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SPEAKERS: THERESA NEEL, ANNIE ROSS, ROY MIKI, PETER JACOBS, WOLVERINE, ARNIE JACK
TRADITIONAL WELCOME
* THERESA NEEL
My name is Negetzi (Coppers Piled So High Not Even Her Enemies Can Step On Them). My borrowed name is Theresa Neel and I'm from the Fort Rupert Kwakiutl. I have had the great pleasure of being here at Simon Fraser University since August. I am the program co-ordinator in the First Nations Student Centre. I was asked to be here with my elder Gramma Harris. We're kind of like the Blues Brothers. We do our work together. I'm not sure if her bus is late. She's never been known to be late so we want to have a good thought for Margaret Harris and that wherever she is things are going well for her.
I'll have an opening prayer and just do a song. Basically, the whole idea is just so people can open their ears and open their hearts so they can hear the panel and just have good spirits watch over us. So whatever you're comfortable with, some people like to stand and others don't. So do whatever you feel most comfortable with. So I'll just start with a prayer and then have a simple song for you.
Great Spirit, thank you so much for watching over us as we all wander these many different pathways that have brought us here today to Simon Fraser University. I know that you smile upon many of the people who are here today. I also need you to consider the people who are not here and the people who are in hospitals and jails and that are on the black road. Great Spirit, I just ask that today you open the ears and the hearts of everyone present so that they can hear these words and use them to have very, very good thoughts as we look at this whole issue around colonialism. And Good Spirit, I thank you so much for being part of my life. I offer you this small song in appreciation.
[SONG] Gilakas'la
* ANNIE ROSS
Hello, thank you for being here. I'm annie ross, I'm Cherokee/Maya. I'm teaching at Simon Fraser and I love it here.
I was asked to talk about...