When Stan Beardy was growing up, he was taught to be ashamed of his heritage.
Thankfully, the Ontario Regional Chief said on Friday, this way of thinking has slipped into the distant past.
“Until very recently, we were made to be ashamed of who we were,” Beardy said, addressing a crowd that had gathered at Marina Park to celebrate National Aboriginal Day. “Until very recently we were ashamed to speak our own language in public. We were ashamed to acknowledge we were First Nations people. “
While painful, these memories must be preserved going forward, Beardy said.
“We have to look at our past to understand what the future holds. As First Nations people, all the answers are in our culture, our teachings, our legends,” Beardy said.
“So it becomes very important, as we celebrate National Aboriginal Day, that we learn about who we are and where we came from. We have a lot to offer to Canadian society as we have in many years now.”
The former Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief, whose successor Harvey Yesno did not attend the mid-morning ceremony, pointed to a 1983 speech by then prime minister Pierre Trudeau, which essentially said that if First Nations people no longer spoke their language or practiced their culture, then they should have no expectations of Aboriginal rights and should assimilate into society.
Beardy said thankfully First Nations culture is being embraced all over again.
“I am so glad, as I look around the grounds, that more and more of our people – First Nations people, the Inuit and the Metis – are starting to learn their languages, their customs and their practices,” Beardy said, applause arising from the small, but fervent crowd.
This renewed sense of cultural pride is leading to change, he added.
“There’s a sense of urgency when we look at our immediate future. There’s a sense of turmoil. There’s a lot of frustration, when we look at our immediate future.”
Beardy said the rise of the Idle No More movement over the past year shows there is still work that needs to be done.
“Idle No More came about because of the frustrations our people felt about the broken treaty promises. Today I feel, as we look around the country, Thunder Bay and the province, that we have an opportunity to rebuild relations that are meaningful,” he said.
Rita Fenton, representing Fort William First Nation on behalf of absent Chief Georjann Morrisseau, said it was a day to celebrate Aboriginal uniqueness, culture and the gifts they’ve given the country and its people.
The celebration is a way to bring people together, despite their differences, she said.
“Here we are together celebrating our rich culture,” Fenton said.
Coun. Rebecca Johnson, who spoke on behalf of the city, acknowledged Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario wouldn’t be such rich places to live without the contributions made by its original inhabitants.
“Aboriginal is part of our community. It’s a growing community and we’re very proud to have it as part of who we all are,” Johnson said.
“It’s an important day for all Canadians to show their appreciation of and their respect of Aboriginal culture and heritage. It’s also an occasion for Inuit, Metis and First Nations to express and share their deep pride in their heritage and accomplishments.”