A Kunuk Outlook?

Or should I say, Elders outlook.

“Kunuk’s done what no one else has: listened to the elders.

The Fast Runner director skips the “experts,” going directly to Inuit elders, and discovers their alarming views on climate change.”

Many of you will likely remember Kunuk’s first feature film, “Atanarjuat, The Fast Runner.” It was another project that no one else, let alone an Inuk, had ever done. That story went against the patronizing notion that Inuit are non-confrontational. Imagine…human beings non-confrontational?

Now, with Kunuk’s latest documentary, he has captured the perspective of Inuit Elders regarding the issue of climate change. An issue, in recent years, that has gained international attention especially where the effects will “hit the hardest…the Arctic.”  A lot of “experts” have given their perspective whether for or against the idea of climate change.

Kunuk says, “Over the years, nobody has ever listened to these people. Every time (the discussion is) about global warming, about the Arctic warming, it’s scientists that go up there and do their work. And policy makers depend on these findings. Nobody ever really understands the people up there.”

Apparently now though…guess what?

After a presentation on the elders’ views at a Copenhagen conference on climate change, “We had a litany of scientists come back to us, responding after seeing this news…”

As an Inuk myself, can’t wait to see this documentary. Will likely end up in true Kunuk style…telling it like it is.

“ The documentary deals strictly with the elders’ observations and their belief that they simply have to adapt.”

This perspective, of course, coming from a people who have adapted to the harshest climate on earth. I guess climate change is just another challenge…Elders’ style.

Nelson Mandela, what a fella.

“A conversation with himself, an inspiration for us.

This collection of letters, notes and fragments confirms Nelson Mandela as an icon for the age.”

So read the headline in the GLOBE published in the October 16, 2010 edition and written by an Isabel Nanton.

Anyone who has read his first book including myself entitled, “Long Road to Freedom” will likely be as impressed with this man and his new book entitled, “Conversations with Myself.” Although, I have not read it yet, I will certainly check it out.

His first book outlines and chronicles his incredible journey growing up in the dark period of apartheid to his eventual ascent to Prime Minister of South Africa. Now, as an icon for diplomacy, he has come out with his “inner most thoughts of the private man almost universally considered to be the world’s pre-eminent statesman.”

One example or excerpt includes a view “On human weakness.”

“You have to recognize that people are produced by the mud in the society in which you live and that therefore they are human beings. They have good points, they have got weak points. Your duty is to work with human beings as human beings, not because you think they are angels. And therefore, once you know that this man has this virtue and the has got this weakness, you work with them and you accommodate that weakness and you try and help them to overcome that weakness. I don’t want to be frightened by the fact that a person has made certain mistakes and has got human frailties. I can’t allow myself to be influenced by that.”

I look forward to reading more.

Catholic repetition?

Did you know Jesus voiced against repetitive prayer? Yet, the Catholic Church is so repetitive in its rituals. How many times do you have to repeat the Lord's Prayer, your Hail Mary's and Holy Mary's? At meal time, they always have to repeat "Bless us oh Lord with these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our our Lord, Amen." Seems nothing comes from the heart. I know, I spent 13 years in a Catholic residential school. I think I can express my negative opinions on that church.


And, when praying, Jesus said to do it in private. Yet, how many times do you see Catholic athletes kneel and give the sign of the cross in public: just watch a CFL or NFL game.


Repetition does not earn Respect. Catholics....don't feel guilty, guilt has been taken away.

How much is your language worth?

“Rock ‘n’ rolling off the mother tongue.

Native musician seeks to entertain with translations of classic pop tunes into Cree, but his work also has a serious side.”

So read the headline in the GLOBE AND MAIL published September 20, 2010 and written by a Tom Hawthorn.

As an Aboriginal person (Inuit) of Canada, I must commend the Aboriginal (First Nations) musician featured in the above noted article. Apparently, an Art Napolean, whose mother tongue is a dialect of a northern woodlands cree has recorded his newest album entitled, “Creeland Covers” and is sung almost entirely in Cree. His songs, apparently, cover well-known songs first recorded by the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Hank Williams, and amongst others, Neil Young.

Apparently, not all Aboriginal people have lost their native language as a result of their experience of the former residential school system. A good thing.

However, the recent “Common Experience Payment” afforded to all those Survivors who experienced residential school including myself was heavily weighted based on loss of language and culture. While in residential school, I could not speak my native language as it was lost but, I can remember a lot of the First Nations students had conversed in their own native language on a daily basis. A good thing.

Given the “Common Experience Payment” afforded to all Survivors of residential school, was it fair that someone who could still speak his/her native language received the same amount as I did….one who had a true loss of language.

Lucky for the First Nations musician, Art Napolean, he can still speak his native language and has captitalized on that fact in recording his new album. Unlike him, my native language is lost. Not a good thing.

The Pope...Holy?

"His Holiness and her Majesty walk in step on the role of religion in national identity, but beneath the dignity is a battle of rhetoric."

So read the headline in the GLOBE, dated September 17th, 2010 and written by a Claudio Onorati.

The dictionary defines "holiness" as "the quality or state of being holy; sanctity."


So, what is it?...Religion or Relationship?


The Bible says, in the end, God will ask each and everyone of us, "Do you know me?" I guess even the Pope will have to answer "yes" or "no."


Leave it to the Lord where his "Holiness" will end up.

Truth and Reconciliation...Hawaii bound?

“Hawaiian junket gets Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in hot water.

As commission seeks more federal cash for residential-schools panel, bill for members' Honolulu trip is pegged at as much as $6,000.”

So read the headline in the GLOBE AND MAIL published on September 2^nd, 2010 and written by a Bill Curry.

During my stint as an appointed Inuit Board member with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) from 1999 to 2004, I had always advocated the need for a “by Survivors for Survivors” attitude. Surviving residential school required that kind of respect. Still, there are non-Survivors riding and benefiting from the financial wave on the backs of those of us who truly deserve more than what has been offered. For example, George Erasmus, President of the AHF and a non-Survivor will be compensated over one million dollars for his tenure up to 2012. And, Mike DeGagne, Executive Director of the AHF and another non-Survivor will likely appreciate his benefits along with his $130k…ish salary with bonuses. The average compensation for a Survivor is a measly $16000! Oh, my God!

Still, as a former Board member of the AHF, I was careful on the “optics” of taking care of business that included staying within the confines of Canada. Therefore, I am baffled by the “junket” two TRC Commissioners have chosen to embark on to Hawaii. The trip is very inviting but “personal development” for the Commissioners is certainly not within the mandate of the TRC.

“It’s on the backs of survivors,” Michael Cachagee fumed. The executive director of the National Residential Schools Survivors Society noted that his organization has largely been silenced after Ottawa cut off all funding last year, citing concern over expenses.”

“They come down here and nitpick the hell out of me and the organization, yet you’ve got these clowns going off to Hawaii,” he said.”

“Officials with the commission have suggested that their budget may not be enough to accomplish the massive task of crossing the country to gather stories from former students, many of whom live in remote communities. Meetings are scheduled to take place when the commissioners return to determine whether they will ask Ottawa for more money.”

More money? Let’s hope the TRC will cross the country, not cross the world...for Survivors sake.

Arctic Communities, Arctic Reserves?

“Military cash could fix crumbling Arctic infrastructure, Ottawa told.

Federation of Canadian Municipalities issues northern strategy in wake of PM’s tour of region.”

So read the headline published in the GLOBE AND MAIL dated August 31, 2010 and written by a Steve Rennie.

Ever watch the nightly news, whether on Global TV or CBC TV?  Ever wonder too, when it comes to forecasting the “national” weather, the weather person mentions nothing of weather reports in Canada’s Arctic. When will the Arctic ever get daily attention like southern Canadian regions? For Prime Minister Harper, at least, he has been making annual visits: this time he can add Inuvialuit (Inuit) dancing to his performing arts resume too.

The above noted article though points to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities recommending the injection of cash to fix the Arctic’s crumbling infrastructure. For those of us who are from the Arctic or those of you who have been lucky enough to visit will likely agree the Arctic’s infrastructure mirrors the conditions of the First Nations reserves in southern Canada. In fact, many will agree the Arctic communities are just that: Arctic reserves with gravel roads, no running water (sub-standard quality at best), and decrepit weathered buildings combined with incredible remoteness. While it is important to assert sovereignty with a stronger military presence, money should also be spent in “building healthier communities, protecting the environment and diversifying the regional economy” as outlined in the federal government’s 2007 northern strategy.

While some may agree, there is no money in “world peace” but it is wars and rumors of wars that fuel the world’s economy, let’s therefore use some of that money Canada has promised and inject or stimulate the Arctic economy so that the Inuit can feel some sense of significance: fixing its current infrastructure could be a start. With more attention paid to the Arctic: perhaps Global TV and CBC TV may finally broadcast the weather in Canada’s Arctic in their “national” forecast.