Dear Honourable Prime Minister of Canada and Premier of Alberta,

Following the discovery of an approximate 751 unmarked graves in Saskatchewan on the land of Cowesses First Nation, today I write to you with a heavy heart.

Much like a wound, as we continue to turn a blind eye to past transgressions we welcome infection with open arms and invitation. Despite newly directed funding to support the discovery of further unmarked graves, our country’s government, both federally and provincially, continue to allow this wound to fester. Much like every other facet of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) affairs, we are simply holding pressure on the wound while countless years of trauma flow profusely past the illusory bandages. On this day, we continue to fail our FNMI peoples while we focus more on re-writing a provincial curriculum to ignore their plight, or appeasing and protecting the very church responsible for their suffering.

I have spent the entirety of my life listening to our governments dispute and negotiate with the very individuals who shared this country’s land with our forefathers. We argue and dispute against that which is not ours to dispute, and we place blame and control on a collective nation who has held steadfast and peacefully in their beliefs while facing turmoil, vitriol, and hate. There is no more disputing, and there must be no more acts of control. We have taken from these people everything. Despite hundreds of years of forced assimilation, abuse, and blind eyes towards their well-being, these nations stand strong.

Now, on this date, we must agree on what has happened, and will continue to happen to our FNMI brothers and sisters. Canada is not the country I once believed it to be. We have allowed, and continue to commit, acts of genocide against these very same people we should stand behind.

It makes me sick that I must address these things, and as honorable leaders of our governing bodies, it should not be up to me, or anyone else for that matter, to remind you both to calibrate your morality, and to feel empathy when listening to the survivors and victims of inter-generational trauma as a result of colonialism and subjugation.

There is nothing to dispute, and my message is clear, we must do more to stand beside our FNMI brothers and sisters, especially during this time of healing. No more lobbied discussions, or thinly veiled apologies. We have discovered the graves of nearly one thousand children, murdered at the hands of the Catholic Church and the Government of Canada.

Still, at my time of writing this letter, entire groups of First Nations go without clean water, despite living alongside some of the largest reserves of fresh water in the world. We ignore our nation’s issue of closeted racism. We direct conversations, and issue instruction regarding decisions which are not ours to make.

At this time, there needs to be no more discussion. We, as a collective whole, must stand up and support our FNMI and allow them to lead discussions, allow them to direct their decisions. We must provide the resources necessary to ensure Canada acknowledges FNMI history, acknowledges the FNMI genocide, and hold ourselves, and the Catholic Church accountable for what has occurred.

I ask you, Honorable Premier Kenney and Honorable Prime Minister Trudeau, stand behind those who have shared with us this beautiful country. Stand behind those who have been abused for lifetimes over. Stand behind those without names, who were forcibly taken from their homes and culture, as they now cannot stand for themselves.

The Catholic Church must apologize for what has been done. Our government was voted in on the basis of acting on the best interests of its people. My morals and ideals should be reflected by my leaders.

Demand an apology for those faceless and unidentified who cannot stand for themselves. Demand an apology for those who can. For once, as a collective whole, stand with our First Nations, Metis, and Inuit. Do not argue, do not direct, and do not ignore. This problem will only get worse before it gets better, but while we sit here soiling bandage after bandage, barely keeping this wound contained, its infectious tendrils run rampant throughout our nation’s identity.

On this day I am embarrassed to be a Canadian, but proud to stand behind those who truly exemplify what I feel should define our country. On this day I implore our leaders to no longer discuss which bandage to best apply during their political tenure. On this day, we treat the infection, and we provide the foundation for healing, for all those affected through the genocide of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit at the hands of our government and the Catholic Church. We must demand an apology, and we must finally begin to help in making things right.

Respectfully,

A proud brother and supporter of our First Nations, Metis, and Inuit