A Lesson in Racism

In response to the “article” that appeared in Edmonton Sun on 03/04/2010.

'To: Andrew Hanon

Sun Media

Edmonton, Canada

Dear Sir,

I would like to submit the following as an open Letter to the Canadian Teacher's association in regard to the comments of their featured speaker, Ms. Widdowson, whom we Sioux’s would definitely term a very ignorant racist in regard to the positive elements that a Native with cultural respect can and does become the better student and more inclined to moving onward up the educational ladder. (Which she disagrees with).

No better example of cultural knowledge respecting positive influence is the Jewish People. The Oriental People also have a positive Track Record scholarship wise and do not deny their cultural roots. Thirdly the experience in America, is well exampled by my own family experience. I am the last of 13 children born to Oglala Sioux parents, all of whom went to the Indian Boarding schools except for my sister next to me.

As the youngest we were allowed to attend public schools in South Dakota along with white students because we moved off the reservation due to the military needing our area of the reservation (and our ranch) for a military practice bombing range. (It was an emergency WW II, early 1940’s war time situation.) We honestly were actually proud that our ranch could be a helpful part of fighting the Germans and Japanese who were a bit worse than Ms. Widdowson in that they being severely prejudiced and outright murderous to other ethnic groups, namely the Jews by the Germans and the Koreans, Okinawans, and Chinese to name a few by the extremely brutal Japanese as our American Prisoners of war will certainly verify.

Absolutism is a very dangerous Mind-set, Ms. Widdowson. I am the only one of the 13 to enter college, let alone graduate and go on to Law School. My pretty, innocent sister, 2 yrs older was shunned by her peers as prejudice was still quite strong then and she did not have the athletic advantage that kept me in school and minimized what prejudice I did receive. The recent movie - 'The Blind Side' starring Sandra Bullock, Oscar Awardee is a bit reflective.

I was able to keep my culture and even spirituality while going to public school. At the Indian boarding schools, my sisters and brothers were never allowed such. Our Religion was even banned by the government due to the coercive Christian Missionary influence, much like this Ms. Widdowson has obviously attempted to influence Canadian teachers. I danced Indian at pow wows and yet was a straight A student in grade school.

I would later go on to be a participant 6 years in a row as a tribal sun dancer during my 3 years in Law school and afterwards, which is our cultural and spiritual Thanksgiving to our concept of the Creator and not the white man's concept. I am now the author of 9 books, three are published by none other than Harper/Collins, the largest publishing house in the world. One book, Mother Earth Spirituality is 41 times reprinted. Well, obviously there does exist many open minded white folks who probably would disagree vehemently with Ms. Widdowson and especially so after they read my works.

I would like to come up to Canada and be a speaker to those teachers who heard Ms. Widdowson on the Positive Values of an Indian Child to Respect and be Proud of his Culture.

A Lesson in Racism

By Ed McGaa (Eagle Man)