I support the Garden River toll bridge. By Alicia Sayers

The following eloquent note was posted on Facebook last night by Sault Ste. Marie's Alicia Sayers.

It appears here by permission of the author.

************************* I am living in two worlds, living with my people and living in “modern” times.

I am a student at Wilfrid Laurier University.

I went to cultural camps.

I have been raised on the reserve.

I have lived in the city.

I have traveled the world.

I have been to ceremonies and cultural gatherings.

I have taken Western medicine.

I believe in my cultural medicine.

I am my people, living in a Western world.

I cannot understand the remarks people make – even though albeit, I make similar ones at times – except, I keep mine as civil as possible, at least, try to!

Of course many of you may not believe me, because “it’s coming from my point of view."

I keep my remarks based on personal experience so no one can tell me that I am wrong.

When someone says “I think I hear war drums” and “little brats," it’s time to stop reading their remarks because they are full of emptiness.

It’s quite unfortunate.

For a country that is based out of many cultures and people, it started with one culture and with the help of others, it is what you see and live in, today.

It’s not about knowing that it started with one, it is about respecting that.

And I am not saying my people are the answer for the success or failures of Canada.

I will be honest, I used to tell people if they didn’t like what my people and I are doing, go back to Europe or go back to where you came from.

That was before I took the time to fully understand both sides and that is where many of us fall short.

At the same time, that is what makes it exciting; we need the passionate people who are willing to move forward and keep things going.

That is how change is manifested.

“The unreasonable man adapts surrounding conditions to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

The best way to make change happen is to catch the attention of others and to do that is to appeal to their senses and desires, whether or not they differ from yours.

Add in keeping your culture alive and well.

This is doable, but not only by one, but by many.

And, I cannot speak for the elders, for the Creator or for the future.

I can only speak for me.

The history is living and breathing and when people say “get over it” or “stop crying over things in the past," I cannot.

If I forget about it or “get over it” my culture will cease to exist.

I do not have a “home” country I can take a jet plane to for the weekend.

My life and history are rooted in this country and the issues that have affected my people far beyond my time or my mother’s time are still affecting me and my people today and that is what makes my history the here and now living with not only my people, but with every other race inhibiting this land.

This is why, I believe, it is a very passionate and emotional subject when issues like the toll bridge in Garden River arise.

We can’t fully change the way things are going in one moment.

I am not saying: 'Sit down and let others trample on your rights or beliefs.'

Learn the “white” man's ways and make them your own.

A lot of the world – not just Canada – is moving or is already a Western motif, and the best way to get something done is, from the way I have seen, is to do it the “Western” way – and then, make it your's.

I am not trying to preach or profess I have all the right answers, but this way has worked for me and this is how I (not you, so do not take offense if you don’t believe it) am going to live my life.

I am not being tricked into living the white man's way or losing my way, I do this because it is what makes sense to me.

As of now, I have a hard time believing that the white man and my people can work together, and I mean truly work together - no hidden agendas, etc.

This is not because my people want government money or are lazy or any other *stereotype* either.

With work and time, I can only hope that we can work together.

I do support the toll bridge; I’ve supported this since day one.

There are positives and negatives to any aspect of life.

The point is to keep your heart and mind in the positive regardless of how negative things are around you.

This is just me.

*************************