Irecently traveled to Canada and the Curve Lake reserve near Peterborough, Ontario, aka Anishinaabe Akiing. I spent a morning at Kinoomaage Waapkong, or what’s called the Peterborough Petroglyphs, and was amazed at what I saw and heard. As I crossed that border, I wondered if I should return to my homeland in the North.

Let me explain. I once lived in a remote village in northern Ontario, an island called Moose Factory, named for the Hudson Bay Trading posts of the fur trade. I married, bore “Canadian” children, and lived the Cree life. It was blessed, so long as we had clean water and land. There’s a good social services system, free health care and such. And lots of poutine.

I have a love-hate relationship with Canada. Canada has a rotten past with Native people. Present-day words are

See Full Page