I'm at Fostering Biimaadiziwin: National Research Conference on Urban Aboriginal Peoples in Toronto and today I spoke for the people, the Ul'nu more commonly known as the Mi'kmaq. I knew I was coming here for several months now and for a long time I was apprehensive about my presentation. In my work with the Mi'kmaq I have committed to learning to speak and to think form their perspective. That is no easy challenge given that I am not an Aboriginal person by birth or heritage.
But there has been a profound change in my person and my being because of my work over the past year or so. I have been touched deeply by the people who have participated with me on this journey. Yet nothing that I had experienced had such an immense affect as a workshop I attended a little over a week ago. Under the guidance of Grand Chief Mi'sel Joe I experienced something that gave me a sense of legitimacy that had been absent form my work. It was a transformative experience such that when he took my hands and asked "Does the colour of you skin make you any less Ul'nu?" I answered "Today I am Ul'nu!"
So when I spoke today I was able to feel that I could speak for the people - to bear witness to what they have experienced but as importantly to bear witness for what they have achieved.
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