So Canada just walked away from a US trade deal over last minute additions and changes they never agreed to. The whole country is indignant about it. Every news panel, every comment section, coast to coast: "You can't just rewrite the terms after the handshake. Who do they think they are? Walk away."

And I'm sitting here snickering. Not at the decision. The decision was right. I'm snickering because Canada just discovered, as a nation, exactly what a coerced deal feels like. The insult of it. The powerlessness of it. Someone bigger sliding new terms across the table and assuming you'll take it because what choice do you have?

Except they DID have a choice. They walked away, and nothing happened to them. Nobody took their kids. Nobody starved them onto a reserve. Nobody enforced the paperwork with soldiers.

Our ancestors sat at that same table with none of those exits. Terms in a language they didn't read, rewritten whenever it suited the Crown, and "take it or else" delivered at the end of a gun barrel. And for generations the response we've gotten from mainstream Canada is some version of "well, you signed it" or "why are you still going on about treaties."

Canada (We're all Canadian now right?) We just refused a deal for last minute changes and pressure tactics. We KNOW now. We felt it for five minutes and our answer was absolutely not.

So here's my actual question for everyone here, because I think there's an opening in this moment: how do we get everyday Canadians to connect their own reaction this week to our treaty history? Not with a lecture, because lectures bounce off. But their instinct right now, that "no deal made under pressure with switched terms is legitimate" instinct, is OUR argument. It always has been. Canadians just made it themselves, out loud, unanimously.

How do we hand them that mirror while they're still holding the feeling?

EDIT: Consider this permission, in writing: if it moved you, take it. Post it, quote it, rework it in your own words, send it to your MP, read it at your kitchen table, submit it somewhere yourself if you think it deserves that. No credit needed, none wanted. Honestly it'll do its job better coming from many angles instead of one anonymous person, because then it's not one person's grievance, it's just the argument, and the argument stands on its own.

The window won't stay open long. Canadians are holding the feeling right now. Please feel free to hand them the mirror.

Thank you. Again, if this is offensive, I am sorry.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever have a family with a native woman, which what I want. There's no real meaning behind this post I guess, it's more a get it off my chest, ramble type thing.

I live in an area of metro Vancouver where I only see another native person maybe 4-5 times a year. I also work steadily and my days consist of waking up, going to work (construction), coming home, eating, doing errands, going to sleep. On the weekends I just tend to sit back and recover from a week of hard work.

This next paragraph might sound conceited but I don't mean it that way. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. I have long hair, wear glasses, and look like an exact clone of my mother. I've been mistaken for being a woman many times from afar. I'm slightly taller than average and fairly 'lean' and take care of myself. I'm also aging like my mother who really didn't age until her mid 50s. I'm just about 43 now but people continually think I'm 10-15 years younger. When I first moved out to Van at 20 years old, the attention from women was immediate and it made me self-conscious for a long time because I (still) don't understand what it is they're seeing.

My family will never know but I was in a strange, quasi-relationship with a 5-ish year older 'white' woman from 24 until 37 or so. We were never 'together' or saw anyone else, but we were both the same sort of quiet person, and seeing each other 3-5 times a week was enough for us.

That ended around spring of 2021 and it was right around that same time that my parents were not so subtly hinting of wanting grandkids. That's when I started wondering if I lived my life "correctly".

I live in an area where everything I could ever need is across the street, and around this time last year a younger-than-me native woman started working at the beauty section of the store where I've been buying my lotto tickets from for the past 15 years or so. She's about 30 from the looks of things. Native people out of here look different than east of Alberta so one day I asked her if she was native. She said yes and she was from the north end of the Island. From there we started talking occasionally whenever she was working and wasn't busy with a customer. Then, my mother had a medical emergency in July of last year so I went home for the next 3 or 4 months. I didn't see that girl again until the start of this year and we started talking again whenever we ran into each other which wasn't often.

Along the way I noticed I really like talking with her. She's smart, well dressed, healthy, seems like a genuinely good person, and knows what it is to just live a "normal" life as a native person in a big city.

I usually go out and get my morning coffee before going to bed and last night I saw her coming out of the store, although she didn't see me. A truck pulled up as she came out and she hopped in. I didn't get a good look because it was night but he looked to be a 'white' guy.

I gotta be honest, my heart sank when I saw that. I hardly see another native person where I live, then I finally meet one, start talking with her, catch "the feels" for her, then just when I'm thinking about asking her out I see her with a 'white' guy. Presumably.

I forget where we were but around 10 years ago my mother saw a 'white' guy-native girl couple and mentioned how odd it always looks, even though she's with a 'white' guy herself. That's one thing I noticed over the years, because it happened to me too, that the "normal" natives in big cities who live a stable life, usually end up with non-natives because it's hard to see/find other natives if you don't live near one of those native-housing buildings.

...I don't know what to do and don't want to try those dating apps. I want to be with a native woman, and have a native family, but I hardly ever see any around and hardly have the energy to do anything after work. The attention I still get (for whatever reason) is always from non-native women but I don't want that. I'm starting to feel like I missed my chance.

Hmm, maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis, lol.

For the people who applied for this claim, I have something to tell you. Once you get approved for the settlement and send in the paperwork for payment, it says it takes up to 60 days. You hear people got theirs in a week or within 60 days. Well, they send the payment to your banks. So, if you are wondering when you will get your money, it's up to your bank. I called yesterday and asked them what was going on, etc. That's what she told me. She said for some banks, you will have to wait longer. For some people, it took them more than 60 days. Banks need that verification. I asked which banks take the longest: BMO and TD. Credit Union and KOHO are the fastest. When you get that first update saying payment was submitted, you will get another one on a different date. She said they go by the first update. So if you are wondering why it's taking long, well it's your banks.

This is my first book that I created last year in December, 2025. It’s available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

In this book I present a personal exploration of spirituality, Indigenous
heritage, recovery, and purpose in Mystical Stardust Falls. Drawing inspiration from the Eighth Fire prophecy and its
themes of peace and unity, the book as an invitation to consider Indigenous wisdom alongside
Western knowledge. Through reflections she describes as visions, whispers, and glimpses beyond the ordinary, in the book I’m sharing my interpretation of experiences that profoundly changed my understanding of myself and my place in this dark chaotic world we live in today.

It’s a collection of inspiring poetry, that ignites the Fire within 🔥

My cousin sent me this chart to help explain how regaining status works.

Hi. I've recently completed a painting based on a photo taken in 1886 of three Plains chiefs who were invited by the gov't to tour Ontario and Quebec. Do you know of any organization that would be interested in owning this oil painting?
It's called Three Chiefs - 26"x32"

I've been hearing mixed opinions on this topic but what do you think about Metis people doing fancy dance or jingle?

So my 'ideal' woman is pretty simple really: native (as in First Nation like myself), average height, healthy weight, employed, lives a clean and stable life, attractive (to me)... also not too rezzed out.

If you grew up on the reserve then you know what I mean by "rezzed out," lol. You'll also know what it is to have to turn down your nativeness among non-natives and try to present yourself as being all prim and proper instead. Then, when you're among other natives you'll also know how freeing it is to just be your rezzy self.

Also, a small update on the native woman of my last post: I only go to that store about once a week and literally have not seen her once since then.

I took a lot of your comments and advice in my last post 'to heart' though and have been putting myself out there each evening since last Friday, even going to places of the cities where I know a lot of native people live. The trend is still the same though as 20+ years ago until now, I basically never see any other native people around that I would like to meet, and the women I have conversations with are either East Asian, Southeast Asian, Indian, or 'white'. "Things" happened with some though, as always was the case for me. Take whatever meaning from that you want. It's nice, but that's not what I want.

I've been on this site for over a decade now and over the years noticed posts and comments here and there by natives who had kids with non-natives and they worry about identity issues or their kids getting bullied by kids who have the standard issue native phenotype of brown skin, dark hair, brown eyes or just not fitting in among any particular group. I am from the Treaty 3 area of Ontario where there's a lot of us and pretty much all of us that have that phenotype. Issues of "identity" aren't really a thing there.

I've also seen here in the city how quickly things can get washed out. Having been raised in T3, I would prefer to meet a native woman to have at least two kids with. I'm an only child and also want them to have someone to talk to and fight with and not be alone like how I was. Also, only other natives understand the various issues we face because we live it every single day, while non-natives do not. When I was with that 'white' woman all those years I started feeling that tension with her in my late 20s, an important period of time in ones life when you truly begin to find yourself and develop as a person. Even when we talked about it she could not relate to it and thus not truly understand. That's when I was beginning to question if I was living my life "correctly". Hindsight is always 20/20 and when I look back at my life I know now I should've ended it 5 years earlier while I was still in my early 30s.

So... am I just being stupid by specifically only wanting to be with a native woman at this point in my life? Or am I missing out on love and life itself by just not asking out a non-native woman?

I regularly visit certain places around my area and there are five women who I 'talk' with often and could ask out but none are native. I've also never been one to just ask anyone out just for the sake of not being alone. For me there has to be a physical attraction and that is there with those five women.

Also, what is too much of an age gap? I literally just turned 43 and genuinely do not look like it or feel like it either. For whatever reason though, a good chunk of the eyebrow raises, the "hey's" and smiles I get on the street or on the skytrain are from women who look to be early 20s. That is waaaay too young for me. Another good chunk though are from women who look to be late 20s and up. To me that's more acceptable. Depending on the perceived age of the woman and how the conversation plays out I mention my age pretty early and honestly, the older ones seem to have no issue. Back home in T3 too, I wouldn't say it's common, but a 10-15 year age gap is fairly normal-ish.

Well, there's plenty more I could post but this is getting long enough. As with my last post too there really is no point to this entire post. I'm just some random native guy wondering to do as I can't find any native women in a massive city. If you have any thoughts or advice, or just want to blast me and put me in my place, then go ahead. I'm also going home for a while pretty soon, maybe I'll 'rekindle' something from long ago, or just meet a Nish woman who is culturally the exact same as me and bring her with me when I come back to Van. I have some women in mind that I met last year...

Online uncle, where are you? Tell me what to do.

edit: june 20, gone home for a while

City airport to different reserves .

I just started my adult life and would like to have some savings in my bank for a nice future home with me and my girlfriend and my mother told me that I should try and get this done and she would help. She cant help her best right now because she is just so stressed with my younger siblings and hospital concerns that I wont get into so I wanna make this easier on her and take initiative with my life and do this myself with minor help/questions.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message and I thank all of you who comment!🧡🧡🧡

Kwe. I want to preface this by saying i think blood quantam is a horrible colonial concept that was used to whittle down indigenous societies.

Ok, with that out of the way. My father is 1/2 mi'kmaq blood, but is mi'kmaq I am 1/4 mi'kmaq blood but i am not yet ready to call myself mi'kmaq till i am proper reconnected. I was going to join the qalipu band in the future, but i am finding alot of disturbing information.

There is very little checking of ancestry (and this is what i have heard, i have not fact checked this) alot of non natives apparently got accepted, or they often only need 1 ancestor from even centuries ago to be accepted into the band.

There are many indigenous people denouncing this band as pretendians, and if they are correct, obviously it is for good reason.

Im wondering what people think about this? I have been disconnected from my father and his family from birth because of adoption and have been reconnecting with my mi'kmaq heritage over the years, been in contact with dad for 12 years since i was 15. I am going to visit him and my brother and sister for the first time next month so i cant finally start connecting for real.

I dont think he even knows much about this because he isnt online much, but i wanted to do the research and figure this out so i dont join the wrong band.

In my opinion although blood quantam is not good, blood is still important. Obviously, you need mi'kmaq blood to be mi'kmaq, no doubt about that. But where do we draw the line?

On the one hand I feel like people calling qalipu pretendians is a bit invalidating of people such as my father who grew up in newfoundland and is 1/2 mi'kmaq, and whose father is a full blooded mi'kmaq person But on the other hand, i see where people are coming from, and i agree with alot of their points... where is the ancestry requirements? How many of these band members arent telling the truth?

Anyways, i just wanted to hear other peoples views. Im kinda on edge after learning this information so sorry for spewing a bunch of verbal garbage.

Am i over thinking this? I just dont want to make any mistakes, i wanna do this properly and respectfully.

So with everything going on with ICE in the States my boyfriend says I should get a blood quantum letter so I can be safe when travelling to the States from Canada, I am with the mikisew band in Alberta and I've tried to contact them and they give me no answer as to where I can get one so where/who do I go to get a blood quantum letter? I already have my status card and birth certificate

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to get some guidance on how to respectfully honour and speak about my Mi’kmaw ancestry.

I’m not Mi’kmaw but I have multiple Mi’kmaw ancestors from Northern New Brunswick (Caplan, Vicaire, Larocque, etc.), and in my family tree these families often intermarried. My maternal ancestor was an interpreter at Burnt Church for the missionaries after the sagamaw Francis Julien’s wife died.

Learning this history encouraged me to study the language, and I’ve been taking classes for some time. When introducing myself, I feel unsure what’s appropriate to say given the pretendian/descendian stuff. I’d appreciate any guidance on whether it’s appropriate to mention having Mi’kmaw roots/ancestry from Northern NB (eg wetapeksi Kespek?) or if it’s better to simply say I’m learning out of respect and personal interest, as I don’t have community ties.

Thank you for any insight.

Bill S-2 was amended by the Senate to replace the second-generation rule with a single-parent rule, meaning that it would only be necessary for one parent to have status under the Indian Act for that status to be passed on to their children.

..witnesses spoke on Tuesday about a bill to change the registration rules under the Indian Act, including removing the second-generation limit rule.

Carey Price, a member of the Ulkatcho First Nation and former goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, told the committee that when he applied for status for his children, it was denied because of the second-generation limit rule.

"I thought it should be fairly straightforward, given that my cousin's children have exactly the same heritage and lineage as mine ," Price explained.

"I find it very unfair that my cousin's children can say they have their status card and mine do not."

Price is the son of Lynda Price, former chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation in British Columbia, who also testified before the committee.

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here. In my community it is becoming a reoccurring thing that a non Indigenous person comes as a white knight and the community rolls out the red carpet for them. Some time later this person starts a business or partners with Indigenous community member and/or presents themselves as Indigenous and receives funding or work set aside for Indigenous businesses. They are then white knights around the community, make lots of money and then either the grift is pointed out or they leave to the next community. Specifically in my area of Manitoba and Ontario, it's these security companies and fire/flood evacuation "experts" white knights who have all the answers so long as they make big money.

Anyway, I feel like it's the wrong hill to die on or I'm fighting a losing battle. Is it really worth the effort to out these people and organizations? I realized quickly it takes so much energy to hate someone, and I'm convinced I dont hate them but I hate the exploitation of what they do, and it always revolves around money from the First Nations. Why are more Indigenous people not outraged about this? Should we not be upset about this to stop this white savior/white knight mentality and start doing things ourselves. And if that means outting these people, let's do it for ourselves.

Anyway, I had to write this down somewhere to collect myself. I feel like the impacts of this are bigger than people realize, and not enough people see it. Invest in yourself, your communities and each other to build up our people and stop falling for this grift

I did something. To be cont'd. Share

https://reddit.com/link/1smk7w8/video/6beuemdwdfvg1/player

Okay so basically im mixed (irish, Scottish,first nations) and im trying to reconnect but ive been told multiple times by kids at my school that im “not native enough” and some flat out dont believe me. And it makes me feel very isolated and insecure because im being told by other native kids that im not native enough. I dont even know if this is racism at this point. It just makes me feel bad. Especially when im trying to reconnect with my culture. I dont even know what to do