Editor:
Re: Arthur Topham letter, short-sighted opinion, Observer Feedback.
The word nation came to English from the Old French word nation, which in turn originated from the Latin word anti literally meaning “that which has been born.”
Canada is the first and only nation governing lands of North America which is not governed by the U.S.A. or Mexico.
In the context of the history of the indigenous people of the Americas, a confederacy may refer to a semi-permanent political and military alliance consisting of multiple nations (or “tribes”, “bands”, or “villages”) which maintained their separate leadership.
One of the most well-known is the Iroquois Confederacy, but there were many others during different eras and locations across North America: these include the Western Confederacy, Powhatan Confederacy, Seven Nations of Canada, Pontiac’s Confederacy, Illinois Confederation, Tecumseh’s Confederacy, Great Sioux Nation, Blackfoot Confederacy, Iron Confederacy and Council of Three Fires.
There never was a “first” national sea to sea nation separate from being citizens of Canada.
The United States of America redress to its indigenous peoples as Native Americans just as Canada should have rightfully referred to its indigenous peoples as Native Canadians and NOT First Nations.
Political expediency and political ignorance led to the motivated politicians and native Canadians who seek to win policy approvals through entitlement.
The very use of the cleverly contrived native branding seems to me, has led to political malaise.
We are not second class citizens as the brand implies.
I am a natural born, first Canadian and I, like everyone else who has citizenship, pay taxes, recognize the national confederation of Canada, Canadian legislation and elected governments federally, provincially and municipally.
Anyone, including the Parti Quebecois or the native groups who claim they are a nation separate from Canada, should be (I have to say it) drummed out of authority as dissenters.
Anyone who doesn’t pay their share of taxes in return for a share of our equalizaton payments in the common good of Canadians should be admonished.
Our national pride doesn’t need any more divisive talk nor attempts at controversial branding.
We should talk only as Canadians first.
Shocking to think all about how we’re going to celebrate our 150th birthday in 2017 as a proud, unified, nation. Will we be separated by talk again?
No! We are all First, Canadians.
James Ford
Vancouver