Re: Is this man who he thinks he is? March 4

Is this man who he thinks he is? March 4

As one of the 80,000 indigenous people who received the Jan. 31, 2017, letter stating that I and my four brothers and sisters have been denied status as Qalipu Mi’kmaq, I was offended by the dismissiveness of the statement that “there is no legal recourse” to reclaim our cultural identity.

Unfortunately, I was not surprised by the decision. Canada as a whole has historically attempted to quash any vestiges of identity that indigenous peoples possess since the day Europeans landed on the shores of this land.

Since the Newfoundland and federal governments agree that the Qalipu Mi’kmaq are to be divided, including a set of twins, it can be reasonable stated that neither entity has the best interests of all of its citizens, indigenous or not, at heart.

My grandfather, Anthony White, is credited with reviving the Mi’kmaq basket-weaving culture in Newfoundland. He was heralded as a leader in the Mi’kmaq community and all of his children proudly lived their lives believing they were part of a heritage that was valued.

Now, no more. Why? Because in order to take pride in one’s self and family one must be able to claim a heritage and identity within a greater community. The governments of Newfoundland and Canada have now stripped that ability from us and in doing so have denied us an identity as human beings in our native lands. We are now nothing.

I am Mi’kmaq (born in Stephenville, Nfld., on United Nations Day). Have been my entire life. There is nothing I can do to change that. The government would have me believe that I am not worthy of such title. The government may believe they are righteous in their decision. But all they have done is added to the historical perception that some indigenous peoples are not to be recognized as valued citizens of Canada, no matter their statements or protestations otherwise.

Troy Young, Toronto