First Nations Voice

OCTOBER 2015 • PAGE 3 city Needs more thaN just talk about racism, but What By Trevor Greyeyes" I attended Winnipeg's Local Inclusion Summit for one basic reason and that is I couldn't afford to get into the summit put on by Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman. But anytime someone can get a group of people together to talk about racism that is a good start. And for future reference here's a handy definition of inclusion: noun 1. the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure. You can imagine my surprise the day I saw the news conference announcing because I had never received any notice. Well, at least to not any emails that are currently active that I check on a daily, if not hourly, basis. And the people who handle communications at the mayor's office should know it considering that I have pestered the staff there to no end sometimes. Look, I realize in the grand scheme of media communications that The First Nations Voice is relatively small potatoes but that's the essence of good communications is reaching out and being as inclusive as possible. That's basic public relations 101. Let's hope the next one is organized much better. As I said at the top, I attended that Local Inclusion Summit and it gave me some hope for the future. Thankfully, I did have enough money, or as the people say where I come from "shoonias," for gas and parking. The local summit was primarily organized and hosted by youth from all different kinds of backgrounds and ethnicities. And there was a good mix of people attending too. As I stood there at Oodena Circle at The Forks though, it struck me that many of the people gathered there were already concerned about racism and maybe working through the individual racist garbage many Canadians are exposed to growing up. How do I know? Well, I did not grow up on a 'reserve.' I grew up in Transcona where my two parents bought a modest bungalow with a white picket fence worked, paid the mortgage, all applicable taxes and raised four children who graduated high school to go on to some college or university. See, I don't fit neatly into any stereotype of what an "Indian" is supposed to represent. And in comments following mainstream news stories, that's all I ever read. One tired stereotype after another of people who don't know what First Nations people like me are about who are ignorant about how this country was founded. Many First Nation peoples, more than less in fact, are overcoming the limiting bonds of colonial oppression that still exists. And that's what this publication is about too. Letting the general public know through positive stories and vibes that the First Nations community in this city and province is very dynamic. And maybe, just maybe The First Nations Voice can reach out and change the heart and mind of someone devoted to tired old stereotypes. "Letting the general public know through positive stories and vibes that the First Nations community in this city and province is very dynamic." Local Inclusion summit at The Forks

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