Re: “Why was the law not enforced?” Jan. 24.

Laws, treaties, land claims, familial rights and moral issues, as they relate to First Nations, Inuit and Métis have been broken, stepped on, ignored and abused for centuries.

The system, as it stands, doesn’t work. In most cases, it’s broken. Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s apology was an excellent toe in the water. That’s all.

There are some 616 nations to be dealt with, a myriad of broken promises and dissensions among the people. Now, a couple of grandmothers of the people have initiated a peaceful movement, and we, the white people, are ticked because the police did not enact a traffic law?

What would we do, if legal promises had been ignored, our lands had been expropriated, our money mismanaged, our children seized and then abused, and our women murdered?

Are the abuses all on one side? Of course not, but it’s time to talk, and if it takes a few traffic delays, a few unexpected drum concerts to create awareness, so be it.

Idle No More is bringing a Canadian shame out into the open. It’s time.

Sally Barker

Victoria

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