This past July, I received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of contributions made over the years, receiving a medal does not change the reality facing our people.
Across this country, far too many First Nation communities continue to live with poverty, inadequate and overcrowded housing, infrastructure challenges, and barriers to opportunities that other Canadians often take for granted. At the same time, different levels and systems of government continue to create obstacles that can interfere with the fulfillment of the Crown’s Treaty obligations and responsibilities to First Nations.
For me, no medal can outweigh those realities.
My passion and focus are not about accolades. They are about our people, our rights, our lands, and the future of Keeseekoowenin.
I want to see our community strong and functioning properly, with accountable governance rooted not simply in systems imposed upon First Nations, but in an understanding of our true history, our inherent and Treaty rights, our jurisdiction, our traditional laws, and our ways of governing ourselves as Anishinaabe people.
We must continue strengthening our ability to make decisions for ourselves and rebuilding the knowledge and structures necessary for genuine self-determination.
Ultimately, my vision is to see our people exercise our rights and jurisdiction and strengthen our connection to our traditional territory not simply as something belonging to our history, but as something our children and grandchildren can know, use, protect, and return to.
That will mean more to me than any medal ever could.
There is still much work to be done. My responsibility as Chief is to keep that work and the future of our people at the forefront.
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Chief Dwayne Blackbird
Ohkitchetah Assiginack