A shouting match between about 50 non-aboriginals and 100 aboriginals at the site of an ongoing native occupation in Caledonia, Ont., appeared to be the only tense moment at a protest on Saturday.
Breathing a sigh of relief, "no violence", is matched by by the silence of Canduian jurisprudence and parliament over the theft of First Nations land in Caledonia and in hundreds of other silent-for-now Canadian communities. Do not these two hallowed institutions know injustice when they see it?
A shouting match is unambiguous violence. Do not be deceived! The observer is advised to exercise discretion. The trouble is between the idea that some people have more rights than others. White people still think they have the right to North America, South America, Africa, and every region they have visited and are ever more willing to go to war to prove it. The Harper government is our witness.
The end of the protest will loom full-screen when the Canadian people demand that First Nations become what they were before Europens arrived: sovereign. Canada’s First Nations struggle against incredible racism in the 21st century and at the same time have very good reasons to hope and build on heir gains. A few goodwill treaties between First Nations and the Canadian government have been signed in the last few decades.
Racism in Canada is as big as ever. Forget what the media says. Just ask your neighbour. Ask your government to end its support or maintenance of racism anywhere in the world.