Letter to the Editor: What should Tecumseh’s Vision really be about?
Beginning on September 29th, the London District Chief’s Council will be hosting a week-long commemorative conference
entitled “Rekindling Tecumseh’s Vision”, an event that will focus on the Unity of Indigenous People, Indigenous Reclamation, and
Strengthening Indigenous Spirituality.
The Original People (Two-Legged People, Winged People, Water People, Four-Legged People, Medicine People, etc.) of this land were blessed with
spiritually-aquired freedoms (free access to food, water, shelter materials, medicines, travel, etc.) which were balanced (equally shared, not wasted,
not exploited,well respected,obtained and used in a spiritual manner,etc.) through a strong spiritual co-existence as Relatives to each other,and as
Children of the Earth, a bond which formed the foundation of their spirituality, their governance, and their sovereignty.
Tragically, since foreign-initiated marginalized living standards (structured religions, legislated control mechanisms, private ownership of land, class
divisions,etc.) were initiated against the Original People,their freedoms,which would have been our inheritance, have been reduced to rights (Treaty
Rights, Indian Rights, Human Rights,etc.), which subsequently became subject to stipulations (by-laws, policies, regulations, codes, rules, etc.) and
violations, where they were further subjected to amendments (sanctioned changes created to coincide with the wants of the foreign government)
through oppressive acts of legislation (Gradual Civilization Act, Indian Act, Sexual Sterilization Act, First Nations Land Management Act, War
Measures Act,etc.). It is these acts of legislation which form the foundation of what is known as Indian Policy — laws created to exterminate,
relocate, and assimilate the Original People.
The arbitrary seizure of those original freedoms created such an imbalance among the People that the majority now renounce
the Ogemaa and conform to the Legislated First Nation Authorities — chiefs and band councils who evolved from the Gradual Enfranchisement Act,
Indian Act, and modern-day legislation.
During the Ipperwash Inquiry a descendant of the Original People approached my spouse and I where, during the
course of our conversation, he recited one of the speeches given by the Ogemaa named Tecumseh. Part of that
speech as I recall, stated in part “….live your life….love your life…..perfect your life….dedicate your life to the
service of the People…”
The upcoming “Rekindling Tecumseh’s Vision” conference in September is only going to be depicted as another
Wild West Show because everyone allows colonial structures and Indian Policies to overshadow the Original Ways of Life.
I hope everyone who attends that conference in September can remember why they are truly there.
Bruce Bressette
Kettle Point Indian Reservation