Here’s an interesting tale I can finally share with my blog
readers. For many years I and my
siblings were non status natives meaning we weren’t Gov’t registered to a
native band/reservation. Here is the
story told by our family elders: when
our grandfather was a young man he was busy working in a saw mill out in the
bush and didn’t bother to come home when the Canadian Gov’t officials came to
register the Indian people. He was a stubborn
man who had little regard for the Gov’t he only spoke the Ojibway language and
more concerned about having a job, you
have to remember this was during the Depression era. Unfortunately later when he married this
caused a trickle effect his family were allowed to live on the reservation but
considered non status Indians by the Canadian Federal Gov’t. My
mother was the middle child and never spoke about it. Years later my uncles pleaded their case to
the Gov’t eventually our grandfather was granted and listed as Status
Indian after his death. Aunt Emily was
the last of his children and I’m so glad I got the chance to meet and talk with
her before she died a few years ago. Can
you imagine she lived to be 80+ she would share some stories with us but they
were vague, the years have clouded her memory.
Native elders are good at keeping
family secrets you have no idea how hard it was for my brother and sister to
obtain any information.
My brother and sister are the ones who got the ball rolling
in effort to obtain native status for the third generation King family members. The time they spent talking to relatives and
doing research was tiresome and difficult I figure if they can get native status
then I would apply too. About six years
ago they were granted Native Status surprisingly I didn’t know this until later
when we all met at a family gathering. I
exclaimed “What! Why wasn’t I told this”
My sister Leanne just looked at me and replied sarcastically “You didn’t ask!” You think I’m outspoken and direct, you should
meet my sister. :P Luv ya Leanne. :)
About 3 years ago I applied for Native Status with the help
from my brother Joey I submitted the required family information. During this time UNH’s was driving me nuts
about the Native Status requirement. Applicants/tenants must be 50% Native or risk
being evicted it’s a scare tactic that only annoyed me. As a
courtesy a few months ago I sent a fax to UNH’s explaining there’s a delay in
Ottawa and promised as soon as I get my approval letter I will notify UNH’s head
office.
Well Folks! You are now looking at a proud Canadian “Native Status”
Aboriginal blogger. Yesterday I received
my approval letter from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and I’m so happy
and relieved. The only thing I have to
do next is travel to the Toronto or Brantford INAC regional office to obtain my
status card with photo ID.
In closing I’d like to think honorable Grandfather Mathew
King is sitting next to the Creator sharing a smoke pipe while looking down at
us speaking Ojibway “Well done children!” or he could be saying “To hell with the Gov’t.” :D
Thank you for reading my blog.
Tk
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