First Nations Wildcrafters, BC

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This whole case makes absolutely no sense at all. It also demonstrates more every day why our practices should not be put in a position of being drug into courts like this has been. There will be no "winner" or "victory" in any of this. No one is disputing that the teacher did not send the notice letter written by the principal home with this fifth grade student. No one is disputing that the mother did not give consent or that the letter sent out by the teacher of her other...Continue reading

For our next generations to be able to continue as unique indigenous peoples, the continued exercise of traditional laws and practices has to be maintained and ...not ceded. This forms one of the essential elements for the continued recognition of rights of self-governance. Indigenous laws include all aspects of how indigenous peoples formed and maintained social, cultural, territories, economics and spiritual practices. What we sometimes call protocols evolved from these indigenous laws of existence. Many of these came directly from the Creator through the First People and passed down through generations. These also came through individual experiences formed with the spirit world. All of these pathways of spiritual understandings were unique, respected and protected from violations by the respective indigenous laws such as recognition of ownership of aspects such as names, songs, dances and medicines. Respect of the ownership of sacred and cultural practices was essential for many reasons. One of the indigenous laws of respect included the recognition that one family or person did not have the right or authority to force another person or family to adopt and practice another families practices. This respect of family and individuals autonomy came from the Creator because the way a person communicates with their ancestors, other spirits of other beings and with the Creator is a deeply personal and private relationship. When these indigenous laws are not followed within our own communities because of a court case seeking to respect personal differences in how people pray then a significant step toward surrendering the self-governance rights of our next generations is taken. When indigenous political organizations cease to follow the traditional laws and practices of indigenous laws, and instead choose to publically present to courts their position that these indigenous laws and rights do not or should not exist, this becomes documented evidence that indigenous laws respecting individual families and peoples autonomy over their own spiritual beliefs and practices are no longer being given recognition even by indigenous political organizations. This leads towards undermining individual First Nations jurisuction of title and rights protection and becomes even more difficult to protect inherent rights when it comes to colonial governments. If indigenous political organizations do not respect and follow the indigenous laws of the peoples whose Territory they operate on then the Crown and other governments will think they do not have to. Ultimately the Nuuchanulth and other peoples indigenous law equivalent of Freedom of Religion would be surrendered in a fight over a colonial government structure of Freedom of Religion by an indigenous political organization that did not respect or follow the indigenous laws of cultural and spiritual practices and protocols that are an essential component of self determination of First Nations families and way of life. In the fight to not be defined by others in their laws and values we cannot and must not forget who we are and what our own laws and protocols are. When this is willingly surrendered so are our next generations rights to self-governance and respect for their traditional spiritual rights and practices surrendered. The living generations carry these sacred responsibilities on behalf of the unborn. These ways of praying did not come from us and are not our generations to give away by not exercising or recognizing the indigenous laws that do exist. Our next generations deserve that we step up and not surrender the indigenous laws that belong to them. All my relations

An interesting article about health impacts from wood smoke in the air. "Did you spend time outside in Sydney during the smoke haze on Thursday? Were you left with a bad taste in your mouth? Well, it's no surprise because one respiratory expert believes you 'smoked' the equivalent of up to 32 cigarettes."