Ancestral Land

Allowing First Nations to own their own land would give them entry into the modern economy as property is the central means of obtaining credit from banks and lending institutions. At present, First Nations communities governed by the Indian Act, such as those in Manitoba, do not own their own land, as underlying title is held by the Crown. Reserve lands cannot be pledged as collateral for loans, and homes on reserves cannot build equity or otherwise appreciate in value. The Indian Act has made beggers of the first nations.

For generations, first nations people roamed the land, taking only what they needed. Then came the white man. He beat down the nations of the Hopi, the Seneca, the Mohawk and the Lakota. He took away their ability to survive and placed them on borrowed lands called reservations.

As a result of this, Native American culture has struggled to survive through centuries of displacement and assimilation, the stories and legends passed on from generation to generation refuse to die; this is perhaps due to their common, timeless message of peace and harmony with nature, which is now more relevant with each passing year.

In todays world of profit at any cost, perhaps those high and mighty CEOs should learn from our history. Peace and harmony with nature, not profit at any cost is the way to survive and grow....When all is said and done, you still only get a few cubic feet of earth under your name.

'nuff said