, mental and ver- bal abuse that was received the first time that we as Native people strived and longed to be our “own” peo- ple, and not your puppets. You do owe it to us, for the agony that you set upon our shoulders. Jocelyn “Jawz-Dawg” Dunstan NLHA’7KAPMX First Nation Siska Indian Band, Lytton B.C. it’s not too late! To help the Food Bank You can make a difference! By participating in the 13th Annual IN JULY Help us feed 400 of our North Shore neighbours each week this summer. Please add your food donation to the sharing bag you received in the July 5th issue of The North Shore News and drop it off at your local fire hall or supermarket. because HUNGER KNOWS NO SEASON To make a cash donation please contact: The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society 311 East 6th Ave., Vancouver, BC V5T 1J9 Ph: 876-3601 Fax: 876-7323 © www.foodbank.bc.ca - email:Food _Bank@telus. net l or make a secure donation online at www.citizensbank.ca