Posted by James Wastasecoot (64.59.130.103) on October 08, 2001 at 12:35:14:
In Reply to: Re: Bringing Accountability! posted by Thinking Gnusmas on September 12, 2001 at 16:14:57:
Agents of change are easy targets for criticism and denunciation as you are finding out. I say rather than giving up, you should continue what you’re doing for the sake of your community. Keep in mind there those who support you but don’t have the courage or the ability to voice their true feelings. And, of course, you’re speaking for your immediate circle, your friends and family, who are undoubtedly looking to your for leadership.
It takes courage to stand up and go against the grain in your community and to be a persistent agent for change. This is not an easy path when many are against you and what you stand for. So how do you "not give up" and remain true to what you believe is the right way?
I think it helps to ground yourself in sound, rationale arguments that are tested through discourse with others. (Do others in your community even know what you’re up against?) There are many communities and leaders out there who are doing great things in the area of governance - far more than there are folks who are out for themselves. It’s not possible to list them all here but I would suggest you connect with the following:
Poplar River First Nation (Chief Vera Mitchell), Rolling River First Nation (Chief Morris),
Wendel Sinclair (resident from Brokenhead Ojibway Nation), Skeetchestn First Nation (Chief Ron Ignace). (This list doesn’t begin to list the resources we have at our dispolsa. I’m afraid I will offend people I’ve left out. But I know these folks wouldn’t mind being mentioned. We need to develop a list of resource people here at some point. Maybe this is a start.) James Wastasecoot