- Seneiya
Kamotho
- English/Kenya
"I will not be silenced. I have nothing to apologize for. I am telling the truth." Matthew Coon Come, the National Chief
of the Assembly of First Nations said this today as he enumerated the hardships he is undergoing as a result of speaking openly about the rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada to self-determination at a Indigenous Peoples Press Conference at the World Conference Against Racism. "This is a World Conference Against Racism, is this not the place to discuss these things openly and responsibly?" Garbed in a large native-American colourful headdress, and speaking to about 70 international mainstream and indigenous journalists, Mr. Come, who represents over 600 First Nations Peoples in Canada, numbering approximately one million people said, "I have been severely criticized by Ministers of the government of Canada and in the Canadian press, for what I have said her in South Africa. I have said that indigenous peoples in Canada face gross disparities, and they are being pushed to the edge of economic, political and social extinction. Because of this, the Canadian Minister of Indian Affairs is demanding an apology from me to all Canadians for speaking out. The Minister also states that what I have said in South
Africa will make it very difficult for him to sit with me and work with me for years to come. He also states that there is no proof in this modern time that the Canadian government and the general population are racist towards aboriginal people ." Mr. Come pointed out that over the years, indigenous peoples in Canada have been repeatedly warned of suffering the consequences if they continued to tell their stories internationally. He highlighted the fact that, only recently, there have been clear images on Canadian television of mobs burning the boats of indigenous peoples, stoning their vehicles, and attacking indigenous demonstrators. He stated that some governments in Canada have actually withheld social spending from indigenous people as a way of putting pressure on them not to publish their stories. He said the threats by the Canadian government were misguided, as they did not deal with the fundamental problem of landlessness and dispossession of indigenous peoples. Canada is one of the largest and richest countries in the world and yet the UN Human Rights Committee ruled recently that there has been little or no progress in addressing indigenous issues, and implementing the official recommendations concerning landlessness and poverty. "There are numerous judicial and other official findings that there are colonial policies, broad discriminatory practices, and gross disparities affecting our peoples in Canada. These would not be tolerated if they applied to other Canadians," asserted Mr. Come. Saying that Canada has an enviable international reputation earned by its sincere
opposition to apartheid, aid to refugees, and international development assistance, Mr. Come however pointed out that "there are serious double standards in Canada concerning respect for indigenous rights at home and in the UN system. |