Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

It has recently come to my attention that Peter Edwards, a reporter at the Toronto Star, has taken it upon himself to write a book titled “One Dead Indian, The Premier and the Ipperwash Crisis”. (Hey Peter, the “dead Indian” has a name!) It is slated to be available mid-September.

I am very upset that Peter Edwards is trying to tell a story that is still far from being over! Perhaps he is hoping to cash in on a sequel as the story continues to unfold.

The title of the book in itself is insulting! “Indian”, we are not Indians, we are Anishinabe! Anishinabe, the first peoples of Turtle Island, and proud! “Ipperwash Crisis”, Ipperwash is not what we call our traditional territory. We proudly refer to the Anishinabe name, Aazhoodena! Aazhoodena Territory, or if you have to use an English name, Stoney Point.

What gives Peter Edwards the right to tell the story of the Aazhoodenaang Enjibaajiig? It is not for him to tell, he didn’t experience it! Oral history is a traditional way of our Peoples. We are quite capable of telling our own story, and if it is to be put into writing at some point, when the whole story has unfolded and all the truths have been uncovered, then it should be penned by a Stoney Pointer as well!

Does Peter Edwards deserve to profit from the hardships of our grandparents and the bloodshed of my brother Dudley? I think not! There are far too many lawyers and such who are advancing their careers, and lining their pockets on the blood of Dudley and the hardships that the Aazhoodenaang Enjibaajiig have endured and continue to face daily. Do these people have no shame, no integrity?

Yes, there is a huge wrong, that needs justice! But, it is the People of Aazhoodena who have experienced this, and it is our story to tell! Peter Edwards is a news reporter, not a Stoney Point storyteller!

So, I ask you, people of good conscience, to boycott this book that Peter Edwards has written. If you are considering purchasing it, please don’t. I ask you to respect our right as Stoney Pointers to tell our own stories, ourselves, as is our way. Oral history is our tradition. A tradition that has been pushed aside far too long! Our language is vital, our teachings are vital, our traditional ways are vital! I ask you to respect this by boycotting the above mentioned book. Chi-Miigwetch!

In the Spirit of Dudley,

Pierre George
Aazhoodena--Stoney Point Proud to be Anishinabe!
E-mail: czavitz@xcelco.on.ca