Locked Out---Walkathon Indians Barred from Historic Gathering

by Tehaliwaskénhas

Imagine walking nearly two thousand kilometres to make a point. You arrive at your destination exhilarated by the experience. Then imagine being snubbed by the people you were counting on to affirm the significance of your accomplishment. Your own people, your political leaders and the ones who have the responsibility to advocate on your behalf.

That's how Nathan McGillvary and friends witnessed the humiliating, frustrating situation that surfaced under the noon hour sun outside Vancouver's Trade and Convention Centre.



Inside the air conditioned, royalty-like environment hundreds of delegates to the Assembly of First Nations and National Congress of American Indians gathering were oblivious to the politics of exclusion that was unfolding. That is until the drumming and chanting grew louder, the Squamish Nation peacekeepers presence increased, and doors began to be locked.

McGillviray, an Opaskwayak Cree led a group of ten in a 'Walk for Survival' that began June 21st, National Aboriginal Solidarity Day in The Pas, Manitoba. By the time they got to Vancouver, eighteen were walking with a purpose. What was it? To draw attention to the destructive force of the Indian Act, specifically section 6.1 and 6.2, designed says McGillviray, "To get rid of us." He calls it, "Canada's deliberate policy of assimilation, but really it's genocide".

The Act regulates who is and who isn't an Indian, something MacGilviray believes should be decided by the First Nations themselves. He and others fear those sections of the Indian Act that won't allow some people to pass on their 'Indianness' to their children and grandchildren, are part of a strategic policy---an ethnic cleansing policy by the government of Canada, determined to get rid of Indians. By their estimate, and according to the government's own research, within sixty to a hundred years there will be few if any Treaty Indians left in this country.

As for having the welcome mat pulled out from underneath them here, the group plans to try again to bring their message to the politicians and delegates. McGilviray shakes his head in disbelief as he tells of a promise he got from the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)that they would be allowed to join the gathering to deliver their message. AFN officials came outside one at a time to discuss it with the group, holding out hope they could go inside anytime. But by the end of the day it was obvious the snub was official. The Walk for Survival will return, more determined than ever to collect the respect they feel is due.

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