Fall 2006-2007 - Grande Prairie Regional College

– continued from page 15Developments - still working forNative people. She has contractswith Social Services, NativeCounselling, Mountain Plains, andthe Grande Prairie FriendshipCentre - and also sits on a total ofeight boards, including Networkagency, Safe Communities, Festivalof Trees, Suicide Prevention,National Aboriginal Day, and theprovincial Urban Aboriginal MétisRural Settlement Framework committee.She is frequently invited tocome to the College and visit withstudents or participate in specialcelebrations. Her door is alwaysopen to those who need supportor encouragement. “When peoplebring me questions or problems, Ianswer the best that I know how.If I come across an Elder, I will askwhat they think and I try to givepeople as many different conceptsfrom different elders.”“On my phone message, myrecording is ‘Remember: you aregood stuff, and don’t let anyoneelse tell you different.’ The phonehas rung in the middle of thenight, and I mumble a sleepy helloto someone who says “oh, I didn’twant you to answer the phone! Ijust wanted to hear your message!”Darlene Cardinal knows frompersonal experience that peoplewho face prejudice need encouragement- and that her peoplecontinue to face prejudice.“Educated people are not so aptto show prejudice these days, butin the general workforce there isstill prejudice. It angered me lastNovember when the EdmontonSun ran a story about a wellknownfast food chain which wasquoted as saying they would haveto shut down due to shortage ofstaff - or they would have to‘break down and hire Aboriginalpeople.’ I was outraged that theywould publish such a comment.“Youth read this, they hearabout it, and it hurts. A lot of kidstoday will dye their hair, wearwhite makeup to hide theirAboriginal ancestry - or else they’llwear hoodies and try to copy theaggressive attitudes of other visibleminorities.“Things are getting better,though. 20 years ago, not verymany Aboriginal people went tohigh school or college because ofprejudice, and because of the residentialschools. The grandparentsand parents did not want theirchildren to go through all the badexperiences that they had beenthrough. When I started workingfor the Friendship Centre, therewere no Aboriginal studentsamong the grade 12 graduates inRed Deer that year. Two years laterthere were six, after we had hiredAboriginal workers and begun aseries of school visits. Now, 15years later, there are more andmore every year. It excites me tosee more Aboriginal people goingon to complete their education,get their degrees.”Elder Darlene Cardinal knowsthat it is important to concentrateon what she can do rather thanbeing upset about what others sayor do. “Part of my meditation inthe morning is not to surroundmyself with angry people. Life istoo short. It doesn’t help. Go outand do better things. “Doing better things means givingher time, her knowledge, her energyto help teach her people.“Children and youth need toknow who they are. They need tounderstand - I am Aboriginal, Métis,First Nation. They need to know,this is what Aboriginals are. Wewear the sash; we carry the eaglefeather. We have that teaching inour minds, we know who we are,rather than just a melting pot ofCanadians. I ask the children “whoare you?” I show them picturesfrom the past, pictures of theirancestors. Now they are proud tosay “I am Aboriginal.”“This is what I strive for - to teachthe people who they are. This is myrole as an Elder of my community.”– Lynne NessPizza • Pasta • Salads • Ribs • Sandwiches• Licensed• Dine In• Take Out• DeliveryOpenlate night7 daysa week12113-100th StGrande PrairieNEW LOCATION11250 Westgate DriveGrande Prairie532-0310 814-2331Surf our menu @ bostonpizza.com© Boston Pizza Royalties Limited Partnership © Boston Pizza International Inc. 200330