Dear Editor,
Two interesting letters published recently in the Georgian, one by Mr. Byrnes and a responding one by Mr. Alexander, both with valid points, both well written by two fine gentlemen.
Maybe my response may be a little different as most of you already know. I have always been in favor of protecting our environment. I have seen first hand the mess that the Americans left behind. I also know a little about the land that was expropriated from our people. You see that my great grandfather, Frank Russell, owned approximately 55 acres (maybe more) land that (today without it's polluted condition) would be quite valuable.
Land that once was good farm land, today a chemical graveyard of old tanks, pipes, etc., etc. that no one has really come forward to let the public know what is really there. You know what scares me the most is sites on our old base being excavated and used for backfill around our towns. We have lots of places for landfill pits without using this garbage. Anything that comes off that base is questionable to me and it also should be to others.
I had a few threats made against me last year when I was going around asking questions on environmental issues. This only made me more concerned. Today I am on my own, studying environmental law.
As an Aboriginal environmentalist, I believe that maybe some people just don't understand that we have to look at these issues that involve our environment more carefully. (Leave something for our children to enjoy.)
Yes! Mr. Byrnes, there is nothing wrong celebrating. I am sure when the Americans were here they had no real knowledge of what chemicals they left behind or any kind of garbage that today has come back to haunt us.
Or for that matter our government, neglecting the Aboriginal people, expropriating their land. I am sure land that they worked hard on that they had to leave behind. But this wasn't an uncommon treatment by both levels of government towards the Aboriginal people. Yes! the Aboriginal people of Bay St. George who were once forgotten, people never got to be recognized by our government. People who should today be proud of who they are, people who paved the way for European settlers, people who stayed silent and allowed their culture to die, have today every right to regain their lost or stolen identity. They are the people that deserve also to be celebrated. A lot of our people have died not knowing their culture, for that matter also their full identity. What a shame.
Frank Russell
Kit-pu. w.
Stephenville
As published in The Georgian, January 15-21, 2002
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Copyright © 2003 Frank Russel
Wantaqo'ti