by Norman Yakeleya
First of all, congratulations to all the students who have and are completing their studies and the ones who will be back next year.Warren Buffet was once asked, what is the best investment one can make? He replied, "The most important investment you can make is in yourself."
Today's currency is knowledge. Use it wisely and doors will open for you to create a life of your choosing. You make the choice!
We are overloaded with information, but starving for wisdom. With today's technology and the speed of every growing new creation before our eyes, it is amazing what is happening today.
I remember at a time living in Fort Norman, now known as Tulita, where we lived in our grandparent's log house with gas lamps, a wood stove and our outdoor washroom. We had to carry honey buckets to the outhouse and we walked carefully, very carefully.
We have upgraded to the homes we have now and live in the comforts of modern technologies.
However, with spring arriving, the excitement of snow melting and ice breaks along the rivers and lakes melting, life comes alive. With the return of longer days, warm breezes from the south carry the calls of geese, swans and other birds. People make plans to go out and do their annual cultural ceremonies and practicing their way of life again. They even bring their school teachers with them to keep up with school work.
More importantly the kids get on the land education and the teachings that promote wellness, family unity and community pride as Dene and Metis people from that area. This is the real school that needs to be promoted and supported by our government to the level it is supported in the communities. Both are needed in this world today. Both are equally important and encouraged by our educational minister.
When I was young my brothers, sisters and I were always strictly told to stay in school. Our on the land happened on the weekends which was called "going in the bush". It was going to a different world without the necessity of community life.
We had to actually learn to hunt, to set nets and know which areas to hunt. There was no watch to tell time or when to eat. We always got up and were ready for the day. The real teachers were the fathers and mothers and sometimes an older person which we refer to as Elders at times.
We have many challenges that are coming more and more in your face types of issues, especially with our youth today. Incredible how they handle themselves with the choices they have today.
Especially with the most recent one that is going to impact even more – you guessed it – weed and working.
Our young children are going to explore because curiosity is a natural part of us human beings. We want to check things out and try new things. We are always seeking to decide good or bad, and remember what is good for us and not so good. It is called life!
We now have another issue we are going to deal with soon and while education is a piece of the puzzle, governments must focus and support the community to get the people clear factual data and how it will impact the young mothers and fathers or the community as a whole.
Thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the potential damages our future leaders will have to deal with, with this new law.
The Government of Canada has to be held accountable when we start to deal with kids that will need help in the future.
And right now, our future will need to be on the land!
Wake up and smell the roses or should I say weed?