Treaty Relations

3 trcm.ca As I walked into a meeting with a group of Elders a while back, one of the women said to me, "Commis- sioner, you look handsome today. then again, i am not wearing my glasses." laughter ensued as she explained that she was used to seeing me dressed "like a white man" and, on that day, i was wearing jeans and a golf shirt. her comment exemplified the struggle that many First Nations people face navigating mainstream society while maintaining connections to their unique cul tural identity. this struggle is neither new nor uncommon. in fact, every person, group or movement that seeks to gain access to the reins of mainstream power faces it. Jackie Robinson, Colin Powell, Phil Fontaine, Barack obama and oprah Winfrey have all been called a "sellout" at one point or another. Many First Nations people who have done well in business, professional careers or have moved up in socio-economic status have also been saddled with a nagging, persistent fear of being labelled in this way. the term "sellout" is not new. historically, it was used against First Nations people who were determined to pursue higher education. i remember students in Grade 6 teasing one of our peers for getting high marks. they claimed she was "acting white". As a First Nations community, we have not tackled these divisive phrases. We either pretend they don't exist or falsely believe that the name calling does no harm. Mean- while, terms like "apple" (red on the outside, white on the inside) remain, denying us the opportunity to equate our culture with excellence. unfortunately, the persistent use of these phrases has risen in correlation with the growing contribution First Nations people are making across all sectors of our economy. the business leaders, farmers, academics and tradespeople of today are the true cultural carriers. they are the ones implementing what was intended in the treaties – that the partnership be about opportunities, self-reliance and inde- pendence. it is time we honoured and celebrated them, not degraded them, for their determination and tenacity. there are those challenging the negative notions. in re- sponse to a university of Regina cheer team dressed as cowboys and indians, a u of R student started the twitter hashtag #NotYourstereotype. From across Canada, Aborig- inal people have posted pictures of themselves in military uniform, suit and tie, and with their harvard Doctorates (my sister!) to proclaim that they are not the headdress- wearing caricatures of modern stereotype. simultaneously, they are proclaiming they have the freedom and depth of identity to dress and act how they like, to set high goals for themselves and to suc ceed on their own terms. Read on to discover our own success stories from individu- als who believe they are where they are pre cisely BECAusE of who they are, what they know and what they believe in. in so doing, they are making their mark and contributing to our communities and our country. ❚ AbouT The TreATy relATions Commission The Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba (TRCM) is a neutral body, created through a partnership between the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) and the Government of Canada. An important part of its mandate is to encourage discussions and facilitate public understanding in an effort to enhance mutual respect between First Nations and all peoples in Manitoba, as envisaged by the Treaty Parties. AbouT JAmie Wilson, opAskWAyAk Cree nATion (oCn) Jamie Wilson has served as Commissioner of the TRCM since 2010. He also serves on the Indigenous Advisory Circle at the University of Winnipeg which oversees the Master's in Indigenous Development and is a Council Member of the Canadian Education Association. Jamie earned his B.A. at the University of Winnipeg and his M.Ed. Administration from the University of Manitoba. He has significant experience as an educator and even served as a Special Operations Ranger in the U.S. military. Jamie is a columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press and is regularly called upon by local and national media to comment on a wide range of First Nations issues. He was also named to Manitoba's Power 30 in 2014. Time To honour & celebraTe economic parTnerships inTended in TreaTies By jamie wilson jamES wilSon CommiSSionEr of thE trEaty rElationS CommiSSion of manitoba

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