08/05/2021
Ghosts of Xmas Past
I have been giving a lot of thought to simpler times and how to create greater meaningful involvement in the Métis Nation and how to build strength in our Nation.
I have been looking at how community activism developed in the North. Activism that developed in positive spaces that built up our sense of pride and community. Families working along side one another supporting one another.
At one time it was common place to hold Métis local meetings on a monthly basis, when there was no money coming in. As I have been campaigning, I have heard that in some areas the locals are not active - this must change!
We must generate pride in our Nation - because the power rests with the People at the local level. As we move to implement the Métis Self-Government agreements, there is an excellent opportunity for constitutional reform - to ensure that the heart of our Nation (our families) - the locals are respected. To create interest, strength, a voice, community involvement and legitimacy the Constitution must embed a requirement that MNS local be elected through a ballot box system every 4 years.
As part of constitutional reform I also believe that it is important to provide clarity on the relationship between the locals and the regions. In order to move forward we must paddle together, in Harmonie, as did the Métis voyageurs, rather then slowing down because of fights between locals and regions.
The strength and authority of our Nation rests with our people, it comes from the bottom up and not the top down.
The direction is set by the Métis people and we need to hear from each of you on what is important and that can only be achieved by strengthening and encouraging greater local involvement through accountable democratically elected local government.
As a people I look at the successes of many of the increased opportunities, and I say Bravo, but I say we cannot rally around or rely solely on what our leaders “got” us. I believe that we must look to the ghosts of Christmas Pasts - like my grandpa Rod Bishop, the warriors who blockaded roads and empowered our people by taking a stand!!
Leaders who focussed on creating empowered communities. How did they do this, by running and offering locally designed and controlled programs to respond to the unique needs of each community. Problems were identified and solutions were designed and implemented to respond to the unique community needs! A good example of that was the Alex Bishop Childcare Center. We can’t just be looking at our leaders as Ghosts of Christmas Presents to give us presents.
I say this because trust me, one day Santa won’t come, and raining down money will not strengthen our Nation. As a people we must change our mindset, we must not look at what is being given to us, rather we must look at what we are building together.
So as a people we need to focus on creating opportunities for individual empowerment - strengthening our Nation - starting with every individual.
We must remember that the survival of our Nation is dependent upon our activism and as citizens we all have a personal obligation to our Nation to make it stronger. We must do more then just show up on election day to cast a vote for who can give us the most? We want an empowered Nation not a dependent Nation.
So each citizen must ask themselves how can I get involved, how can I promote our culture, how can I build up my community, how can I support others? As citizens we need to do more then just wait for our next hampers- we set the course - we set the direction. As citizens, collectively, we are the bosses.
So we all must be active - we must walk with our brothers and sisters , we must sew with our brothers and sisters, we must cook with our brothers and sisters! In doing this we will build stronger, healthier, caring, compassionate supportive communities.
For me building the Nation starts at the local level and we must build upon the strength of that model, which owing to the wisdom of our people and the drafters is embedded in our current constitution. As we move forward with the historically significant self- government agreements, we have an opportunity to recreate and redefine ourselves.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD A REPRESENTATIVE AND STRENGTHENED GOVERNMENT AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL LEVEL ALL PADDLING TOGETHER WE ARE STONGER TOGETHER.
“If you want straight talk, straight action and homegrown leadership vote for me”
*****This campaign is proudly sponsored from the sale proceeds of Gwen Kings Tupperware , King Eggs and home baked Pies . How can a gal compete? Fairly and on a level playing field.*******